US envoy conspicuous by his absence

KATHMANDU: US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry skipped the government’s briefing to foreign diplomats based in Kathmandu on Friday.

The event, third of its kind after the KP Sharma Oli-led government was formed a year ago, was attended by representatives — ambassadors and deputy chiefs of missions — from all diplomatic missions, according to an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The official said the US Embassy in Kathmandu was represented by its Deputy Chief of Mission Michael C Gonzales.

A spokesperson for the embassy also confirmed the ambassador did not attend the event and stated in an e-mail response: “The Embassy communicated our plans for American attendance at Friday’s briefing to the foreign ministry in advance of the event.”

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