MONGOLIAN GOVT SUMMONS AMBASSADOR, SEEKS CLARITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000512 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE DEPT FOR EAP/CM STATE PASS TO USTR MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC FOR F. REID E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV ECON MG SUBJECT: MONGOLIAN GOVT SUMMONS AMBASSADOR, SEEKS CLARITY ON SUMMIT DATE Classified By: Ambassador Mark Minton for Reason 1.4 (b). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: The Mongolian Government summoned the Ambassador to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a September 10 meeting and asked for a formal USG response to the GOM's request for a specific date for the proposed October summit between Presidents Bush and Enkhbayar. MFA Americas Director Jambaldorj said the GOM hopes the two countries will conclude three agreements during the summit: The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact; the GOM-proposed Comprehensive Framework Partnership Agreement; and the USG-proposed Transparency Agreement. President Enkhbayar is planning to visit not only Washington DC but also Illinois, California, and Alaska, and possibly New York and Wyoming. Embassy Ulaanbaatar requests information on the date of the summit, and formal guidance on how to respond to the GOM on the Comprehensive Framework Partnership Agreement. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (SBU) Tserendorj Jambaldorj, MFA Director for the Americas, Middle East and Africa, told the Ambassador during a September 10 meeting at the MFA that time is running short for the GOM to schedule meetings for President Enkhbayar's upcoming visit to the United States. He requested an official USG response to GOM requests for a specific date for the Bush-Enkhbayar summit, adding that the Mongolian President also aims to meet with Vice President Cheney and House Speaker Pelosi, and Members of Congress, among others. (Please see Paragraph 5 for a list of meetings envisioned by the GOM for President Enkhbayar.) ¶3. (SBU) Regarding the "substance" of the presidential meeting, Jambaldorj said the GOM hopes that the two countries will conclude three agreements at the summit. First and foremost, he said, is the signing of the MCC Compact, adding that preparations are going smoothly and that his side sees no obstacle to its successful conclusion. Second, Jambaldorj said, the GOM seeks the conclusion of the GOM-proposed Comprehensive Framework Partnership Agreement. He said an official USG response has not been forthcoming, despite the fact that the GOM presented its draft proposal early this year. It is important to bilateral relations that the agreement be reached, he said, particularly on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Third, the Director said, the GOM would like the summit to produce a conclusion of the US-proposed Transparency Agreement, "as a step toward a Free Trade Agreement." He indicated that although time is running out, it is still possible to conclude such an agreement, as far as the Mongolian side is concerned. ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador acknowledged that the summit is drawing near and noted that President Bush's schedule has been particularly busy of late, with visits to Iraq and the APEC summit in Sydney, and preparations for the UNGA. He promised to immediately convey to Washington the GOM's request for a specific summit date. He added that preparations for the conclusion of the MCC Compact are successfully moving forward, and that its signing could serve as the centerpiece of the summit. The Ambassador added that he would seek clarity on the proposed Comprehensive Framework Partnership Agreement and the Transparency Agreement. (Note: The last bilateral communication on the Transparency Agreement came on August 24, when Vice Trade and Industry Minister Sodbaatar, referring to the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or TIFA, told the DCM that the GOM wants a Transparency Agreement, as the GOM sees it as a stepping stone to an FTA. However, Sodbaatar made no mention of the pact as a deliverable at the October summit. End Note.) ¶5. (C) President Enkhbayar plans to visit Washington, DC Chicago, Los Angeles and Anchorage, with possible side trips to New York City, Fairbanks and the coal-rich Powder River Basin, Wyoming. The Mongolians envision meetings between their President and the following persons. In Washington, DC: President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Speaker Pelosi, Commerce Secretary Gutierrez, various (as-yet unnamed) Members of Congress, and various members of the Chamber of Commerce. In Chicago: Three as-yet unidentified individuals. In Los Angeles: As-yet unidentified businesspeople and scholars. In Anchorage: National Guard officials, members of the Foreign Affairs Council, and officials of the Permanent ULAANBAATA 00000512 002 OF 002 Fund. In Fairbanks: Officials of the University of Alaska. In New York: As-yet unidentified individuals. In Powder River, Wyoming: Officials of Peabody, Inc. (Note: Peabody Senior Vice President Fredrick D. Palmer is in Ulaanbaatar this week. He met with President Enkhbayar on September 7 and Foreign Minister Enkbold on September 10. On September 11, he is to meet with the Prime Minister. End Note.) COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Post would appreciate information on the summit date. If no precise date is yet available, we would be grateful to know of any "narrowing down" of the time frames being considered. We would also appreciate formal guidance on what to tell the GOM regarding the Comprehensive Framework Partnership Agreement, as well as the Transparency Agreement. MINTON