Embassy Highlights
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U.S. Ambassador Powell Meets with CPN-M Chairman Pushpa Dahal May 2, 2008  U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell met yesterday with CPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to discuss the outcome of the April 10 elections, CPN-M plans for the Constituent Assembly, and the future of U.S.-Nepal relations. This was their first meeting. The meeting occurred in advance of Powell’s return to the United States for consultations on U.S.-Nepal relations. Powell provided an overview of current U.S. government assistance to Nepal designed to help create a more prosperous, democratic, and stable Nepal. She sought assurances that the new government would respect current donor agreements and ensure the safety of those implementing them. She encouraged Dahal to ensure that all Maoist organizations illustrate their commitment to the political process through their words and actions.
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Latest Headlines From the
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U.S. Supports Peaceful Election
April 4, 2008 As we enter the final week before the election, the United States of America renews its support for a peaceful election through which all Nepalis can freely choose their own future. This election should be an historic opportunity for the people of Nepal to choose the representatives who will decide the constitutional framework for Nepal's future government. It will mark an important turning point in the transition to what we hope will be a new peaceful, prosperous and democratic Nepal. We condemn all threats and acts of violence levied by any party or group against candidates, voters, party cadres, officials or observers. We urge all Nepalese to guarantee the rights of their fellow citizens to cast their ballots without fear and to respect the results of the elections.
Ambassador Powell visits the Terai Arc Landscape Project in Bardiya. March 27, 2008 Ambassador Nancy J. Powell visited the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) project in the Bardiya. The TAL project, which is implemented by WWF Nepal and partially funded by USAID, promotes biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods in an ecologically sensitive corridor of land that links 11 trans-boundary protected areas along the Nepal-India border.   | Near the village of Dalla, Ambassador Powell met with members of the Community Based Anti-poaching Operations, who volunteer to protect endangered species such as the one-horned Asian rhinoceros in the Buffer Zone adjacent to Bardiya National Park. |
 | At the Khata Community Forestry Office, Ambassador Powell received a warm welcome from the women of the Khata community, where the TAL supports income-generating activities including furniture making, gardening, and the production of chamomile extract. |
U.S. Embassy Symposium for World Water Day
March 24, 2008
On March 24, the U.S. Embassy organized a symposium on water issues to commemorate the World Water Day at the new Embassy. The symposium was devoted to the theme of the 2008 World Water Day: “Sanitation Matters.”
The symposium focused on Nepal’s future water priorities and highlighted the contributions of American citizens to addressing Nepal’s water needs.
In her opening remarks, Ambassador Nancy J. Powell expressed confidence that Nepalis and friends of Nepal could come together to meet the challenges of providing clean water and sanitation, adequate water supplies, and effective sewage disposal for Kathmandu Valley. <more>
USAID commemorates World Tuberculosis Day
March 24, 2008 Today, the United States Government joins the Government of Nepal and international and local partners in commemorating World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. Worldwide, deaths from TB have gone down since 1990, but the disease continues to claim more than 1.6 million lives each year.
With HIV/AIDS claiming over 2 million lives each year, and malaria killing more than 1 million, TB is one of the three leading causes of deaths worldwide due to infectious diseases. About 10 percent of TB patients are also co-infected with HIV, and TB is the leading cause of death for AIDS patients. USAID programs are fully aligned with the new STOP TB Strategy, which gives attention to issues including TB/HIV-AIDS and Multi-drug Resistant TB. <more>
U.S. Embassy Expresses Condolences, Calls for all to Support Electoral Code of Conduct
March 20, 2008
The United States Embassy expresses its deep condolences to the families of those political figures killed in recent days in Banke and Rolpa districts, including Kamal Prasad Adhkari, a candidate for the Rastriya Jana Morcha party in Banke-2 constituency, who died yesterday morning, March 19, after being shot at his home hours before, allegedly by members of an armed Madhesi group. We also regret the attacks, abductions and other threats which are undermining the electoral process. We abhor such acts of violence and intimidation from any quarter, and call for an end to violence by armed groups in the Terai and by the Maoists and their Young Communist League. We urge all Nepalis to observe the Electoral Code of Conduct and to support an atmosphere in which a free and fair Constituent Assembly election can be held on April 10. The United States remains committed to doing its part to assist Nepal with this historic election.
American Embassy Hosts Women's Leadership Forum March 7, 2008
| | Ambassador Powell addresses the female
audience at the Embassy's Women's Leadership
Forum |
The American Embassy in Kathmandu hosted 250 women in Kathmandu to commemorate International Women’s Day and hear the experiences and challenges that women face in their professional careers. U.S. Ambassador Nancy Powell stressed the importance of education, mentoring, human rights and a legal system to enforce those rights. She also encouraged the women of Nepal to become actively involved in the rewriting of the Nepali constitution. The Ambassador, along with the three other speakers, the Director of the NGO Swati, Sangita Nirola; USAID Director, Beth Paige; and attorney Sadhana Bhetuwal Ghimire, also answered numerous questions from the audience. The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy provided participants with educational materials and information about the American Library in Kathmandu. The talk ended with a chance for the all-female audience to meet other successful women in Nepal.
U.S. Welcomes Agreement between UDMF and GON
February 28, 2008
The United States Embassy welcomes the decision by the three United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) parties to sign a political agreement today with the Government of Nepal. We expect this agreement will lead the UDMF parties to end their Terai bandh (general strike) with immediate effect and will pave the way for the three parties to participate fully in the upcoming Constituent Assembly election on April 10. We expect further that both sides will fulfill the terms of the agreement. A free and fair election is the desire, we believe, of all Nepalis – in the mountains, the hills and the plains – and the United States is committed to doing its part to assist the people of Nepal in making this historic opportunity a reality.
United States Congratulates People of Nepal April 11, 2008 The United States heartily congratulates the people of Nepal on their successful Constituent Assembly election on April 10. After nearly a decade since the last general election and more than half a century of demanding the opportunity to elect representatives to draft a constitution, the voters have spoken. Despite pre-election violence and intimidation and the regrettable death of candidates and party workers, only a small percentage of polling stations will require re-polling. Overwhelmingly across the country men and women were able to cast their ballots in a peaceful and orderly way. This represents an historic achievement and is a tribute to the courage of the Nepali people and the conduct of the Election Commission. Nepal has taken a huge step forward on the path of peace and democracy. In the days and weeks to come as the votes are counted, we urge patience and respect for the results. We stand ready to assist the people of Nepal in their pursuit of a more peaceful, democratic and prosperous future.
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