US embassy cable - 05BRUSSELS517

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000517 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SA AND EUR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, NP, USEU BRUSSELS 
SUBJECT: EU CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS ON NEPAL 
 
REF: STATE 19024 
 
Classified By: POLOFF SARAH GROEN FOR REASONS 1.4(B,D) 
 
1.  (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to the Michael Swann, 
Administrator for South Asia at the European Council, and 
European Commission Nepal Desk Officer Rensje Teerink. 
Teerink said the Nepalese ambassador to the EU called on 
Commission Deputy DG for External Relations Herve Jouanjean 
on Monday, but had less information on what was going on in 
Nepal than the EU did, since communications with his 
government had been almost non-existent.  Teerink said the EU 
will reconsider its assistance to Nepal in light of recent 
events, but that drastic changes will not be made until the 
situation has become clearer.  Both Council and Commission 
representatives asked how the USG intends to respond to the 
king's dismissal of the government, specifically how the 
action might affect USG assistance programs in Nepal. 
 
2.  (U) On 2 February, the EU presidency released a statement 
of concern about the dissolution of the Nepalese government, 
which said in part, "The EU calls for the speedy restoration 
of multiparty democracy in Nepal to better meet the 
aspirations of the Nepalese people.  The EU is gravely 
concerned about reported restrictions imposed upon political 
and civil society representatives and recalls the need to 
ensure respect for civil and political rights. The EU recalls 
its grave concern over the current human rights crisis in 
Nepal with frequent and systematic violations by both sides 
of the conflict. The EU reiterates that continued 
non-compliance with international human rights and 
humanitarian law will have serious implications for Nepal's 
standing in the international community."  The full text of 
the statement is available at 
http://www.eu2005.lu/en/actualities/ 
pesc/2005/02/02nepal/index.html. 
 
SCHNABEL 
.