NEPAL: NORWAY APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000077 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2020 TAGS: PGOV PREL NO NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: NORWAY APPOINTS SPECIAL ENVOY Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., John M. Ordway 1.4 (b/d). ¶1. (SBU) The Government of Norway appointed Ambassador Tore Toreng to serve as Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Nepal. During a January 12 meeting and January 13 dinner, Ambassador Toreng explained to Charge that Norway wants to "invigorate" its support for the Nepal peace process. Toreng views his role as two-fold: (1) working with the Nepali political leaders to encourage dialogue and press for progress, and (2) ensuring that the international community's message is coordinated. With the May 28 constitution-drafting deadline looming, Toreng is thinking through various scenarios (non-paper emailed to SCA/INSB). ¶2. (SBU) Toreng plans to travel to New York and Washington in early February and will seek meetings with key UN and USG officials working on Nepal. Toreng is preparing for a trip by Norwegian Minister of International Development and Environment Erik Solheim to Nepal, planned for March 2010. ¶3. (C) Bio-note and Comment: Post knows Toreng well from his service as Norway's ambassador to Nepal 2004-2008. Toreng facilitated the initial U.S. Embassy contact with Maoist leaders and worked closely with previous U.S. COMs. Like other Scandinavians, he is considered sympathetic to the Maoist perspective, although he has excellent contacts across the political spectrum. He is soft-spoken, polite, and thoughtful, and understands the Nepali parties and dynamics well. We believe Norway's initiative is worthwhile and could contribute positively to the process here. However, we doubt that India -- the key player in Nepal -- will coordinate with Toreng (or anyone else) on its Nepal policy. As schedules permit, we recommend that the SCA and USUN officials meet with Toreng during his trip to New York and Washington. ORDWAY