Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ULAANBAATAR162
2009-06-05 08:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Cable title:  

SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S JUNE 9 MEETING

Tags:  PGOV PREL EMIN OVIP MG 
pdf how-to read a cable
O 050848Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2887
C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000162 


FOR THE SECRETARY FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EMIN OVIP MG
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S JUNE 9 MEETING
WITH MONGOLIAN FM BATBOLD

Classified By: Ambassador Mark C. Minton, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000162


FOR THE SECRETARY FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL EMIN OVIP MG
SUBJECT: SCENESETTER FOR THE SECRETARY'S JUNE 9 MEETING
WITH MONGOLIAN FM BATBOLD

Classified By: Ambassador Mark C. Minton, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Madame Secretary: The briefing materials I have seen
for your meeting do an excellent job of setting forth the
specific issues that Foreign Minister Batbold will wish to
discuss with you. I would just like to add some larger
strategic considerations to provide background and context
for those discussions. Batbold is a rising star of the
majority party who has excellent relations with Prime
Minister Bayar, of the same party, and President-elect
Elbegdorj, the former opposition party leader who was elected
last month and will take office June 18. Batbold speaks
excellent English and is a good listener.


2. (C) The government of Mongolia has responded to the
challenge of being landlocked between central and northeast
Asia by prioritizing a "Third Neighbor" policy through which
the Mongolians have reached out to key partners beyond their
borders, most notably the United States, Europe, Japan,
Korea, Canada, and others. This strategy includes robust
engagement in the international system and participation in
regional and international fora. The dividend Mongolia
receives from this approach is a margin of political
breathing room to relieve the intense pressures on a nation
wedged between Russia and China. Minister Batbold is likely
to refer to our unofficial status as Mongolia's Third
Neighbor.


3. (C) Mongolia's Third Neighbor policy and its embrace of
the international system have encouraged the emergence of a
uniquely Mongolian form of democratic governance and a
thriving market economy. Mongolian democracy is an
extraordinary success story when put into historical context:
a mere twenty years ago, Mongolia was a virtual vassal of the
Soviet Union.


4. (C) The outcome of the May 24 presidential election was a
major step in the burnishing of Mongolia's democratic
credentials. For the first time in history, an incumbent
Mongolian president lost a bid for reelection. The loss was
not followed by accusations of fraud or bad faith, but rather
by a peaceful transfer of power characterized by the timely
and gracious concession of President Enkhbayar. The victor,
President-elect Elbegdorj, will take office on June 18. In
my meeting with Elbegdorj on June 3, he spoke of close
cooperation with Minister Batbold in advance of the latter's
travel to Washington, regardless of the fact that they hail
from different political parties.


5. (C) The recent Russian veto of the MCC rail project in
Mongolia is a salient example of the pressure Mongolia faces.
Minister Batbold will bring up his hope to channel the $188
million from the rail project into other MCC projects in
Mongolia. I strongly support such reprogramming not only for
the benefit it will bring to Mongolia but also to demonstrate
to Russia that our engagement with Mongolia continues apace.
As you know, the reprogramming of Mongolia MCC funds will be
discussed at the MCC Board meeting you will chair on June 10,
the day after your meeting with Batbold.


6. (C) China and Russia are equally interested in securing
shares of Mongolia's vast coal, copper, gold, uranium, and
other mineral resources. (This was the heavy focus of
Putin's visit here in May, and Medvedev is coming in August.)
We should underscore with Batbold the advantages U.S. firms
(such as Peabody Coal) would bring to Mongolia in terms of
commercial transparency, environmental protection, and
technological superiority.


7. (C) Batbold will likely mention his government's
initiative to deploy 300 troops to Afghanistan, recent
progress toward a Transparency Agreement, and President-elect
Elbegdorj's request for a high-level U.S. delegation to be
present at his inauguration on June 18.


8. (C) Needless to say, I know the Mongolians very much hope
you will be able to make a return visit to Mongolia in the
near future. They remember your trip here as First Lady with
gratitude and took appreciative note of your reference to
that visit in your remarks before the Asia Society in New
York just before your first trip to the region as Secretary
earlier this year.


MINTON