VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0465/01 1270055
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 070055Z MAY 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6474
INFO RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0795
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2592

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000465 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV NP PHUM KDEM
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL RECEIVES BRIEFING ON NEPAL/UNMIN, 
ISSUES PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT 
 
 ¶1. (U) Summary: On May 5, the Security Council received a 
briefing on Nepal/UNMIN from Karin Landgren, the 
Secretary-General,s Representative in Nepal and head of the 
UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN).  Landgren emphasized that the 
recent political crisis that led to the resignation of the 
Prime Minister had "serious implications" for the future of 
Nepal,s peace process and called into question positive 
steps that had occurred prior to the Prime Minister,s 
resignation.  Council members all expressed concern about the 
political crisis.  The U.S., UK, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, 
Croatia, Turkey and others emphasized the importance of 
multiparty democracy and human rights.  In contrast to 
statements in January (and in response to the political 
crisis), Council members did not focus on ending UNMIN,s 
mandate, and instead conveyed their strong support for 
UNMIN,s role.  The acting Nepalese PermRep spoke at the end, 
and vowed that the "peace process (will) not drift from its 
progressive and steady course."  Following the meeting, 
Council members adopted a Presidential Statement on Nepal (at 
para 5).  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) Karin Landgren, Representative of the 
Secretary-General in Nepal, summarized the 
Secretary-General,s recent report on Nepal/UNMIN, and said 
in general the report described a "guardedly positive" 
situation in Nepal.  She then described the situation in 
Nepal since the writing of the report - a "deeply polarizing" 
standoff between the Nepal Army and the leading political 
party in Nepal,s governing coalition, the Unified Communist 
Party of Nepal - Maoist (UCPN-M) that culminated with the 
resignation of Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kemal Dahal. 
These recent events, said Landgren, have "serious 
implications for the functioning of government and for the 
nature of the state to be shaped by Nepal,s next 
constitution."  She noted UNMIN,s reduced presence, which 
currently stands at 273 personnel, including 73 arms 
monitors.  Moving forward, she called on all parties in Nepal 
to rebuild trust and to work together in a spirit of 
compromise and consensus. 
 
¶3. (U) All Council members noted the more positive tone in 
the Secretary-General,s report, and expressed concern 
regarding the recent crisis that occurred after the report,s 
issuance.  Russia and China emphasized the overall positive 
nature of the situation and expressed regret over recent 
events.  The U.S., UK, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Mexico, Austria, 
France, Costa Rica and Turkey underscored the importance of 
fighting impunity, and supporting multiparty democracy and 
human rights.  Ambassador Rice said recent events "make it 
abundantly clear that Nepal,s leaders must recommit 
themselves to implementing the Comprehensive Peace 
Agreement."  In contrast to previous meetings and in light of 
the current political crisis, Council members did not 
emphasize that UNMIN,s mandate is ending in July.  All 
supported UNMIN,s mandate, while Turkey and France proposed 
extending UNMIN,s mandate if requested by the government of 
Nepal. 
 
¶4. (U) Acting Nepalese PermRep Paudel did not linger on the 
current political crisis.  He said only "we are confident 
that the current situation in Nepal will be resolved soon 
through dialogue and consensus among the political parties in 
the Constituent Assembly."  He added that the Special 
Committee and Technical Committee are still working and that 
preparations are ongoing for the discharge of minors from 
cantonment sites.  He assured that Council that "the 
Government of Nepal would make sincere efforts to allow UNMIN 
to complete its given activities by the end of the current 
mandate." 
 
¶5. (U) Presidential Statement by the Security Council: 
 
The Security Council expresses its concern about the current 
political crisis in Nepal, and underscores the urgent need 
for the Government of Nepal and all political parties to 
continue to work together in the spirit of compromise.  The 
Council notes the steps taken so far in the implementation of 
the peace process and recalls its full support for that 
process. 
 
The Security Council reaffirms its full support for the 
United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) and recalls 
resolution 1864 (2009) calling upon the Government of Nepal 
to continue to take the necessary decisions to create 
conditions conducive to completion of UNMIN,s activities by 
the end of the current mandate, including through the work of 
the Special and Technical Committees for supervision, 
integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army combatants. 
 
The Security Council recalls the Government of Nepal,s 
 
 
commitment to discharge minors from the cantonment sites and 
calls upon the Government of Nepal to implement this 
commitment in accordance with international law. 
 
 
Rice