Ambassador Moriarty, U.S

Kathmandu: The United States Ambassador to the Nepali Court, James F. Moriarty, in his first Television interview granted Monday evening has confessed that his country did differ on some counts with the European countries based here.

He, however, also made it profusely clear that the US differed with its allies on Maoists issue on “change (difference) in emphasis” and that there was plenty of room for its “improvement”.

“Differences are not that huge with the European countries. However, how to proceed to tackle the Maoists issue could have some difference”, he went on to say.

Talking on US policy in Nepal, the Ambassador, however, said that “not a dramatic shift” from what it was in the past meaning that the US has effected certain changes of late in its perception towards Nepal and hence slight changes might see in Nepal-U.S bilateral ties.

To a query of the NTV questioner, Moriarty did hint that the US could lift the terrorist label from the Maoists but prior to taking such a decision his country would prefer to wait until the insurgency verified its actions by actual deeds.

” Overtime yes!” is what the Ambassador maintained. “If they join the negotiation process and ultimately take part in the elections and refrain from acts of violence, we might change our decisions”, continued the US diplomat.

He in the same vein also made it clear that both India and China have a very important role to play in this regard.

” Both China and India would wish to see a Nepal that is neither anarchic nor a bizarre government with discredited ideas”, Moriarty said.

Regarding allegations that he was pressing certain political parties in joining the government that tantamount to a sort of interference in Nepali affairs, the Ambassador made it clear that he had no intention of interfering as such in Nepali affairs and all that he “suggested” the parties outside the government either to join the establishment or at least support it from outside.

Ambassador Moriarty apparently hinted that he was against the UN mediation in the government-Maoists talks. He, however, shifted the issue of whether the UN be invited or not onto the heads of the people and the government of Nepal.

Nevertheless, Ambassador Moriarty did say that if the UN were invited, it might say, “Do this or do that”.

“Mediation implies heavy involvement”, concluded James.