CABINET AGREES TO SEND 100-MAN 7TH ROTATION TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000734 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/FO AND EAP/CM E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2016 TAGS: MARR PREL MG IZ SUBJECT: CABINET AGREES TO SEND 100-MAN 7TH ROTATION TO IRAQ, LIMITED 8TH ROTATION REF: ULAANBAATAR 723 Classified By: E/P Chief Patrick J. Freeman ¶1. (C) During the Ambassador's September 29 initial call on Foreign Minister Enkhbold, Enkhbold confirmed that the National Security Council (President, Speaker and Prime Minister) had decided on September 26 to recommend that the Cabinet reconsider its decision to send only a limited number of troops in Mongolia's 7th rotation to Iraq, and to take into account the requests of the United States and Poland (reftel). The next day, Enkhbold said, the Cabinet had discussed the issue at its regular meeting, and had decided to send a 7th rotation with the 100 troops, the same number as previously, and to send the rotation to Camp Echo. ¶2. (C) In addition, the Foreign Minister said, the Cabinet had decided to withdraw the troops if Camp Echo is transferred from the Multinational Force to Iraqi military control; if this happened, the rotation would not stay the normal six months. Despite such a withdrawal, the FM continued, the Cabinet had decided to still continue to be involved in the fight against terrorism. This would be done through the commitment of a lesser number of troops or a small number of officers in a future rotation. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador responded that Mongolia's decision to send a full 7th rotation would be very much appreciated in Washington. Many people appreciated the role that Mongolia's forces play in Iraq. The Ambassador commented that Mongolia's courageous decision to send troops to Iraq are one key reason for the warm feelings in Washington and the U.S. military toward Mongolia. Mongolia has a sovereign right to adjust its troops deployments, the Ambassador continued, but the important point is that we should consult closely. Mongolia's very early expression of its thinking on future deployments would be helpful to us. ¶4. (U) A Mongolian news report on September 29 stated that, after much discussion, the Cabinet had decided to send a 7th rotation to Iraq equal in size to previous deployments. The report continued by stating that a departure ceremony for the 7th rotation would be held on September 29, and that the troops are expected to deploy to Iraq the week of October 2. (NOTE: DAO confirms that U.S. airlift has been arranged for an October 2 troop departure.) MINTON