US DELEGATION THANKS MONGOLIA FOR ITS CONTINUED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ULAANBAATAR 000437

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/FO, EAP/CM AND NEA/I

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017
TAGS: PREL MARR EAID MG IQ
SUBJECT: US DELEGATION THANKS MONGOLIA FOR ITS CONTINUED
SUPPORT IN IRAQ


Classified By: DCM Brian L. Goldbeck for reasons 1.5 (B) and (D)


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During a July 22-24 visit to Mongolia,
NEA DAS Ambassador Lawrence Butler and Peter McVety, Office
of the Secretary of Defense,s Director of Coalition Affairs
for Iraq and Afghanistan, met July 23 with senior government
officials including the President, Foreign Minister, Chief of
the General Staff, and Members of the State Great Hural
(parliament) to reinforce Mongolia,s commitment to its
presence in Iraq by emphasizing U.S. appreciation for
continuing support as a troop-contributing member of the Iraq
coalition. The delegation was warmly received and it offered
persuasive arguments encouraging the Mongolian government to
continue to commit troops to Iraq coalition operations in the
future. END SUMMARY.

"My Nation Is Grateful For Your Sacrifices"
--------------


2. (SBU) Throughout their meetings with Government of
Mongolia (GOM) officials, DAS Butler and Mr. McVety,
accompanied by the Ambassador, TDY Poloff (notetaker) and
DATT, stressed the two-pronged purpose of their visit. First,
they expressed on behalf of Secretaries Rice and Gates their
deep appreciation for Mongolia,s contribution to coalition
forces in Iraq. Second, they sought to provide an overview of
the current situation in Iraq, in advance of the Iraq
progress report due to be delivered to Congress in
mid-September.


3. (C) The delegation covered in great detail recent events
at Camp Echo in Al-Qadisiyah province, where the Mongolia,s
100-member contingent provides base security for Polish
forces. In recent months, Camp Echo had come under frequent
mortar and rocket attacks, but following increased patrolling
efforts, these attacks have almost completely ceased. (Note:
Concern over these attacks led the Mongolian government to
roll-back its planned increase to 136 troops from 100 back to
100 troops as part of the current eighth rotation. End note.)

FM Enkhbold Expresses Caution on Ninth Rotation
-------------- --


4. (SBU) Foreign Minister Enkhbold noted that Mongolia,s
support to the United States in Iraq is not part of any quid
pro quo. Rather, Mongolia,s support of the coalition is
rooted in the philosophy that the country has an obligation
to help partners and friends who helped Mongolia when it was
in dire straits. But members of the media and the opposition
are pressing the government to know what benefit Mongolia has
received for its Iraq contributions. Enkhbold expressed his
view that at the political level, there is wide support for
Mongolian involvement in Iraq. Until recently, the Mongolian
public had not been engaged in a debate over its
government,s involvement. But in advance of the most recent
eighth rotation, members of the public and media had become
more active in questioning the rationale for Mongolia,s
contribution of troops.


5. (SBU) Enkhbold noted that as long as Mongolians see the
situation in Iraq improving, there would be little difficulty
in continuing to send troops to Iraq. However, he also
admitted that the decision to send the eighth rotation had
been very difficult. It was only after President Bush
intervened personally with a phone call to President
Enkhbayar that the government made the decision to continue
its previous levels of support. Enkhbold concluded that it
was hard to tell what would happen with a ninth rotation.


6. (SBU) Enkhbold also used the opportunity to remind the
U.S. of the importance of concluding the Millennium Challenge
Account (MCA) compact, as well as his desire to see
Presidents Bush and Enkhbayar sign a strategic partnership
framework agreement on U.S.-Mongolian relations during
Enkhbayar,s visit to Washington in the fall.

General Togoo Seeks Expansion of Mongolian Peacekeeping
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7. (SBU) LTG Togoo, Chief of the General Staff, expressed his
appreciation that Mongolian troops in Iraq had received the
heavy machine guns and other materials requested in advance
of their most recent deployment. Additionally, he was pleased
to hear from McVety that financial reimbursements for the
sixth and seventh rotations would arrive by early August.
Togoo stated that he had given a report to Parliament prior
to the decision to deploy an eighth rotation, and that
updates from CENTCOM, OSD, and from sources on the ground in
Iraq were critical to the Mongolian government,s decision
making and future planning.


