Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ULAANBAATAR634
2006-08-18 06:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE DALAI LAMA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUM #0634 2300650 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 180650Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0274 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 5193 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 1571 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0132 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 2415 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2207 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0436
C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000634
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON CH MG
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE DALAI LAMA
VISIT
REF: A. STATE 134383
B. ULAANBAATAR 608
C. ULAANBAATAR 625
Classified By: Classified by Economic/Political Chief Patrick J.
Freeman, for reasons 1.4(B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000634
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON CH MG
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE DALAI LAMA
VISIT
REF: A. STATE 134383
B. ULAANBAATAR 608
C. ULAANBAATAR 625
Classified By: Classified by Economic/Political Chief Patrick J.
Freeman, for reasons 1.4(B) and (D)
1. (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister on August 17 to
deliver the paper conveyed in ref a, which responded to the
Foreign Minister's request for U.S. perspectives on the
likely Chinese reaction to a Dalai Lama visit (ref b). FM
Enkhbold expressed appreciation for the report. He did not
quite confirm that the Dalai Lama is expected to visit next
week (ref c),saying that issuance of the visa was "still
under consideration." Enkhbold indicated that the decision
to issue a visa for the visit was not an easy one, and was
visibly worried over what the Chinese reaction might be. He
said the Chinese government had inquired about the press
reports the Dalai Lama would visit, but so far had not come
in formally; he expected that would happen soon. Enkhbold
quoted from a Dalai Lama speech in March which underlined
that he sought autonomy for Tibet, but not independence;
would that moderate the Chinese reaction, he wondered.
2. (C) The Foreign Minister commented that, in view of an
expected negative Chinese reaction, he was still struggling
with how to explain the decision to all Mongolian
constituencies, such as business interests who may be
negatively affected. He said that the decision is not even
without controversy in Mongolian Buddhist circles, since the
Bogd Gegen, Rinpoche, is regarded as the head figure of
Mongolian Buddhism.
3. (C) Enkhbold asked how the U.S. would respond in the
event of Chinese pressure on Mongolia, such as a repetition
of the train service interuption in 2002. Ambassador
responded that the U.S. likely would reiterate publicly our
belief that the Dalai Lama is an international man of peace
who should be allowed freedom to travel. Such statements
would be unlikely to deter any Chinese pressure -- and any
effort at direct U.S. intervention with China probably would
worsen matters, not help them.
4. (C) COMMENT: While we do believe that Mongolia will grant
permission for the Dalai Lama to visit, the Foreign Minister
and his government are clearly nervous while they await
China's reaction: what will be the price to pay in relations
with their much bigger and economically powerful neighbor to
the south? We have no doubt that China will soon let them
know. Months after the last visit of the Dalai Lama in
November 2002, relations had recovered sufficiently for Hu
Jintao to visit Ulaanbaatar, which may be a history that
comforts Mongolian leaders as they await China's response.
MFA Americas, Africa, and Middle East Director General (A/S
equivalent) Jambaldorj told the Ambassador over lunch on
August 18 that he doubted China would again suspend rail
traffic as it had for a few days in 2002, but would, no
doubt, respond in some fashion. END COMMENT.
SLUTZ
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ECON CH MG
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER COMMENTS ON POSSIBLE DALAI LAMA
VISIT
REF: A. STATE 134383
B. ULAANBAATAR 608
C. ULAANBAATAR 625
Classified By: Classified by Economic/Political Chief Patrick J.
Freeman, for reasons 1.4(B) and (D)
1. (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister on August 17 to
deliver the paper conveyed in ref a, which responded to the
Foreign Minister's request for U.S. perspectives on the
likely Chinese reaction to a Dalai Lama visit (ref b). FM
Enkhbold expressed appreciation for the report. He did not
quite confirm that the Dalai Lama is expected to visit next
week (ref c),saying that issuance of the visa was "still
under consideration." Enkhbold indicated that the decision
to issue a visa for the visit was not an easy one, and was
visibly worried over what the Chinese reaction might be. He
said the Chinese government had inquired about the press
reports the Dalai Lama would visit, but so far had not come
in formally; he expected that would happen soon. Enkhbold
quoted from a Dalai Lama speech in March which underlined
that he sought autonomy for Tibet, but not independence;
would that moderate the Chinese reaction, he wondered.
2. (C) The Foreign Minister commented that, in view of an
expected negative Chinese reaction, he was still struggling
with how to explain the decision to all Mongolian
constituencies, such as business interests who may be
negatively affected. He said that the decision is not even
without controversy in Mongolian Buddhist circles, since the
Bogd Gegen, Rinpoche, is regarded as the head figure of
Mongolian Buddhism.
3. (C) Enkhbold asked how the U.S. would respond in the
event of Chinese pressure on Mongolia, such as a repetition
of the train service interuption in 2002. Ambassador
responded that the U.S. likely would reiterate publicly our
belief that the Dalai Lama is an international man of peace
who should be allowed freedom to travel. Such statements
would be unlikely to deter any Chinese pressure -- and any
effort at direct U.S. intervention with China probably would
worsen matters, not help them.
4. (C) COMMENT: While we do believe that Mongolia will grant
permission for the Dalai Lama to visit, the Foreign Minister
and his government are clearly nervous while they await
China's reaction: what will be the price to pay in relations
with their much bigger and economically powerful neighbor to
the south? We have no doubt that China will soon let them
know. Months after the last visit of the Dalai Lama in
November 2002, relations had recovered sufficiently for Hu
Jintao to visit Ulaanbaatar, which may be a history that
comforts Mongolian leaders as they await China's response.
MFA Americas, Africa, and Middle East Director General (A/S
equivalent) Jambaldorj told the Ambassador over lunch on
August 18 that he doubted China would again suspend rail
traffic as it had for a few days in 2002, but would, no
doubt, respond in some fashion. END COMMENT.
SLUTZ