PRESIDENT ELBEGDORJ DISCUSSES PRIORITIES FOR HIS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000048


STATE FOR EAP/CM, EAP/K, AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2020
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON EMIN EINV MARR ENRG MG
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ELBEGDORJ DISCUSSES PRIORITIES FOR HIS
ANTICIPATED TRAVEL TO THE U.S. WITH AMBASSADOR

REF: 09 ULAANBAATAR 283


Classified By: Political Section Chief Andrew Covington, Reasons
1.4 (a),(b),and (d)


1. (C) Summary: On February 19, President Elbegdorj met with
the Ambassador to discuss his anticipated travel to the
United States in May and to cover key bilateral issues prior
to our annual bilateral talks, which will take place in
Washington on February 26. Elbegdorj seeks to have a
Transparency Agreement signed during his time in Washington.
He would like to take steps toward a comprehensive
partnership agreement, noting his travel to India and
agreements signed there in September as a model for a
successful and comprehensive visit (see reftel). Elbegdorj
is seeking relationships with private sector actors such as
the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations that can play a positive
role in Mongolia's development. Elbegdorj said he plans to
travel to Russia in March and to China and Japan later in

2010. He said the Dalai Lama is likely to come to Mongolia
later this year, and that Mongolia would like to play a
greater role in bridging the gap between the Dalai Lama and
the PRC. Elbegdorj expressed his appreciation for the
Secretary's video message to Mongolia for the 20th
anniversary of the democratic revolution. End Summary.

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TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES
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2. (C) Elbegdorj plans to travel to the United States in late
May and is seeking a meeting with President Obama. He also
said he would like to address a full session of Congress, but
he understands clearly this is a "tough request." Elbegdorj
said he will seek to sign a Transparency Agreement during his
visit as part of a process leading eventually to a free trade
agreement. Elbegdorj noted that all three of his
predecessors had visited the United States during their
terms, and that, given his extensive experience in the U.S.
(a Harvard graduate, for starters),he believes he can
accomplish much in his own right. (Note: Elbegdorj was a
leader in the 1989 democracy movement and is the first
president of Mongolia elected from the Democratic Party. End
Note.)


3. (C) The president referenced his trip to India in
September 2009 as a model for a successful and comprehensive
visit (see reftel). He said he would like to work with us
toward a comprehensive partnership agreement. In addition to
travelling to the United States, Elbegdorj said he would
travel to Russia in March and China and Japan later in 2010.


4. (C) Elbegdorj suggested that he would like elements of his
May delegation to break off to visit Peabody Energy (which is
seeking to be involved in Mongolia's development of the
massive Tavan Tolgoi coal deposit) and also to locations
where cultural exchanges are taking place in the U.S. He
himself may seek to visit the Baker Institute in Texas, the
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