Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ULAANBAATAR181
2006-03-15 07:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

MFA Gives PSI Ship Boarding Agreement Update

Tags:  PARM MNUC KNNP PREL MG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0026
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUM #0181 0740759
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150759Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9579
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 4812
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2084
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1980
UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000181 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM MNUC KNNP PREL MG
SUBJECT: MFA Gives PSI Ship Boarding Agreement Update


Sensitive But Unclassified -- Not for Internet Distribution

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000181

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM MNUC KNNP PREL MG
SUBJECT: MFA Gives PSI Ship Boarding Agreement Update


Sensitive But Unclassified -- Not for Internet Distribution


1. (SBU) During a March 15 meeting on other subjects,
poloff asked MFA Legal Department Direct B. Altangerel
about where the interministerial review of the PSI ship
boarding agreement stood. Altangerel replied that MFA
had now received replies from all ministries. However,
the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, and the
Ministry of Roads, Transport and Tourism had expressed
objections to an agreement on the grounds of
sovereignty.


2. (SBU) Altangerel expressed disagreement with these
objections, saying that he thought these involved an
erroneous reading of the proposed agreement and
"sovereignty." He added, though, that Mongolia likely
would seek some wording changes in the draft presented
by the U.S. Poloff observed that a number of
countries, including those with the majority of the
world's shipping tonnage, have signed agreements with
the U.S. Poloff noted that, should the GOM have any
questions or requests for clarifications, he would
convey these to Washington for a response.


3. (SBU) Altangerel opined that the ship boarding
agreement is an important one and would be of benefit
in view of Mongolia's growing ship registry. He stated
that he believes Mongolia should sign it. He said he
had discussed the agreement with Foreign Minister
Enkhbold the previous day, and recommended that he be
allowed to reach out to ministers of the two ministries
which had opposed signing the ship boarding agreement.
Because of the new government, both ministers had
changed at the end of January, Altangerel noted. He
had hopes that he can convince the new ministers to
reverse the position opposing the agreement which
officials lower in their ministries had taken.


4. (SBU) Thus, Altangerel said, he is holding off
forwarding the ship boarding agreement to the Cabinet,
in hopes it could be sent later with unanimous
endorsement by the ministries. He added that he had
argued to the Foreign Minister that Cabinet approval
before negotiation should be sufficient, and that it
should not require the additional laborious task of
clearance by Mongolia's National Security Council (the
President, Speaker, and Prime Minister). Once an
agreement is negotiated, he observed, it would be
reviewed by the parliament and thus, he had urged, the
earlier NSC approval could be omitted.

SLUTZ