VZCZCXRO2486
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHKT #2140/01 2191051
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071051Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4644
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0001
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4645
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2879
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0073
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2673

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002140 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
BEIJING FOR CHRIS KLEIN PLEASE PASS TO CODEL SPECTER 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS, H (MCSMITH AND JCARTER) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT ASEC AFIN NP
SUBJECT: WELCOME MESSAGE FOR CODEL SPECTER 
 
REF: SECSTATE 118952 
 
Welcome To Kathmandu 
-------------------- 
 
¶1. (SBU) Embassy Kathmandu warmly welcomes the August 12-14 
visit of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman and Mrs. Specter 
and staff to Kathmandu. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Overall control officer for this delegation will be 
Political/Economic Section Chief Bill Martin.  He can be 
reached 24/7 via the Embassy switchboard at 977-1-441-1179, 
via mobile phone at 977-98510-27951, at his home at 
977-1-472-0759, or via email at MartinWS@state.gov.  The 
control officer and expediter will meet the delegation upon 
arrival and provide transportation. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Post has made reservations at the Hyatt Regency 
Hotel in Kathmandu, with a room rate of 80 USD/night for a 
single and 85 USD/night for a double (within per diem), 
inclusive of breakfast.  There is an additional 13 percent 
VAT on the room.  The phone number at the Hyatt Regency is 
977-1-449-1234 and the fax number is 977-1-449-0033. 
Reservations may be cancelled up to 48 hours prior to 
occupancy without penalty. 
 
¶4. (U) Post will support the delegation's communications 
(including four international cell phones as requested), 
transportation and administrative needs. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Post will provide a revised schedule septel. 
 
Visas and Immigration 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (U) A visa is necessary for all U.S. travelers to Nepal 
and should be obtained in advance if possible.  If traveler 
is unable to obtain a visa before departure, an airport visa 
may be obtained upon arrival.  A single-entry visa valid for 
a 60-day stay may be obtained by diplomatic, official, and 
tourist passport holders at the airport for 30 USD (payable 
in US currency).  To facilitate the issue of an airport visa, 
traveler will need one passport-size photograph and will be 
required to complete an application form upon arrival. 
 
¶7. (U) All departing travelers are required to pay an airport 
embarkation service fee of Nepali Rupees 1,356 (approx. 18 
USD) if traveling to India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri 
Lanka, or Bangladesh, or Nepali Rupees 1,695 (approx. 23 USD) 
for all other international destinations. 
 
Health 
------ 
 
¶8. (U) Respiratory and intestinal problems are common in 
Nepal.  Visitors must exercise great care in what they eat 
and drink; food and water-borne diseases are common.  All tap 
water in Kathmandu and most other areas of Nepal is 
contaminated.  Travelers are advised to drink only water that 
has been filtered and boiled, and to exercise caution with 
bottled water (it can also be contaminated).  Bottled drinks 
(soft drinks and beer) are generally safe; ice is not. 
Travelers are advised to use only treated water when brushing 
their teeth and rinsing out their toothbrush, and to keep 
their mouths closed when showering.  Travelers should avoid 
eating/drinking from wet plates, utensils, and cups.  It is 
advised to eat freshly prepared food, i.e., well-cooked and 
served hot.  Cold food, especially dairy products, should be 
kept refrigerated and served cold.  Meats, poultry, fish, and 
eggs should be well-cooked and served hot.  Only fruits and 
vegetables that have been cooked or peeled should be eaten. 
Street food should be avoided due to poor sanitation.  The 
following vaccinations are strongly recommended: Hepatitis A; 
Hepatitis B; Tetanus; Typhoid; Rabies; Japanese B 
Encephalitis.  Malaria prophylaxis is needed only if there 
will be travel to the Terai, the lowland areas bordering 
India.  Local medical facilities are sub-standard, except for 
a few outpatient clinics in Kathmandu. 
 
Security 
-------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The State Department has classified the crime threat 
in Kathmandu as high.  Pick pocketing, purse snatching and 
other forms of street crime occur frequently, especially in 
 
KATHMANDU 00002140  002 OF 002 
 
 
areas frequented by tourists.  Visitors should avoid walking 
alone after dark, carrying large sums of money, or wearing 
expensive jewelry.  Valuables should be stored in 
safety-deposit boxes and should not be left unattended in 
hotel rooms.  The Embassy's 24-hour emergency number 
(441-0531) should be kept handy, particularly when going out 
into the street. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Since February 1996, Nepal has suffered a Maoist 
insurgency.  While the Maoists have targeted primarily 
Nepalese Government and business facilities, there have been 
a number of attacks against organizations and companies 
associated with foreign interests.  Large demonstrations in 
Kathmandu and elsewhere in Nepal often occur without notice. 
Relatively high levels of security exist inside the Kathmandu 
Valley, political agitation by students and party activists 
notwithstanding.  There currently is a cease-fire between the 
government and the Maoists, but violence and clashes between 
Maoist and security forces are still possible.  All U.S. 
Government personnel and contractors wishing to travel 
outside the Kathmandu Valley for official or personal reasons 
must obtain special permission from the RSO.  For certain 
districts, travel will be during daylight hours and for 
official business only. 
 
Weather 
------- 
 
¶11. (U) During the months of June through mid-September, the 
Kathmandu Valley is wet with monsoon rains; temperatures 
rarely exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit.  Rain showers occur 
almost daily and tend to fall in the afternoon.  The 
temperature during the day ranges from 26 to 30 Celsius 
(78-86 degrees Fahrenheit).  At night, the temperature cools 
down to about 18 to 21 Celsius (64 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit). 
 
¶12. (SBU) Post looks forward to the upcoming visit of Senator 
and Mrs. Specter and staff. 
MORIARTY