SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES BRIEFING ON NEPAL/UNMIN,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000465 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV NP PHUM KDEM SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES BRIEFING ON NEPAL/UNMIN, ISSUES PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ¶1. (U) Summary: On May 5, the Security Council received a briefing on Nepal/UNMIN from Karin Landgren, the Secretary-General,s Representative in Nepal and head of the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN). Landgren emphasized that the recent political crisis that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister had "serious implications" for the future of Nepal,s peace process and called into question positive steps that had occurred prior to the Prime Minister,s resignation. Council members all expressed concern about the political crisis. The U.S., UK, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, Croatia, Turkey and others emphasized the importance of multiparty democracy and human rights. In contrast to statements in January (and in response to the political crisis),Council members did not focus on ending UNMIN,s mandate, and instead conveyed their strong support for UNMIN,s role. The acting Nepalese PermRep spoke at the end, and vowed that the "peace process (will) not drift from its progressive and steady course." Following the meeting, Council members adopted a Presidential Statement on Nepal (at para 5). End summary. ¶2. (U) Karin Landgren, Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, summarized the Secretary-General,s recent report on Nepal/UNMIN, and said in general the report described a "guardedly positive" situation in Nepal. She then described the situation in Nepal since the writing of the report - a "deeply polarizing" standoff between the Nepal Army and the leading political party in Nepal,s governing coalition, the Unified Communist Party of Nepal - Maoist (UCPN-M) that culminated with the resignation of Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kemal Dahal. These recent events, said Landgren, have "serious implications for the functioning of government and for the nature of the state to be shaped by Nepal,s next constitution." She noted UNMIN,s reduced presence, which currently stands at 273 personnel, including 73 arms monitors. Moving forward, she called on all parties in Nepal to rebuild trust and to work together in a spirit of compromise and consensus. ¶3. (U) All Council members noted the more positive tone in the Secretary-General,s report, and expressed concern regarding the recent crisis that occurred after the report,s issuance. Russia and China emphasized the overall positive nature of the situation and expressed regret over recent events. The U.S., UK, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Mexico, Austria, France, Costa Rica and Turkey underscored the importance of fighting impunity, and supporting multiparty democracy and human rights. Ambassador Rice said recent events "make it abundantly clear that Nepal,s leaders must recommit themselves to implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement." In contrast to previous meetings and in light of the current political crisis, Council members did not emphasize that UNMIN,s mandate is ending in July. All supported UNMIN,s mandate, while Turkey and France proposed extending UNMIN,s mandate if requested by the government of Nepal. ¶4. (U) Acting Nepalese PermRep Paudel did not linger on the current political crisis. He said only "we are confident that the current situation in Nepal will be resolved soon through dialogue and consensus among the political parties in the Constituent Assembly." He added that the Special Committee and Technical Committee are still working and that preparations are ongoing for the discharge of minors from cantonment sites. He assured that Council that "the Government of Nepal would make sincere efforts to allow UNMIN to complete its given activities by the end of the current mandate." ¶5. (U) Presidential Statement by the Security Council: The Security Council expresses its concern about the current political crisis in Nepal, and underscores the urgent need for the Government of Nepal and all political parties to continue to work together in the spirit of compromise. The Council notes the steps taken so far in the implementation of the peace process and recalls its full support for that process. The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and recalls resolution 1864 (2009) calling upon the Government of Nepal to continue to take the necessary decisions to create conditions conducive to completion of UNMIN,s activities by the end of the current mandate, including through the work of the Special and Technical Committees for supervision, integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army combatants. The Security Council recalls the Government of Nepal,s commitment to discharge minors from the cantonment sites and calls upon the Government of Nepal to implement this commitment in accordance with international law. Rice