MONGOLIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON CD MINISTERIAL AND

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000428 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR G FOR JFERRAO, DRL/MLGA FOR LSICADE, IO/RHS FOR RLEATHAM AND EAP/CM PARIS PLEASE PASS TO USUNESCO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM UNGA MG SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHES ON CD MINISTERIAL AND UNESCO HOLOCAUST REMEMBERANCE RESOLUTION REFTEL: A)STATE 98670, B)STATE 99959 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. This is an action request, please see paragraph 5. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a demarche by the DCM to the Mongolian MFA on the upcoming Community of Democracies (CD) Ministerial, the MFA expressed no objection to the U.S. positions on Venezuela and Nigeria. However, Mongolia will not support Taiwanese participation, and continues to support full participation for Russia. In response to a request for support on the UNESCO Holocaust resolution, the MFA requested time to review the explanatory note, but appeared generally supportive. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) On July 19, the DCM and TDY Poloff delivered reftel demarches to Ms. Ochir Enkhtsetseg, Director for Multilateral Relations at the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the upcoming CD Ministerial in Bamako, Mali and on support for a UNESCO Holocaust remembrance resolution. ¶3. (SBU) With regard to the CD Ministerial, Enkhtsetseg stated that her government had no objection to the U.S. position to invite Nigeria as an observer, rather than as a full participant, and to not extend an invitation to Venezuela. However, on the heels of a high-profile visit by the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs during which the Mongolian President publicly reaffirmed his country's support for the "one China" policy, Enkhtsetseg would not entertain support for any form of participation for Taiwan. She also would not support anything less than full participation for Russia, Mongolia's critically important neighbor to the north. ¶4. (SBU) When the discussion turned to the location of the next ministerial, Enkhtsetseg noted that Lithuania had expressed an interest, and that Chile had suggested the meeting take place in Latin America. Enkhtsetseg mentioned that Mongolia might also offer to host the meeting, but if and only if no other country stepped up. ¶5. (SBU) Enkhtsetseg followed up with a number of questions on the upcoming ministerial, which we promised to relay to Washington. First, she asked whether there exists a draft meeting agenda available for review. Second, on the issue of Mongolian participation in Bamako, Enkhtsetseg noted that the State Department had earlier agreed to cover airfare costs for one Mongolian representative to attend the ministerial. She said that the most likely Mongolian attendee would be the Mongolian ambassador to Paris, who would also cover the meetings in Lisbon. Finally, Enkhtsetseg's aide also asked when the next planning session for the ministerial would be taking place in Washington. ACTION: Post would appreciate receiving responses to these questions as soon as possible. ¶6. (U) In response to a request for support for the UNESCO Holocaust remembrance resolution, Enkhtsetseg noted that Mongolia been a supporter of the January General Assembly resolution on Holocaust denial, and if the language in this resolution was similar to that, she saw no reason why her government would not support the UNESCO resolution, but she reserved her opinion pending her review of the draft. MINTON