Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ULAANBAATAR244
2008-05-28 00:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:
POSITIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
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UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000244
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM - D. CITRON, EEB/TPP/MTA - CHEVER BOLTMER,
EEB/TTP/ABT - GARY A. CLEMENTS, EEP/TPP - MIKAEL LURIE.
STATE PASS TO USTR,
USDA FOR N. SAKHLEH
BEIJING FOR AGATT
USAID FOR DEIDRA WINSTON
GENEVA FOR WTO REP
BANGKOK AND MANILA FOR USAID
COMMERCE FOR ZGCROSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR PGOV EAID ECON TBIO PREL MG
SUBJECT: POSITIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
INITIATIVE
REF: A: State 52628; B: State 53353
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000244
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM - D. CITRON, EEB/TPP/MTA - CHEVER BOLTMER,
EEB/TTP/ABT - GARY A. CLEMENTS, EEP/TPP - MIKAEL LURIE.
STATE PASS TO USTR,
USDA FOR N. SAKHLEH
BEIJING FOR AGATT
USAID FOR DEIDRA WINSTON
GENEVA FOR WTO REP
BANGKOK AND MANILA FOR USAID
COMMERCE FOR ZGCROSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR PGOV EAID ECON TBIO PREL MG
SUBJECT: POSITIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
INITIATIVE
REF: A: State 52628; B: State 53353
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) Post met May 27 with the Mongolian Food and Agriculture
Ministry's State Secretary, N. Batsuuri, to solicit his reaction to
previously provided points on the President's Global Food Security
Initiative (ref A) and to relay Administration's efforts to urge
food-exporting countries to remove export restrictions on food
products (ref B).
2. (SBU) Batsuuri stressed to Econoff and Econ Assistant that the
opinions he shared with us were entirely personal and did not, as
yet, reflect official positions of the Government of Mongolia (GOM).
Although he had not yet had an opportunity to share the information
with Cabinet members, he noted that the information would be useful
in helping the GOM solidify its official position on food-price
increases in the run-up to the Food and Agricultural Organization's
World Food Security Conference from June 3 to 5. (Note: Batsuuri's
assistant, Mr. Buyannemekh, later confided to us that final
government policy on the issue would likely resemble much of what
Batsuuri told us. End Note.)
3. (U) Batsuuri said he very much supported President Bush's
efforts, especially the idea of urging food exporters to lift
restrictions on food exports. As the United States is one of the
world's largest food exporters, he felt this set a good example.
Mongolia has been adversely affected by such policies, he reported.
70% of Mongolia's wheat is imported, mostly from Russia and
Kazakhstan. High Russian export taxes on wheat, and Kazakhstan's
cessation of wheat exports until September, have both been major
factors in recent price increases on wheat and flour in Mongolia.
Batsuuri expressed frustration that the WTO forbids member countries
from implementing import restrictions but has no similar rules
toward exports. He indicated that he hopes the U.S. will take a
leading role in proposing amendments to existing WTO rules to limit
export restrictions. Since 80% to 90% of WTO countries are importer
countries, he felt that an export restriction rule would gain wide
support from organization members.
4. (U) On the issue of Biotechnology and Genetically Modified
Foods, Batsuuri, like many others involved in Mongolia's
agricultural sector, expressed support for its use. However, he
said Mongolia lacks the capacity to develop or implement it at this
time. The few populist politicians and scientists who were railing
against it had little knowledge of Mongolia's agricultural sector,
he said.
Minton
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM - D. CITRON, EEB/TPP/MTA - CHEVER BOLTMER,
EEB/TTP/ABT - GARY A. CLEMENTS, EEP/TPP - MIKAEL LURIE.
STATE PASS TO USTR,
USDA FOR N. SAKHLEH
BEIJING FOR AGATT
USAID FOR DEIDRA WINSTON
GENEVA FOR WTO REP
BANGKOK AND MANILA FOR USAID
COMMERCE FOR ZGCROSS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR PGOV EAID ECON TBIO PREL MG
SUBJECT: POSITIVE REACTION TO PRESIDENT'S GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
INITIATIVE
REF: A: State 52628; B: State 53353
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) Post met May 27 with the Mongolian Food and Agriculture
Ministry's State Secretary, N. Batsuuri, to solicit his reaction to
previously provided points on the President's Global Food Security
Initiative (ref A) and to relay Administration's efforts to urge
food-exporting countries to remove export restrictions on food
products (ref B).
2. (SBU) Batsuuri stressed to Econoff and Econ Assistant that the
opinions he shared with us were entirely personal and did not, as
yet, reflect official positions of the Government of Mongolia (GOM).
Although he had not yet had an opportunity to share the information
with Cabinet members, he noted that the information would be useful
in helping the GOM solidify its official position on food-price
increases in the run-up to the Food and Agricultural Organization's
World Food Security Conference from June 3 to 5. (Note: Batsuuri's
assistant, Mr. Buyannemekh, later confided to us that final
government policy on the issue would likely resemble much of what
Batsuuri told us. End Note.)
3. (U) Batsuuri said he very much supported President Bush's
efforts, especially the idea of urging food exporters to lift
restrictions on food exports. As the United States is one of the
world's largest food exporters, he felt this set a good example.
Mongolia has been adversely affected by such policies, he reported.
70% of Mongolia's wheat is imported, mostly from Russia and
Kazakhstan. High Russian export taxes on wheat, and Kazakhstan's
cessation of wheat exports until September, have both been major
factors in recent price increases on wheat and flour in Mongolia.
Batsuuri expressed frustration that the WTO forbids member countries
from implementing import restrictions but has no similar rules
toward exports. He indicated that he hopes the U.S. will take a
leading role in proposing amendments to existing WTO rules to limit
export restrictions. Since 80% to 90% of WTO countries are importer
countries, he felt that an export restriction rule would gain wide
support from organization members.
4. (U) On the issue of Biotechnology and Genetically Modified
Foods, Batsuuri, like many others involved in Mongolia's
agricultural sector, expressed support for its use. However, he
said Mongolia lacks the capacity to develop or implement it at this
time. The few populist politicians and scientists who were railing
against it had little knowledge of Mongolia's agricultural sector,
he said.
Minton