Ambassador’s Statement at Farewell Press Conference (July 13, 2007)

Speeches / Media Clips

AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT AT FAREWELL PRESS CONFERENCE

July 13, 2007    नेपालीमा 

Thank you all for coming today.  I would first like to say to all of you journalists that I think you are playing a critical role in your country today, as you have for the entire time I have been in Nepal.  I encourage you to continue to be aggressive in your pursuit of the truth, better journalism standards and your own independence.  Your country needs objective, high-quality media if it is ever to achieve peace and democracy. 

When I arrived in Nepal three years ago, I had the same goal that I have today: promoting to the full extent possible the United States’ policy of creating a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Nepal.  I am happy to say that quite a few significant steps have been made to reach this end.  But I am sorry to say that not all groups with a stake in the political process want this end.  The Maoists and the extremist Madhesi groups are using multiple violent tactics to keep
Nepal off the path to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future.

Nepal now has a political process and several written documents in place from which to build a new democracy.  The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Interim Constitution, the November 22 Constituent Assembly elections – all of these agreements and activities hold the promise of democratic transformation in Nepal. 

Yet the ongoing Maoist and extremist Madhesi  violence throughout the country will derail the advance toward democracy unless stopped soon.  The Maoists must start to adhere to their commitments under the peace agreement, reign in the YCL and begin to act like a real political party.  The extremist Madhesi groups must stop their violence in the Terai and begin to use peaceful, political means to address the legitimate demands of the Madhesi people. 

No political purpose is ever served by violence.  In Nepal, a country known throughout the world for its kind, peace-loving people, the Maoists and Madhesi extremists are destroying your nation, your economy and your international reputation.  I hope that in the future, if both the Maoists and the extremist Madhesi groups give up violence, my successor will be able to shake hands with leaders of both groups and welcome them into the realm of mainstream politics.  I regret that they were unwilling to change during my time here and I was not able to do so.

I will miss living in Nepal very much.  But I know that my successor, Ambassador Nancy Powell, will continue to support the American policy of building a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Nepal.