IOM'S ENGAGEMENT WITH MONGOLIA INCREASING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000693

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR EAP/CM, EAP/K, G/TIP AND G/SENK

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/14/2017
TAGS: PREF PGOV PHUM ECON MG KN
SUBJECT: IOM'S ENGAGEMENT WITH MONGOLIA INCREASING

Classified By: Ambassador Mark C. Minton for Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Charles Harns, Regional Representative for
the International Organization for Migration (IOM),called on
the DCM and E/P Chief on December 13, described IOM's
increasing activity in Mongolia and said the country had
informed the IOM of its intention to join the organization in
June. Harns said the GOM was seeking assistance on border
security, identity management, in-country visa processing,
internal migration and detention/deportation facilities.
This was in addition to the ongoing training that IOM is
providing to help GOM officials identify victims of
trafficking in persons. Harns said the GOM had asked for
IOM's view on whether North Koreans who reach Mongolia en
route to resettlement elsewhere should be regarded as
refugees or economic migrants. ("Primarily as refugees," was
Harns' assessment.) Harns said the IOM was hoping to soon
open a full-time office in Ulaanbaatar. He indicated that a
technical cooperation framework agreement would be concluded
between the IOM and the GOM. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) IOM Regional Rep Charles Harns called on the DCM and
E/P Chief December 13, described IOM's increasing activity in
Mongolia and said the country had informed the IOM of its
intention to join the organization in June. Horns added that
the IOM was hoping to open a full-time office soon because
"we're reaching a critical mass." (The IOM's current
point-person in Mongolia is based in the former Yugoslavia
and makes frequent visits, usually lasting one week.)

ENGAGEMENT ACROSS MANY FRONTS
--------------


3. (C) Harns described IOM-GOM engagement as currently
focused on helping GOM officials identify victims of
trafficking in persons. (Note: On December 13, 30 GOM
officials underwent IOM training for this purpose. End
Note.) He said the IOM and GOM plan to cooperate across a
broad range of issues, including the following.

-- Border Security: Mongolia has requested assistance to
strengthen its border communications and equipment, and
establish 24/7 access to Interpol data;

-- Identity Management: The GOM seeks assistance to review
and consolidate its civil registry and other systems for
documenting individuals. Said Harns: "There are too many
documents out there and it's hard to know what's what, and
what's real."

-- In-country visa processing: The system through which
foreigners get visas renewed is flawed, and a hotline is
necessary. The GOM's "data archiving is good on a paper
level," but needs to be digitized. "We need to connect the
data streams."

-- Internal migration: With many rural Mongolians migrating
to Ulaanbaatar and other cities, the GOM wants IOM help in
assessing the numbers, impacts and options. "There's no
magic wand," said Harns. Fortunately, "The GOM is not about
to try any forced movements."

-- Detention/deportation facility for foreigners: The GOM is
building a new facility in Ulaanbaatar. Harns said the IOM,
which has assistance on this issue in Albania, Moldova and
Ukraine, would offer its support, although the IOM doesn't
deport anyone.


4. (C) Horns indicated that a technical cooperation framework
agreement (covering all issues above except for internal
migration) was to be concluded between the IOM and the GOM.
This, he said, will result in a number of different projects,

ULAANBAATA 00000693 002 OF 002


many of them focused on training.

ARE NORTH KOREANS "REFUGEES"?
--------------


5. (C) Harns, based in Manila, was scheduled to meet with
Mongolia's Justice, Foreign and Labor ministers during his
visit. He said the GOM had asked IOM's advice about whether
to regard North Korean asylum seekers as refugees or economic
migrants. Harns said the IOM views such individuals
primarily as refugees, because of the danger they would face
if they were returned home. Said Harns: "In my view, if
Mongolia starts calling them 'refugees' (instead of
'humanitarian cases'),it wouldn't hurt China-Mongolia
relations." He described the Mongolians as increasingly
resigned to the need to start recognizing the DPRK migrants
as "refugees." In his view, the number of DPRK refugees
reaching Mongolia is unlikely to change dramatically in the
absence of major changes in North Korea or its borders. He
said he doubted whether, if asked, the IOM would grant
membership to North Korea, "given the situation there," but
that "we would engage them on a less formal level." Harns
added: "I hope we'll get to that point, and there are some
encouraging signs, including the new rail link and
indications that the nuclear program will be halted."
MINTON