Trains, Planes and Congressional Exchanges: Ambassador

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000011 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS USTR, OPIC, AND EXIMBANK STATE FOR EAP/CM AND and INR/B USAID FOR ANE FOR D. WINSTON TOKYO AND BEIJING FOR FAA REP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELTN EAIR PREL ETRD SOCI MG SUBJECT: Trains, Planes and Congressional Exchanges: Ambassador Calls on Minister for Roads, Transport and Tourism R. Rash SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On January 4, the Ambassador paid an initial courtesy call on new Minister of Roads, Transportation and Tourism ¶R. Rash. During the cordial hour-long meeting, Rash emphasized the importance of the rail sector to the country's economy and the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Compact's vital contribution to revivifying it. Rash praised the superior quality of General Electric (GE) locomotives over their Russian counterparts while underscoring the railroad's urgent need to receive five locomotives as part of an agreement under the MCC compact. The Ambassador stood ready to assist and encouraged the GOM to expedite MCA implementation, particularly to sign key Procurement and Fiscal Agent Agreements that would enable preliminary funding to facilitate preparations to secure essential items like the much needed locomotives. The Ambassador also noted that bilateral relations were turning towards expansion of commercial ties, especially in the area of mining, where the USG was supporting the efforts of Rio Tinto and Peabody Energy to develop world class copper and coal deposits in the south Gobi. Rash also effusively reminisced about his participation in a parliamentary exchange delegation to Washington D.C. and Hawaii last year (House Democracy Action Commission, HDAC) and noted the Ministry plans to obtain Boeing aircraft for the Mongolian's national carrier MIAT, and to develop tourism in the South Gobi and Huvsgol Provinces. END SUMMARY Workin' on the Railroad -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On January 4, the Ambassador paid an initial courtesy call on the newly appointed Minister of Roads, Transportation and Tourism, R. Dash. In addition to his ministerial duties, Rash's portfolio also includes positions on MCA-Mongolia Board and the parliamentary working group on mining issues, both key areas of U.S. engagement with Mongolia. During the meeting, Rash noted that he headed the Mongolian Rail Road (Mongolian acronym: MTZ) for over 15 years and believed his current assignment was a show of trust by parliament for him to continue his oversight of a sector that is key to Mongolia's economic health. He reported that opinion within the railway was that American locomotive products were far superior to Russian ones. The railway's purchase of two (Dash -7 series) locomotives from GE was a good decision, he said, albeit a controversial one, because it meant rejecting equipment built by the railroad's Russian co-owners. MTZ was now working to complete the purchase 20 GE locomotive kits, with 10 already procured. (Note: GE reps reported to post that it would like to finish the existing contract to which Rash referred, by selling six additional modernization kits during 4th quarter of 2008. Preliminarily, the railway has agreed to buy, but GE believes that Russians want to stop the contract. In addition, GE revealed that it is working to improve the technical conditions of modernized locomotives fleet by introducing service arrangement for the railway. Specifically, GE has proposed a 10-year deal that will cover scheduled maintenance activities and overhaul components supply. End Note.) ¶3. (SBU) Rash was grateful for the MCA contribution to the railroad (Note: the MCC Compact will provide US$188 million to upgrading the rail system, the lifeline of Mongolia's international trade). He pledged that, as a member of the MCA-Mongolia Board, implementation of the MCA rail project will be a priority for his ministry. He also said at least 30 locomotives would be needed to realize the rail sector's full potential but that the railroad urgently needed to obtain five locomotives right away under an agreement reached with MCC. Need for Speed: Equipment Purchases Depends on Rapid Formation of MCA-Mongolia -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Ambassador thanked Rash for his efforts in helping Mongolia reach the MCA Compact, and he said that as a member of the MCA-Mongolia board, Rash's leadership could help press for needed organizational efforts to speed up MCA implementation. The ULAANBAATA 00000011 002 OF 002 Ambassador agreed with Rash's assessment that five locomotives were urgently needed, not only because of the onset of the summer construction season, but also because it was important to show early and concrete results of the compact's implementation. The Embassy would do all it could, he said, to push for delivery of the locomotives in the early part of 2008 but warned that progress depended on timely completion of the necessary Procurement and Fiscal Agent agreements, the absence of which would impede timely delivery. He also noted that inflation risks eroding buying power. The Ambassador noted that Parliament still needed to ratify compact (expected later this week),the MCA board needed to be formed and a CEO chosen; he urged this be done quickly. He added that an independent audit of MTZ's books was required to get funds moving. Parliamentary Exchange -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Rash recounted some of his experiences on his recent parliamentary exchange trip (House Democracy Action Commission or HDAC) to the U.S. that he said taught him a lot about the American political system. He was particularly impressed by how the two-party system was so well balanced. The success of the Library of Congress' Congressional Research Service had encouraged the delegation to invest more resources for their own parliamentary research service. The Ambassador said he was grateful for the kind words about the congressional exchange program, noted that relations between our two countries had deepened over the past year thanks in part to such exchange programs and he looked forward to strengthening ties further through additional parliamentary exchanges. Mongolia is highly respected in the U.S. as a true democracy with a functioning parliamentary system, he added. Mining Issues -------------- ¶6. (SBU) When Rash reminded the Ambassador that he was also a member of the parliamentary working group on mining issues, the Ambassador remarked that the signing of the MCC compact was certainly a high point in bilateral relations, but that it was now important to focus on the development of our commercial relations, particularly in the area of mining. He then noted that the Embassy was currently supporting Rio Tinto and Peabody Energy in their efforts to develop world class copper and coal deposits in the south Gobi. Interest in Boeing Aircraft -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Rash revealed that the GOM was planning on obtaining new Boeing aircraft to enhance MIAT's fleet. (Note: MIAT, the national carrier, has been working to secure one Boeing 737 and maybe a 767 as a replacement for the Airbus 310 it currently has under a lease that expires in 2010.) He also said they were aiming to develop tourism in the southern Omnogovi and western Husvgol provinces, but admitted the major obstacle was the need to improve infrastructure. GOLDBECK