Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KATHMANDU327
2009-04-22 07:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
REQUEST FOR AGREMENT FOR AMBASSADOR OF NEPAL TO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHKT #0327 1120743 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 220743Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0072 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2982 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000327
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL NP
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AGREMENT FOR AMBASSADOR OF NEPAL TO
THE UNITED STATES
Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).
Nepal Requests Agrement for Shah
--------------------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000327
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL NP
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AGREMENT FOR AMBASSADOR OF NEPAL TO
THE UNITED STATES
Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).
Nepal Requests Agrement for Shah
--------------
1. (U) The Government of Nepal (GON) has formally requested
agrement for retired International Monetary Fund (IMF)
economist and reported U.S. permanent resident Dr. Sukhdev
Shah to be Nepal's Ambassador to the United States. Although
the Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee was unable to
reach consensus on Shah's candidacy, the Parliament forwarded
his nomination to the cabinet on April 10. (Note: It takes
unanimous disapproval by the 71-member committee for a
nomination to be stopped. End note.) Post has already
forwarded the detailed curriculum vitae to the Nepal desk.
The text of the GON's diplomatic note follows:
Diplomatic Note
--------------
2. (U) BEGIN TEXT
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of
America in Kathmandu and has the honour to inform the
esteemed Embassy that the Government of Nepal is pleased to
appoint Dr. Sukhdev Shah as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Nepal to the United States of America.
Dr. Shah's Curriculum Vitae is enclosed. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs would appreciate if Agrement of the United
States of America was granted to his appointment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the
United States of America in Kathmandu the assurances of its
highest consideration.
Kathmandu, 16 April 2009
END TEXT
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Various allegations have dogged Shah since his
nomination by Foreign Minister and Madhesi People's Rights
Forum (MPRF) Chairman Upendra Yadav in February. Shah has
publicly conceded that he faced civil charges in federal
court in Virginia of exploitation of a Nepali domestic
servant while Shah was working for the IMF. Shah and his
maid, Sangita Satyal, reportedly reached a settlement (in
1990 or 1991) which saw her receive approximately USD 40,000
in back wages and legal fees. Trafficking is a significant
problem in Nepal. It is a source country, primarily for
women and children to India, and has in recent years seen
rising levels of internal trafficking. Shah told the
parliamentary committee that he became a Legal Permanent
Resident in March 2004, but post has seen no concrete
evidence of his status.
POWELL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2019
TAGS: PREL NP
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR AGREMENT FOR AMBASSADOR OF NEPAL TO
THE UNITED STATES
Classified By: Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4
(b/d).
Nepal Requests Agrement for Shah
--------------
1. (U) The Government of Nepal (GON) has formally requested
agrement for retired International Monetary Fund (IMF)
economist and reported U.S. permanent resident Dr. Sukhdev
Shah to be Nepal's Ambassador to the United States. Although
the Parliamentary Special Hearing Committee was unable to
reach consensus on Shah's candidacy, the Parliament forwarded
his nomination to the cabinet on April 10. (Note: It takes
unanimous disapproval by the 71-member committee for a
nomination to be stopped. End note.) Post has already
forwarded the detailed curriculum vitae to the Nepal desk.
The text of the GON's diplomatic note follows:
Diplomatic Note
--------------
2. (U) BEGIN TEXT
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal presents
its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of
America in Kathmandu and has the honour to inform the
esteemed Embassy that the Government of Nepal is pleased to
appoint Dr. Sukhdev Shah as Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Nepal to the United States of America.
Dr. Shah's Curriculum Vitae is enclosed. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs would appreciate if Agrement of the United
States of America was granted to his appointment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal avails
itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the
United States of America in Kathmandu the assurances of its
highest consideration.
Kathmandu, 16 April 2009
END TEXT
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Various allegations have dogged Shah since his
nomination by Foreign Minister and Madhesi People's Rights
Forum (MPRF) Chairman Upendra Yadav in February. Shah has
publicly conceded that he faced civil charges in federal
court in Virginia of exploitation of a Nepali domestic
servant while Shah was working for the IMF. Shah and his
maid, Sangita Satyal, reportedly reached a settlement (in
1990 or 1991) which saw her receive approximately USD 40,000
in back wages and legal fees. Trafficking is a significant
problem in Nepal. It is a source country, primarily for
women and children to India, and has in recent years seen
rising levels of internal trafficking. Shah told the
parliamentary committee that he became a Legal Permanent
Resident in March 2004, but post has seen no concrete
evidence of his status.
POWELL