Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ULAANBAATAR494
2007-08-29 08:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:
Mongolia's President Visits Kazakhstan, Bolsters Ties
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UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000494
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI MG KZ
SUBJECT: Mongolia's President Visits Kazakhstan, Bolsters Ties
Reftel: Ulaanbaatar 418
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000494
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI MG KZ
SUBJECT: Mongolia's President Visits Kazakhstan, Bolsters Ties
Reftel: Ulaanbaatar 418
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Mongolian President Enkhbayar's August 13-15
visit to Kazakhstan produced several cooperative agreements, firmed
up already solid bilateral relations, and convinced at least some of
the visiting Mongolians that development through authoritarianism is
undesirable. One agreement, on disaster response, was concluded in
the wake of a deadly helicopter crash in a remote part of Mongolia
(reftel). Kazakhstan's President N. Nazarbaev agreed to make a
reciprocal visit to Mongolia sometime in 2008. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Mongolian President Enkhbayar's official visit to
Kazakhstan from August 13 to 15 strengthened already firm bilateral
ties and produced several cooperative agreements, according to
Mounkhou, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director for the Americas,
Middle East and Africa. In an August 28 meeting with the DCM,
Mounkhou confirmed that agreements were concluded on disaster
response, sports and tourism. Presidents Enkhbayar and Nazarbaev
also discussed Mongolian support for Kazakhstan's bid to join the
World Trade Organization, as well as potential Kazakh investments in
Mongolian gold, silver and copper exploration.
DISASTER-RESPONSE AGREEMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) The Foreign Policy Advisor to Mongolia's President,
Tsogtbaatar, who journeyed to Kazakhstan with his boss, told us on
SIPDIS
August 21 that the need for a disaster-response agreement became
painfully clear in June, when a Russian-built helicopter on a
firefighting mission crashed in northern Mongolia. The GOM
struggled to locate the site of the crash, at which 15 people died
(reftel). Now, Tsogtbaatar explained, the GOM has no more
functioning helicopters. (NOTE: Mishandling of the accident has
led to calls for the resignation of four ministers, including the
Ministers of Roads, Transportation and Tourism, Defense, Emergency
Management, and Justice.)
DEVELOPMENT, YES. AUTHORITARIANISM, NO.
--------------
4. (SBU) Tsogtbaatar said the Mongolian visitors were impressed by
Kazakhstan's success in developing oil, gas and mineral resources.
But he believed that this success has come at a high price. "Is it
worth developing through authoritarianism? No. Things should
develop in their natural way." Tsogtbaatar also said that although
signs of new wealth in Kazakhstan are clearly visible, this wealth
is not being distributed equally. Mongolia has its own problems in
this regard, he said, but to a lesser degree.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP DISCUSSED, REJECTED
--------------
5. (SBU) During their summit, the two Presidents referred to the
60,000 to 70,000 Mongolians (mostly of ethnic Kazakh descent) who
emigrated legally to Kazakhstan in the late 1990s; some are seeking
dual citizenship. The two leaders ruled this out, stating through
their spokesmen that the dual-citizenship issue needs to be decided
in line with the relevant laws of the two countries. (Note: Neither
country allows dual citizenship.)
6. (U) At the invitation of President Enkhbayar, President Nazarbaev
agreed to make an official visit to Mongolia sometime in 2008.
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON SOCI MG KZ
SUBJECT: Mongolia's President Visits Kazakhstan, Bolsters Ties
Reftel: Ulaanbaatar 418
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Mongolian President Enkhbayar's August 13-15
visit to Kazakhstan produced several cooperative agreements, firmed
up already solid bilateral relations, and convinced at least some of
the visiting Mongolians that development through authoritarianism is
undesirable. One agreement, on disaster response, was concluded in
the wake of a deadly helicopter crash in a remote part of Mongolia
(reftel). Kazakhstan's President N. Nazarbaev agreed to make a
reciprocal visit to Mongolia sometime in 2008. END SUMMARY.
2. (SBU) Mongolian President Enkhbayar's official visit to
Kazakhstan from August 13 to 15 strengthened already firm bilateral
ties and produced several cooperative agreements, according to
Mounkhou, the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director for the Americas,
Middle East and Africa. In an August 28 meeting with the DCM,
Mounkhou confirmed that agreements were concluded on disaster
response, sports and tourism. Presidents Enkhbayar and Nazarbaev
also discussed Mongolian support for Kazakhstan's bid to join the
World Trade Organization, as well as potential Kazakh investments in
Mongolian gold, silver and copper exploration.
DISASTER-RESPONSE AGREEMENT
--------------
3. (SBU) The Foreign Policy Advisor to Mongolia's President,
Tsogtbaatar, who journeyed to Kazakhstan with his boss, told us on
SIPDIS
August 21 that the need for a disaster-response agreement became
painfully clear in June, when a Russian-built helicopter on a
firefighting mission crashed in northern Mongolia. The GOM
struggled to locate the site of the crash, at which 15 people died
(reftel). Now, Tsogtbaatar explained, the GOM has no more
functioning helicopters. (NOTE: Mishandling of the accident has
led to calls for the resignation of four ministers, including the
Ministers of Roads, Transportation and Tourism, Defense, Emergency
Management, and Justice.)
DEVELOPMENT, YES. AUTHORITARIANISM, NO.
--------------
4. (SBU) Tsogtbaatar said the Mongolian visitors were impressed by
Kazakhstan's success in developing oil, gas and mineral resources.
But he believed that this success has come at a high price. "Is it
worth developing through authoritarianism? No. Things should
develop in their natural way." Tsogtbaatar also said that although
signs of new wealth in Kazakhstan are clearly visible, this wealth
is not being distributed equally. Mongolia has its own problems in
this regard, he said, but to a lesser degree.
DUAL CITIZENSHIP DISCUSSED, REJECTED
--------------
5. (SBU) During their summit, the two Presidents referred to the
60,000 to 70,000 Mongolians (mostly of ethnic Kazakh descent) who
emigrated legally to Kazakhstan in the late 1990s; some are seeking
dual citizenship. The two leaders ruled this out, stating through
their spokesmen that the dual-citizenship issue needs to be decided
in line with the relevant laws of the two countries. (Note: Neither
country allows dual citizenship.)
6. (U) At the invitation of President Enkhbayar, President Nazarbaev
agreed to make an official visit to Mongolia sometime in 2008.