Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ULAANBAATAR32
2008-01-24 03:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

MRPR CABINET MINISTERS REQUIRED TO SIGN ETHICS AGREEMENT

Tags:  PREL PGOV KCOR ECON MG 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000032 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND INR/EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCOR ECON MG
SUBJECT: MRPR CABINET MINISTERS REQUIRED TO SIGN ETHICS AGREEMENT


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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000032

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND INR/EAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCOR ECON MG
SUBJECT: MRPR CABINET MINISTERS REQUIRED TO SIGN ETHICS AGREEMENT


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


1. (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: With Parliamentary elections
scheduled for June and public concern running high over
corruption, the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
(MPRP) has announced that all MPRP Cabinet and Vice Ministers
signed an ethics agreement on January 17. The agreement
obliges signatories to reject corruption, promote
accountability and respect human rights. It also obliges
them to obey all Mongolian laws, avoid coming under the
influence of any special interest group, and speak out
immediately against unethical behavior by others in
Government. Theoretically, at least, signatories could lose
their party membership for failing to honor the agreement.
MPRP Parliamentarians have not been required to sign the
agreement. Some observers mocked the agreement and pointed
out that corruption among senior MPRP officials has long been
a problem. Others called it an election-year ploy, while
still others considered the measure a step toward
accountability. We welcome the agreement and any other
efforts to underline the need for ethical behavior by public
servants. In recent years, legislation on ethical standards
for high-ranking state officials has languished at the State
Structure Standing Committee, and has never made it to the
Parliamentary floor for a vote. Nevertheless, it is becoming
increasingly difficult for corrupt Mongolian officials to
hide or defend their actions. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT.


2. (C) With Parliamentary elections five months away and
public concern running high over corruption, the ruling
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) has produced an
ethics agreement, which all MPRP Cabinet ministers and vice
ministers signed on January 17. Notably, MPRP
Parliamentarians were not been required to sign the
agreement, which obliges signatories to reject corruption,
promote accountability and respect human rights. The measure
provides for the ouster of any MPRP member found by the
party's Ethics Council to have failed to honor its terms.
The agreement, conceived last autumn at the party's 25th
Congress and drafted by the MPRP Steering Committee, also
calls on signatories to uphold the Constitution; obey all
Mongolian laws; avoid coming under the influence of any
special interest group; serve transparently and justly; and
speak out immediately against unethical behavior by others in
Government.

"ISN'T THAT AN OXYMORON?"
--------------


3. (C) Some cynics mocked the agreement; one asked: "MPRP
ethics agreement? Isn't that an oxymoron?" Others called it
shameless electioneering, and said it was just a matter of
time before other parties followed suit, to avoid being
viewed as less ethical than other parties. However, other
observers considered the measure a step in the right
direction, though they wondered aloud whether the MPRP would
actually banish an MPRP Cabinet or vice minister caught with
his hand in the cookie jar.


ETHICS LEGISLATION LANGUISHING
--------------


4. (C) Legislation on ethical standards for high-ranking
state officials has in recent years stalled at the
Parliamentary Standing Committee for State Structure. While
the legislation has been debated there, it has never made it
to the Parliamentary floor for a vote, much to the
frustration of advocates. The legislation, if enacted, would
work against incumbents seeking re-election by, for instance,
forbidding them to use state property such as telephones,
vehicles, computers and photocopiers for any non-official
use, such as campaigning. As one advocate put it: MPs "don't
want to pass the legislation, because right now there are
freer to do what they want, without much scrutiny."

ULAANBAATA 00000032 002 OF 002



COMMENT
--------------


5. (C) Regardless of what strategic or other needs are met by
the MPRP's announced ethics agreement, we support the measure
and any other efforts to crystallize in the public mind the
need for ethical behavior by public officials. Corruption
remains an entrenched problem in Mongolia, particularly among
the police and judiciary. But with the ethics agreement, and
more importantly the operation of the Anti Corruption Agency
(formed by the July 2006 Anti Corruption Law, which also
forced public servants to declare their assets and income for
the first time),it is becoming increasingly difficult for
corrupt Mongolian officials to hide or defend their actions.
END COMMENT.
MINTON