NEPAL VAGUE ON INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000542 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/ESC - DANIELLE MONOSSON, OES/EGC - GRIFF THOMPSON, IO/EDA - REBECCA WEBBER, AND SCA/INSB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KGHG SENV NP SUBJECT: NEPAL VAGUE ON INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY REF: STATE 61286 ¶1. (SBU) On June 22, Madan Bhattarai, Joint Secretary for UN and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Emboff that the Government of Nepal has a "tricky" decision to make regarding the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) going into the preparatory meeting in Egypt on June 28-30. Referring to the contest for IRENA's headquarters, Bhattarai said that Germany is a good friend of Nepal, complicating the decision whether to support it or the United Arab Emirates. Comment -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Bhattarai recently returned to Kathmandu after serving as Nepal's Ambassador to Germany. The Government of Nepal will have to balance its interest in maintaining relations with Germany and relations with the UAE, which is a destination country for many Nepalese migrant workers. POWELL