SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNMIN/NEPAL

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000712

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC NE
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL CONSULTATIONS ON UNMIN/NEPAL


1. (SBU) Summary: Karin Lundgren, Representative of the
Secretary-General to Nepal and head of UNMIN, briefed the
Council July 20 on latest developments. As noted in the
Secretary-General,s recent report on Nepal/UNMIN, Lundgren
reiterated disappointment with the slow pace of the peace
process following the May crisis, but also said Nepal,s
leaders had taken encouraging steps in recent weeks. She
emphasized the importance of UNMIN, and strongly supported a
potential Security Council visit to Nepal in the fall.
Council members all supported a six-month extension of
UNMIN,s mandate (adoption of the Resolution is scheduled for
July 22),but emphasized that UNMIN,s presence was always
seen as temporary and short-term. End summary.


2. (SBU) Lundgren said Nepalese political parties remain
"seriously polarized" and noted Prachanda,s leaked video to
Maoist cadres as a particularly difficult challenge. Trust
among the parties is at a low ebb, said Lundgren, and other
risk factors to the peace process - such as the situation in
the Terai - continue to have a negative impact. She cited
two potential areas for progress: the first is discussion of
a high-level consultative mechanism, and the second is
discussion regarding a national unity government. Although
both ideas are still in the discussion phase, all political
leaders recognize the untenable nature of the current
political situation, said Lundgren. She noted some halting
progress in the discharge of disqualified combatants,
including the reconstitution of the Special Committee.
Turning to UNMIN, Lundgren said all principal interlocutors
consider UNMIN,s role in Nepal to be quite important.
Furthermore, Nepalese political leaders are aware of the
Security Council,s impatience, and have agreed in principle
to set benchmarks and timelines for the fulfillment of the
tasks in UNMIN,s mandate. They also noted that "any abrupt
political disengagement by the UN would be unhelpful," said
Lundgren. In final remarks at the conclusion of the meeting,
Lundgren said UNMIN had dramatically decreased its budget,
from 55 million in 2008 to under 25 million in 2009. She
also strongly supported a potential Security Council visit to
Nepal, saying it would be an "extremely positive step."


3. (SBU) Council members all supported a six-month extension
of UNMIN,s mandate, as requested by the Government of Nepal
in its recent letter to the Council. The UK, lead country
for Nepal issues in the Council, noted that the draft
resolution extending UNMIN was still being discussed,
although adoption appeared to be on track for July 22. Like
the majority of other Council members, the UK welcomed the
ideas for the high-level consultative mechanism and a
national unity government, and urged the government to
implement them as soon as possible. While welcoming
potential new developments, Council members - including
China, Costa Rica, Libya, France, the U.S. and the UK - noted
that overall the peace process has not recovered from the May
crisis that resulted in the Maoists leaving the government.
Ambassador DiCarlo outlined the U.S. position, called on
swift progress to implement the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, urged that work resume in the Special and
Technical Committees, and underscored U.S. support for the
people of Nepal. Costa Rica, Austria, Burkina Faso and
Mexico all strongly supported the mandate of the Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and called on
its mandate to be extended. Russia echoed similar themes,
but emphasized that UNMIN,s mandate is winding down and
should under no circumstances be "expanded".
RICE