Mongolia to Host Asian Ministerial Meeting on Environment

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000046

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/CM - D.CITRON; EAP/RSP - R.KURZBAUER; OES/ENV
-H.FINMAN; A/LM/AQM/IP - D.HUNTER; OES/PCI - Ann Covington
EAP - INTERNATIONAL FOR M. ENGLE, M. BAILEY
STATE PASS TO AID/ANE
MCC FOR JIM HALLMARK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON EMIN SENV PGOV MG
SUBJECT: Mongolia to Host Asian Ministerial Meeting on Environment


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's courtesy call on January
24, Mongolian's new Minister for Nature and Environment, G.
Shiilegdamba, revealed that Mongolia would host a meeting of North
East Asian Environment Ministers in Ulaanbaatar in May. He made
clear that this would be the precursor to higher-level meetings on
regional cooperation on climate-change issues to take place in the
fall in Ulaanbaatar (Note: dates are still pending). Shiilegdamba
said the Government of Prime Minister S. Bayar would emphasize
greater international cooperation on climate-change issues and
environmentally sustainable development, as Mongolia's mining sector
grows. The Ambassador recapped recent bilateral cooperative efforts
on the environment, including the recent completion of a US $100,000
EAP/ESF grant to study and publicize the environmental consequences
of widespread mercury use in artisanal mining; provisions for
environmental-assessment surveys and capacity building under the
newly signed MCA Compact; the signing of an MOU between Denali
National Park in Alaska and Mongolia's Altai Tavan Bogd National
Park; and Nature Conservancy efforts to protect Mongolia's
grasslands. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) The Ambassador paid a courtesy call January 24 on Mongolia's
new Minister for Nature and Environment G. Shiilegdamba. The
Minister, who last served as Vice Minister for Road, Transport and
Tourism, thanked the USG for recent efforts to preserve Mongolia's
environment. He added that GOM priorities under Prime Minister S.
Bayar include a greater focus on environmentally sustainable
management of natural resources, and increased cooperation with the
international community and donors on key environmental issues. He
noted that Mongolia was a party to several international agreements
on the environment and said Mongolia intended to host three regional
conferences on climate-change issues (a technical meeting in March,
a Ministerial meeting in May, and then a high-level meeting in
September). He also looked to tap U.S. expertise on assisting with
chemical-waste runoffs from mining, and asked for Embassy support
for seven environmental projects recently submitted for possible
funding through an EAP/ESF grant.

US-Mongolia Cooperation on Environment Issues
-------------- -


3. (U) The Ambassador updated the Minister on recent USG and NGO
activities aimed at helping Mongolia protect and preserve its
environment. The recently signed MCA compact, he said, would
provide funding (more than US $1.5 million) for environmental-impact
studies of the four MCA projects. The funds would also train,
educate and build capacity for officers at the Ministry for Nature
and Environment (MNE) and Customs, which would help mitigate
negative environmental impacts from increased illegal logging or
rapid mining development that could result from an improved railway
system. The funds would also help disposal of hazardous waste as
part of the health project, and provide for groundwater surveys for
peri-urban grazing and housing development.


4. (U) He noted the successful completion of the Mercury Awareness
Project, funded through a US $100,000 grant from the Department's
Office of Oceans, Environment and Science. The project helped fund
a detailed study of rising mercury levels in areas where artisanal
miners are active; it also created a publicity campaign that warned
of dangers associated with mercury use. The Ambassador applauded
the signing of an MOU during President Enkhbayar's visit to Alaska
in October 2007 between the Denali National Park in Alaska and the
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park in Western Mongolia, which will
increase information exchanges between the two parks. He also spoke
about the Nature Conservancy's recently launched program to protect
globally significant grasslands of the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia.

Shiilegdamba Bio
--------------


5. (SBU) Ganhuyag SHIILEGDAMBA (b. 1975) earned a Master's Degree
from Maastricht University in Holland in 2004 while serving as
Deputy Director of the government's Tourism Authority (2000-2004).
In 2004 he was named Vice Minister of Roads Transport and Tourism

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where he served until his recent elevation to Minister of Nature and
Environment earlier this year. Except for a one-year stint as
Executive Director of his father's "Bayangobi" tourism company
(1999-2000) he has no private-sector experience.


6. (SBU) At 32 years of age, Shiilegdamba is by far the youngest
minister in PM Bayar's Cabinet. Environmentalists complain that he
lacks experience in environmental matters and that his appointment
is proof that the MNE has little standing or respect within the
Government. (Note: Former Industry and Trade Minister Davaadorj
refused the position earlier this year, seeing it [correctly] as an
attempt by Bayar to demote and marginalize the Republican Party
within the Government). Others, however, contend that MNE is a
"training wheels ministry," and that Shiilegdamba could be destined
for bigger things. He was chosen for the job, many say, because his
wealthy father has been a long-time contributor to the MPRP.

Minton