Interview with Susan Ulbaek, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Susan Ulbaek, head of the Asia Department at the Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was in the Nepali capital Kathmandu this week on a two-day official visit. She expressed concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in the Himalayan kingdom. Denmark spent US $40 million on development projects in the health, education, energy and human rights sectors in 2004. Ulbaek spoke to IRIN about the significance of the visit and the future of Danish aid to Nepal. QUESTION: What is your government’s message for Nepal? ANSWER: Our basic concern is that we would like to see a revival of democracy and restoration of civil liberties. We want to see a democratisation process restored through peace. Q: Is Copenhagen suspending aid to Nepal? A: No. We want to be clear that we are not suspending aid. We would like to stay here as long as we can and support the Nepali people. We have only suspended Danish-funded activities under the Revenue Administration Support project until further notice. The Danish government has decided not to enter into any project or programme agreements with the Nepalese authorities. As a consequence it has suspended the second phase of the Danish programme support for rural energy, community forestry and industrial environment. Q: Why has this decision been taken? A: We think in the end that Danish government assistance is based on partnership, which includes at the very centre, progress on the human rights situation and democratisation. We consider the events of 1 February [when King Gayendra suspended the government and declared a state of emergency] as a serious setback to multiparty democracy. Democracy cannot be safeguarded by excluding legitimate democratic forces from the decision-making process. Q: But before 1 February the human rights situation in Nepal was also bad, under democratic governments. But there was no strong Danish reaction then, so what has changed? A: We had always been arguing and giving very strong messages on human rights to the government. Messages were sent to political parties on human rights and democratisation. We had hoped for a lot of good things but unfortunately nothing happened. Q: Do you think the international community needs to put more pressure on Kathmandu to change? A: It is not only up to us. All we can do is support good moves. And it is not us who will solve the situation, which is why we are asking the political parties to unite and go forward in getting into a peace process and democratisation. It is everyone’s responsibility. But there is not much happening in bringing in a political process. The conflict is dragging on. Lots of people are not getting enough food [nor getting] other basic needs covered. This could improve. Q: You met high-level government officials. How did the meetings go? A: We had frank discussions. In the meetings with Vice-Chairman Tulsi Giri [King Gyanendra's most senior deputy in the government] and other officials, it was emphasised that if the situation did not improve this could have further implications for development cooperation with the Nepalese authorities. Q: You are one of the few foreign diplomats to get the chance to meet former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other leaders. Why did you choose to meet them? A: We wanted to know their strategies and are urging them to unite and present a united framework as that is essential for the restoration of democracy. There is a strong need for Nepal’s democratic political parties to unite around a joint plan for reviving and revitalising the democratic processes with a view to enabling the Nepalese people to exercise their sovereign rights.