VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #2196/01 3340019
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 300019Z NOV 06
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0829
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0199
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0135
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1549

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 002196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC NP
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES NEPAL; PROMISES QUICK 
RESPONSE TO NEPAL'S REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: On November 29, the Security Council 
discussed during a private meeting the November 22 letter 
from the Secretary-General  proposing UN support for the 
peace process in Nepal.  The SYG,s Personal Representative 
to the peace process, Ian Martin, briefed and responded to 
questions from Council members.  All SC members expressed 
support for the peace process and for an expanded UN role, 
and agreed to quickly take up a Presidential Statement to 
this end.  End summary. 
 
IAN MARTIN,S INTERVENTION 
 
¶2. (SBU) Ian Martin, Personal Representative of the 
Secretary-General to the Nepalese peace process, told the 
 
SIPDIS 
Council on November 29 that the Nepalese people have overcome 
great odds to arrive at the present situation.  He strongly 
supported the SYG,s November 22 letter, which called for 
quick UN action to support implementation of the 
Comprehensive Peace Agreement and included as attachments 
letters from all parties requesting UN assistance.  He said 
there is great promise for a "lasting peace in Nepal." 
Compared to his first visit in May 2005, Martin said the 
current situation on the ground "is like night and day." 
Martin reviewed for SC members the evolution of the peace 
process, and reported that parties to the Nepalese peace 
process have come to the conclusion that the UN,s assistance 
in arms management and electoral support is "vital" to cement 
a lasting peace in the country.  Martin added that the 
initial timelines for UN deployment to Nepal were 
unrealistic, but that "prompt and effective" UN action is 
needed nonetheless. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Martin supported the suggestions contained in the 
SYG,s November 22 letter, which calls for the following 
actions: 1) the deployment of a technical assessment mission 
to fully develop a complete concept of operations; 2) 
deployment of an advance group of up to 35 monitors that 
would serve as the vanguard for the UN,s proposed arms 
monitoring presence; and 3) deployment of an team of up to 25 
electoral personnel.  The monitors would serve as liaisons in 
Kathmandu with all parties to the peace agreement, but would 
not deploy into the proposed seven cantonment sites until the 
anticipated full monitoring mission is set up.  Martin urged 
that this type of groundwork begin as soon as possible, 
without a full concept of operations, arguing the need is 
"real and urgent." 
 
COUNCIL REACTIONS 
 
¶4. (SBU) All Council members spoke in reaction to Martin,s 
intervention, and uniformly congratulated the Nepalese 
government and people for arriving at the peace agreement. 
They also expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Ian 
Martin and his team, and confirmed Council interest in 
supporting an expanded UN role as outlined in the SYG's 
letter.  Ambassador Sanders said the USG strongly supports 
the peace process and welcomes the UN,s supporting role. 
She urged the Council to provide clear guidance in reaction 
to the SYG,s letter.  She characterized the Comprehensive 
Peace Agreement as the first step in the peace process, and 
called for deployment of the technical assessment mission as 
soon as possible.  The UK noted that the peace is fragile and 
therefore the UN has an overwhelming need to tender 
assistance.  The new assistance would build on what already 
has been achieved, said the UK.  The French DPR said France 
welcomes the agreement, and fully supports the proposals 
outlined in the SYG,s letter.  France calls on the UN to 
help cement a climate of trust in Nepal, he said. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The Chinese DPR pointedly said that China and India 
do not consider the situation in Nepal to be a threat to 
"international peace and security," implying that they do not 
support a peacekeeping mission and would prefer the UN 
assistance be organized as part of an expanded political 
mission.  He added that the proposed terms of reference 
drafted by the technical assessment mission should  be 
clearly defined to ensure a smooth implementation of the 
UN,s role.  The Russian DPR said Moscow welcomed the 
Nepalese achievement and took note of the SYG,s request.  He 
said that all modalities for the UN,s role should be clearly 
formulated.  With regard to suggestions proposed by the 
technical assessment mission, Russia is "prepared to be 
positive." 
 
NEXT STEPS 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Peruvian Presidency acknowledged the broad 
support within the Council for a quick response to the SYG,s 
November 22 letter.  UK PermRep Jones-Parry announced the UK 
would circulate a PRST that would welcome the signing of the 
peace agreement, take note of the request for UN assistance, 
and authorize the deployment of a technical assessment 
mission, a vanguard monitoring presence, and initial 
electoral assistance.  Jones-Parry said the UK Mission would 
circulate the draft PRST and hoped the Council would act to 
approve a PRST by Friday, December 1.  (Note: USUN 
subsequently received the UK,s draft and forwarded it by 
e-mail to IO/UNP.  End note.)  Jones-Parry suggested that the 
agenda item be termed "November 22 Letter from the 
Secretary-General" to take into account Nepalese and regional 
 
SIPDIS 
sensitivities about placing the issue of Nepal on the 
Security Council agenda.  The Council agreed to this approach. 
BOLTON