Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ULAANBAATAR625
2006-08-16 06:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

DALAI LAMA TO VISIT MONGOLIA AUGUST 21-28

Tags:  PREL PHUM SOCI MG CH JA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUM #0625 2280637
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 160637Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0259
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING IMMEDIATE 5185
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2200
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1568
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0129
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 2405
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000625 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI MG CH JA
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA TO VISIT MONGOLIA AUGUST 21-28

REF: A. ULAANBAATAR 608

B. ULAANBAATAR 385

C. 2002 ULAANBAATAR 818

Classified By: Economic/Political Chief Patrick J. Freeman,
for reasons 1.5(B) and (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000625

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PHUM SOCI MG CH JA
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA TO VISIT MONGOLIA AUGUST 21-28

REF: A. ULAANBAATAR 608

B. ULAANBAATAR 385

C. 2002 ULAANBAATAR 818

Classified By: Economic/Political Chief Patrick J. Freeman,
for reasons 1.5(B) and (D)


1. (C) The Japanese DCM told EP chief on August 16 that the
Dalai Lama will transit Japan next week en route to Mongolia.
The DCM said that Tokyo had informed the Japanese embassy
here that the Dalai Lama would transit Japan en route to
Mongolia on August 21, and would transit Japan again on
August 28 after leaving Mongolia. (Note: On August 9,
Foreign Minister Enkhbold informed the Ambassador that the
GOM was considering whether to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama
for a visit at an unspecified time this year, while Mongolia
is celebrating the 800th anniversary of its establishment.
Enkhbold sought any assessment the U.S. might wish to share
on the likely Chinese reaction to the Dalai Lama's visit.
See ref A. End note.)


2. (SBU) On August 16, a Mongolian daily newspaper published
a report that the Dalai Lama would visit Mongolia August
21-22 on the invitation of Gandan monastery. A source at the
monastery told the embassy that loudspeakers are being
installed at the main entrance of the monastery in
anticipation of public ceremonies, and that the monastery is
being comprehensively cleaned up and polished. The source,
who is not clergy and has no direct access to plans for any
visit, pronounced himself 90% certain the Dalai Lama will
visit next week.


3. (C) Comment: The Dalai Lama last visited Mongolia in
November 2002, at which time China sent a signal of its
displeasure by cutting freight traffic to Mongolia for two
days (ref c). While we defer to Beijing colleagues as to the
likely Chinese reaction to the upcoming visit, we strongly
suspect that, having also seen the newspaper report, our
Chinese diplomatic colleagues are busily working their
Rolodexes in a likely unsuccessful effort to frustrate a
visit next week.
SLUTZ