Mongolian Vice Foreign Minister Formally Conveys

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000005 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS NSC FOR P. HANLE STATE FOR EAP/CM, NEA/NGA, and INR/B USAID FOR ANE FOR D. WINSTON PACOM FOR FPA AMB CHRISTY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MARR PREL ETRD EPET SOCI MG SUBJECT: Mongolian Vice Foreign Minister Formally Conveys Confirmation of 9th Iraq Rotation Ref: A) 07 Ulaanbaatar 708, B) SECDEF 101616Z Dec 07 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Enkhmandakh confirmed to the Ambassador January 3 that Mongolia would deploy a full 9th rotation of troops to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and that the troops would depart for Iraq sometime the following week. The Ambassador expressed the USG's appreciation for Mongolia's continuing commitment to Iraq, the coalition, and its peacekeeping partnership with the U.S. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) Recently appointed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Baldan Enkhmandakh (bio at para 5) confirmed to the Ambassador that Mongolia had approved the USG's request to deploy a full 9th rotation of Mongolian troops to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The DCM and DATT also attended the brief but very cordial 20-minute meeting on January 3, along with MFA Acting Director General for Americas, Middle East and Africa Affairs Mounkhou and Zalaa-Uul, Counselor in Charge of Iraq and Africa issues, Department for Americas, Middles East and Africa. ¶3. (SBU) Enkhmandakh said the discussion with the Government of Mongolia (GOM) on the decision had not been easy and the positions and decisions of other coalition partners had been taken into consideration. Nevertheless, the decision had been made to send the full 9th rotation and the Ministry of Defense was preparing the troops to depart sometime next week. (Note: The DATT understands that arrangements are underway to airlift the 100 troop contingent on either January 8 or 10.) He passed a diplomatic note (see next para) to the Ambassador confirming the GOM's decision. The Ambassador expressed appreciation to all those in the GOM that had participated in the decision, including President Enkhbayar, Prime Minister Bayar, and Speaker Lundeejantsan as well as the Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs. He noted President Bush, Secretaries Gates and Rice, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of SIPDIS Staff had all written seeking the GOM's continued support and cooperation, for which the USG is grateful. The Ambassador noted that PACOM Admiral Keating had recently visited Mongolian forces in Iraq to express our thanks and in recognition of the important role Mongolia's troops play in the coalition. ¶4. (SBU) Text of Diplomatic Note A/08-04 dated January 2, 2008: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America and has the honor to inform you that the Government of Mongolia has decided on December 26, 2007 to send to Iraq, after the expiry of the term of service of the 8th rotation team of the Mongolian armed forces, the next 9th full rotation team. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely believes that the close cooperation between our two countries in peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts in Iraq would be of assistance to the Iraqi people and would further strengthen the excellent relations between our two countries in the interest of promoting common values. (Complimentary closing.) End Note Text. ¶5. (U) Bio Sketch from MFA's Web Site: Name: Mr. ENKHMANDAKH Baldan Title: Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Date and Place of Birth: 1955, Ulaanbaatar ULAANBAATA 00000005 002 OF 002 Education: 1973 National University of Mongolia 1978 Leningrad University, Soviet Union 1991 Academy of Social Sciences, Moscow 1994 King Street College, LONDON Sociologist, Professor, PhD Career: 1978-1983 Professor in National University of Mongolia 1983-1984 Head of the Committee of Youth Association, National University of Mongolia 1984-1986 Second secretary of Ulaanbaatar Committee of Youth Association 1986-1988 First secretary of Ulaanbaatar Committee of Youth Association 1988-1991 PhD degree student of the Academy of Social Sciences 1991 Senior scholar, Research center of the Central Committee of Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) 1991-1993 Head of the Professional inspection office for education, Chief inspector, Ministry of Science and Education 1993-1996 MPRP Secretary 1996-1997 Director of the international global studies 1997-2000 Political advisor in the MPRP Steering committee 2000-2001 Secretary of MPRP 2001-2005 Counselor of political affairs in the Embassy to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2005-2006 Advisor to the Secretary General of MPRP 2006-2007 Vice Minister of Environment Since December 2007 Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Foreign languages: Russian and English Marital status: Married, 4 children Minton