Alaina B. Teplitz, the new U.S. Ambassador to Nepal, presented her credentials to President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav today at an official ceremony held at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas.

“I am very happy to be here as President Obama’s representative to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal,” said Ambassador Teplitz. “And I look forward to building on over six decades of partnership and cooperation with Nepal in order to enhance prosperity, encourage democracy and ensure stability.”

Ambassador Teplitz’s Biography

According to Public Affairs Section, Embassy of The United States, ambassador Teplitz joined the Under Secretary for Management’s Office of Policy, Rightsizing, and Innovation (M/PRI) at the Department of State in 2012.  Prior to leading M/PRI, she was Minister Counselor for Management at U.S. Embassy Kabul from 2011-2012.

She managed a team providing the diplomatic platform for U.S. Government Chief of Mission civilian activities in Afghanistan and planning for the impact of the eventual military force reduction.

Ambassador Teplitz also served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Near East and South and Central Asia Bureau’s joint executive office from 2009-2011, where she handled the South and Central Asia portfolio, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.

She was the Director of the Management Training Division at the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute from 2007-2009. Previous assignments include Management Counselor in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Deputy Director of the Joint Administrative Services supporting three U.S. Missions -- the U.S. Mission to NATO, the U.S. Mission to the European Union, and the Embassy to the Kingdom of Belgium -- in Brussels, Belgium. Her previous posts also include: Ulaanbaatar, Tirana, and Sydney. She gained additional Washington-based experience as a Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Administration and as a Program Analyst in the Bureau of Administration.

A member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Minister Counselor, she joined the State Department in 1991 and is the recipient of numerous Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards.  Ambassador Teplitz holds a BSFS from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.  She is married and has two sons.

UK names new ambassador to Nepal

United Kingdom has appointed Richard Morris as a new ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK said Richard will replace Andrew Sparkes, who had retired from the British Foreign Service. According to a press release issued by British Embassy, Morris would come to Nepal to take up his assignment in November.Joint Local Statement on the distribution of humanitarian supplies in Nepal

The European Union Delegation, the Heads of Mission of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the UK, and the Heads of Mission of Norway and Switzerland issue the following statement in Nepal.

The Heads of Mission in Nepal express their support and encouragement for efforts to resolve the current difficulties affecting the supply and distribution of humanitarian supplies in the country, particularly of goods urgently needed for the adaptation of temporary shelters to the coming winter.

According to a press release issued by European Union, the effects of this situation are most heavily felt by the poorest segments of the population, including in the Terai. The lack of basic goods is taking a heavy toll on the economy of Nepal, where recent earthquakes have pushed an additional 3.5% of the population under the poverty line, according to the estimates of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment.

The Heads of Mission hope for a prompt solution of this situation. The ongoing talks represent a unique opportunity to make progress in this direction and the Heads of Mission encourage all involved to take advantage of it in a spirit of responsibility and compromise.