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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Chief of Mission: Shankar Prasad Sharma
Embassy: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
Fax: (202) 667-5534

US Diplomatic Representation:
Ambassador: Scott H. DeLisi
Embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 295, Kathmandu
Telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
Fax: [977] (1) 400-7272

Consulate(s) General are in:
New York
820 2nd Av., Suite 17B,
New York, NY 10017.
(212) 370-4188


Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Nepal
Royal Nepalese Embassy in Washington, United States of America
U.S Embassy Web Site in Nepal


FOREIGN RELATIONS

As a small, landlocked country wedged between two much larger and far stronger powers, Nepal seeks good relations with both India and China. Nepal formally established relations with China in 1956 and, since then, their bilateral relations have generally been good. Because of strong cultural, religious, linguistic, and economic ties, Nepal's association with India traditionally has been close. India and Nepal restored trade relations in 1990 after a break caused by India's security concerns over Nepal's relations with China. A bilateral trade treaty signed with India in 1991 is renewed every 5 years. The most recent renewal was on March 6, 2007, which expires on March 5, 2012. A transit treaty with India, which allows Nepal to trade with other countries through the Calcutta/Haldia ports, was extended on March 30, 2006 for 7 years.

Nepal played an active role in the formation of the economic development-oriented South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and is the site of its secretariat. Nepal is also a signatory of the agreement on South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), which came into force on January 1, 2006. A SAFTA tariff liberalization program (TLP) was scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2006. All member countries, except for Nepal, whose TLP started on August 1, 2006, reduced tariffs for each other. However, on July 1, 2006, Pakistan officially toughened its stance of not trading with India under the SAFTA arrangements and did not announce TLP for India. Due to the stalemate between India and Pakistan, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Free Trade Agreement (BIMSTEC-FTA), which was initially scheduled to come into force on July 1, 2006, was deferred indefinitely. The BIMSTEC Summit scheduled for February 8, 2007, in India was also deferred due to political instability in member states, including Nepal, but eventually took place in November 2008. On international issues, Nepal follows a non-aligned policy and often votes with the Non-Aligned Movement in the United Nations. Nepal participates in a number of UN specialized agencies and is a member of the World Trade Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Colombo Plan, and Asian Development Bank.

U.S.-NEPAL RELATIONS
The United States established official relations with Nepal in 1947 and opened its Kathmandu Embassy in 1959. Relations between the two countries have always been friendly. U.S. policy objectives toward Nepal center on helping Nepal build a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic society.

Since 1951, the United States has provided more than $1.2 billion in bilateral development assistance to Nepal. In recent years, annual bilateral U.S. assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of State has averaged $54 million. U.S. foreign assistance programs support Nepal's peace process and transition to democracy, and promote long-term development through agriculture, health, family planning, environmental protection, and vocational education programs in Nepal. The United States also contributes to international institutions and private voluntary organizations working in Nepal. The Peace Corps temporarily suspended its operations in Nepal in 2004 due to increasing security concerns, and officially terminated its Nepal program in 2006.

DEFENSE
Nepal's military consists of the nearly 95,000-strong Nepalese Army (NA), which is organized into six divisions (Far-Western, Mid-Western, Western, Central, Eastern, and Valley Divisions) with separate Aviation, Parachute, and Security Brigades as well as brigade-sized directorates encompassing air defense, artillery, engineers, logistics, and signals which provide general support to the NA. According to recent amendments to the interim constitution, the President is the Supreme Commander of the NA. General Chhatra Man Singh Gurung is Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), and also the senior commissioned officer of the NA. Talks are currently underway to negotiate the integration of the Maoist People's Liberation Army into the NA and other security forces.

Since 1958, the NA has contributed over 50,000 peacekeepers to 28 peacekeeping missions such as the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia, the UN Operational Mission in Somalia II (UNOSOMII), the UN Mission in Haiti (UNMIH), and the UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNTAET). NA units are presently serving in the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), and the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), among others. The NA currently has approximately 5,000 peacekeepers deployed. Approximately 3,400 of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers serve in the British Army, and 40,000 serve in the Indian Army.

The U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) coordinates U.S. military engagement and security assistance with Nepal through the Office of Defense Cooperation. Cumulative U.S. military assistance to the NA has consisted of $22.56 million in grant assistance: $10.7 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF), $6.26 million in professional and technical training provided under the International Military Education and Training Program (IMET in FY 2010 was $896,000), and approximately $5.6 million for Global Peace Operations Initiative funding to increase the pool of international peacekeepers and promote interoperability. Many NA officers attend U.S. military schools, conferences and seminars such as those provided by the National Defense University (NDU), Marshall Center, and the Asia Pacific Center for Strategic Studies (APCSS).

Principal U.S. Officials
Ambassador--Scott H. DeLisi
Deputy Chief of Mission (Acting)--Terry White
USAID Director--Kevin Rushing
Counselor for Management Affairs--Lee Hess
Political and Economic Chief--Timothy Trenkle
Consular Chief--Clay Adler

The U.S. Embassy in Nepal is located in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu (Tel: [977] (1) 400-7200; fax: [977] (1) 400-7272).


TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Nepal check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (NPR) Nepalese Rupee
Electrical 230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 977, City Code, Kathmandu 1+7D, Dhading 10+6D, Ilam 21+6D



Kathmandu
The country's capital and largest city simultaneously reeks of history and the wear and tear of increasing modernity. The tightly packed historical centre, with its squares and temples, continues to preserve a world light years away from the shanty towns, expensive hotels, restaurants and shops on the city's outskirts. Kathmandu's core is Durbar Square, with the Vishnumati River to the west and Ratna Park to the east. The Bagmati River forms the southern boundary, while Thamel, the budget travellers' hangout, sprawls to the north.

Patan
Patan, the second-largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, but it's a much quieter and less frenetic place to visit. The city is justly proud of its temples and artisans and it is their handiwork that provides the focus of the stunning Durbar Square - choc-a-block with the largest display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes the Royal Palace, which contains a richly decorated bathtub, and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple. Look up to the roof struts to see carvings of figures engaged in quite athletic acts of intercourse. A few minutes' walk north of the square is the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery guarded by sacred tortoises that potter around the courtyard; and the Kumbeshawar, reputedly the oldest (1392) temple in Patan. South of the square is an area of charming streets lined with metalsmiths and brassware shops.

Patan's other attractions are flung further afield. Among them is a collection of four stupas, thought to have been built over 2500 years ago, and Nepal's only zoo, which features a reasonable assortment of rhinos, tigers, leopards and bird life. Palm readers gather in the park outside - they may be able to point out which animal you'll be reincarnated as. Tibetan carpets can be bought in Jawlakhel, east of the city.

It's an easy 5km (3mi) from Thamel in Kathmandu to Patan and you can get there by bicyle, taxi, bus, or tempo.


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

Tobacco....200 cigarettes or 50 cigars

Liquor.....1 litre of spirits; 12 cans of beer

Perfume....reasonable for personal use

Cameras....no restrictions

Film.......15 rolls

Duty free..no allowance

Note: all baggage must be declared on arrival and departure. certain goods including cameras, videos and electronic goods may only be imported duty free if they are exported on departure. they may not be left in nepal. it is illegal to export goods over 100 years . export certificates need to be obtained from the department of archaeology for the export of any metal statues, sacred paintings and similar objects.



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