MCC, DEFENSE ISSUES TOP MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN MINISTER

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000213





PLEASE PASS TO USTR



E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019

TAGS: EAID, ECIN, ECON, ETRD, MARR, PGOV, PREL, MG, CD, KS

SUBJ: MCC, DEFENSE ISSUES TOP MEETING BETWEEN AMBASSADOR AND FOREIGN

MINISTER



Ref A) USDAO IIR 6 909 0081 09 / Mongolia moves to squelch rumors of

arms sales to North Korea (U/FOUO, 23 July 2009)



Ref B) USDAO IIR 6 909 0082 09 / Mongolia seeks US support for upcoming

peacekeeping mission to Chad (23 July 2009)



Ref C) USDAO IIR 6 909 0080 09 / Mongolia requests urgent logistic

support for planned upcoming UN peace keeping deployments (23 July 2009)





1. (C) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Sukhbaatar Batbold hosted the

Ambassador for lunch July 22. The FM offered to assist with obstacles

in reprogramming of Millennium Challenge Account funds, sought

assistance with the upcoming Mongolian peacekeeping mission to Chad,

and requested a study visit in preparation for Transparency Agreement

negotiations. The Ambassador and the FM also discussed plans for

upcoming visitors including CODEL Boehner, the President of Mongolia's

plans for attending the UN General Assembly, and Mongolia's interest in

chairing the Community of Democracies in 2011. Finally, the Foreign

Minister used the opportunity to reject rumors regarding Mongolian

intentions to sell retooled warplanes to North Korea. End Summary



2. (SBU) The Ambassador, accompanied by the Defense AttachQ and poloff,

attended a lunch July 22 hosted by Foreign Minister Batbold. The

meeting was intended as a friendly mid-summer review of the bilateral

relationship. Key topics included:



3. (C) Airplane Sales: The Foreign Minister volunteered on his own to

the Ambassador that the rumors of a potential sale of retooled MIGs

from Mongolia to North Korea were groundless. Please see ref (A) for

more details.



4. (SBU) Peacekeepers to Chad: The Mongolians will be sending a large

contingent of peacekeepers to Chad. Mongolia does not have any

diplomatic presence in Chad and will need additional USG support to

assist this mission. Please see refs (B and C) for more info. The

Foreign Minister also hoped our DATT in Chad would be a source of

advice to Mongolia's peacekeepers once deployed.



5. (SBU) Millennium Challenge Account: The Foreign Minister, following

up on statements he made in June when he met the Secretary in

Washington, offered to assist with any problems reprogramming the MCC

money ahead of the upcoming Sept. 9 board meeting. Batbold is very

supportive of the current proposal to increase the funding of existing

projects and add additional projects on roads, renewable energy

(including pollution abatement),and veterinary medicine. He is eager

to ensure that Mongolia does not lose any of the money originally

intended as a result of the failure of the railroad project.



6. (SBU) Transparency Agreement: Batbold is eager to push for a

Transparency Agreement, but he believes that the Ministry needs to

understand the process better to negotiate effectively. The GoM will

be requesting a study visit by one or two officers to USTR. The

Mongolian Embassy in Washington will be raising it shortly directly

with USTR, but they would appreciate our support and guidance moving

forward.



7. (SBU) UNGA: President Elbegdorj is tentatively planning to attend

the UN General Assembly opening ceremony. At this time he is not

planning to request any additional bilateral meetings, preferring

instead to wait for a more focused bilateral Washington visit in 2010.

Instead, Elbegdorj will focus on regional and multilateral climate

change discussions and may attempt to address the General Assembly if

scheduling allows. The Prime Minister is not planning to attend the

UNGA at this time.



8. (SBU) COMMUNITY OF DEMOCRACIES: FM Batbold raised the issue of

Mongolia's chairing the Community of Democracies in 2011. He believes

there is a broad consensus in support of Mongolia's chairmanship. He

thinks this will be a good opportunity for Mongolia to raise its

international profile. Mongolia will be eager for any feedback or

information closer to 2011.



9. (SBU) CODELS AND UPCOMING VISITS: Batbold expressed his

appreciation for the Price Congressional Delegation (CODEL) that visited

in June, and is eager to meet with the members of the Boehner CODEL if scheduling allows. The Ambassador mentioned that the FM should meet with General Campbell, the new Lieutenant Governor of Alaska, who has a long-standing relationship with Mongolia and will be representing the Alaska National Guard in the upcoming Khan Quest 2009 in August. The Foreign Minister closed discussion of this issue by inviting Secretary Clinton or other senior USG officials to Mongolia as a sign of the continued U.S.

commitment to Mongolia.



MINTON