8. (C) Togoo asked a number of questions of the delegation.
Topics of discussion included the expected timing of the
transfer of Al-Qadisiyah province to Iraqi authority,
anticipated changes to the structure of Polish forces, the
mechanics of casualty evacuation for Mongolian soldiers, and
the status of the MCA compact. He also expressed his concern
that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find
sufficient numbers of qualified English speakers in the
officer and enlisted ranks to participate in Iraq rotations
and other UN missions. He asked that a program for providing
American English instructors to the Mongolian military be
resurrected.


9. (SBU) Finally, Togoo stated that the U.N. mission in
Sierra Leone (250 Mongolian soldiers are currently providing
security to the Special Court) was slated to end in 2008, and
asked for U.S. assistance in working with the U.N. to
highlight Mongolian willingness and ability to participate in
other U.N. peacekeeping operations.

President Enkhbayar Laments Mongolian Oil Dependence
-------------- --------------


10. (U) President Enkhbayar expressed his appreciation for
the delegation,s visit, and noted that Mongolia, as a new
democracy, should be proud to be assisting another country
now undergoing a similar transition. While acknowledging that
there have been recent difficulties in maintaining public
support for the Iraq deployments, Enkhbayar cited the
government,s efforts to convince soldiers and officers that
their services are highly valued. He also mentioned that he
has personally greeted each of the previous seven rotations
when they returned from Iraq.


11. (SBU) Enkhbayar also noted that Mongolia,s large
neighbors, Russia and China, have both implied that they are
unhappy about Mongolia,s involvement in Iraq. He lamented
the fact that Mongolia receives 99 percent of its processed
oil imports from Russia. He mentioned that the Emir of Kuwait
would soon visit Mongolia, and he expressed his hope that
Mongolia,s other allies, including the U.S., European Union,
Korea, and Japan could help to lessen Mongolia,s dependence
on Russia and China for fuels and lubricants.

Parliamentarians Discuss Public Opinion
--------------


12. (U) During a lunch hosted by Ambassador Minton, four
members of the National Security Committee of the State Great
Hural (parliament) took the opportunity to share their views
and opinions with the delegation.


13. (SBU) When the discussion turned to public opinion of
Mongolian involvement in Iraq, one MP cautioned that while he
believes Mongolian involvement in Iraq is necessary, there
will have to be an end date for such support. A few MPs
questioned whether parliament and the government had done
enough to educate the public on the potential dangers of the
Iraq deployment. The Mongolian Armed Forces have not suffered
a single casualty since the end of the Second World War, and
there is concern that public opinion could turn dramatically
against Mongolian involvement if a serious injury or death(s)
were to take place. The consensus around the table was that
the public must be made aware of the risks, and one
suggestion was for the opposition to question the Prime

ULAANBAATA 00000437 003 OF 003


Minister on this issue. (Comment: Although all the MPs
present recognized the need to inform the public, none seemed
particularly willing to take the initiative to begin a public
debate on casualties. End Comment.)


14. (U) MPs lamented the fact that there was a public
perception of a linkage between Mongolian support for the
United States in Iraq and progress toward finalizing the MCA
compact. The MPs also sought the latest information on the
status of the MCA compact; all expressed hope that it would
be concluded soon. The event ended with a brief discussion of
visa issues, and the MPs hoped that more tourist and
educational visas to the United States would be made
available.

Media Coverage
--------------


15. (U) A number of print and television outlets covered the
visit. As is often the case here, Mongolian news sources
provided little analysis and simply reported on the presence
of the American delegation and its meetings with the
President and other officials.

Comment
--------------


15. (C) Amb. Butler's and Mr. McVety's message of
appreciation for Mongolia,s coalition commitments was very
well received by President Enkhbayar, senior members of the
government and Members of Parliament. Although all political
leaders expressed their support for the Iraq mission, recent
experience with the eighth rotation demonstrates the
potential for rising public opposition to the continuing
presence of Mongolian troops in Iraq. The death or serious
injury of a Mongolian soldier may force the issue to the
fore. Given that the eighth rotation was only secured
following a phone call by President Bush, similar or even
greater pressure will likely have to be exerted to secure a
ninth rotation. An ideal opportunity for such a pitch will
present itself during President Enkhbayar,s visit to
Washington at the invitation of President Bush in the fall.
END COMMENT.


16. (U) This cable has been cleared by Ambassador Butler and
Mr. McVety.
MINTON