Cablegate: Nepal Statement for the Security Council

VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #7950 2962305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O P 232249Z OCT 07
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9265
INFO RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 9763

UNCLAS STATE 147950

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNSC PREL KDEM NE
SUBJECT: NEPAL STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL

1. This is an action request. USUN is instructed to draw on
the points in para 2 during the discussion by Council members
following the report of SRSG Ian Martin on October 24.

2. Begin points:

-- The United States strongly supports the United
Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), commends the work of
Special Representative Martin
and his staff and looks forward to working with him
under a renewed mandate.

-- The U.S. notes Special Representative Martin's report,
which states that, after some initial delays, verification of
Maoist combatants is complete in four of the seven
cantonments. The U.S. calls upon the Communist Party of
Nepal-Maoist to immediately and unconditionally fulfill its
commitments to discharge Maoist personnel deemed ineligible
under the agreed criteria, in particular those deemed to have
been recruited as minors.

-- The United States urges the Government of Nepal to
promptly set a date for Constituent Assembly elections,
taking into account the time necessary for preparations that
will ensure polling is free, transparent, fair and credible,
and calls for all parties to abide by the new date.

-- The U.S. is providing nearly $10 million in assistance in
support of Nepal's transition to democracy in areas such as
security sector reform, conflict resolution, civil society,
supporting legal institutions, the election commission and
political parties. We urge other donors to offer maximum
support to ensure that Nepal makes a successful transition.

-- The U.S. welcomes UNMIN's technical election assistance to
the Government of Nepal. We hope that, when a new election
date is announced, resources and conditions will permit UNMIN
to capably monitor the parties' adherence to the cease-fire
agreement and conditions necessary for an election process
free from intimidation.

End Points.
RICE

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