ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ANSF TRAINERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000051 SIPDIS SCA/A FOR ANTHONY RUSH; EUR/RPM FOR RAPHAEL CARLAND AND AARON COPE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2030 TAGS: MASS PREL NATO SUBJECT: ISAF CONTRIBUTIONS FOR ANSF TRAINERS REF: STATE 014366 Classified By: Political Officer Dan Rakove for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: In separate meetings with PM Batbold and President Elbegdorj, the Ambassador expressed appreciation for the role Mongolian forces have continued to play in Afghanistan and covered reftel demarche points on the need for additional trainers. The PM expressed interest in the idea and said the government will look closely at what is possible. Subsequently, the DATT heard forward-leaning feedback when he discussed the same demarche points with Mongolia's Border Protection Agency. End summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador took advantage of previously scheduled separate meetings with Prime Minister Batbold and President Elgbegdorj February 19 to raise demarche points about further opportunities for ISAF partners to send operational and liaison teams to Afghanistan to improve the security climate (reftel). Batbold and Elbegdorj expressed interest in the idea. The Prime Minister told the Ambassador that his government would look closely at what is possible. Both the Prime Minister and President are on Mongolia's National Security Council, a body which would need to rule favorably on dispatching troops overseas. ¶3. (C) Also on February 19, the DATT discussed demarche points with with Brigadier General Lkhagvasuren, Principal Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Border Forces, Border Protection Agency of Mongolia. Lkhagvasuren expressed considerable interest in possibly contributing Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (POMLTs) to the Afghanistan mission. He advised the DATT that the senior leadership of the Border Forces would take the information provided into serious and positive consideration, and look into possible Border Forces involvement in Afghanistan. ¶4. (C) Lkhagvasuren requested as much information on what the teams would look like, their roles and personnel composition, and when they would be needed. He noted that many Border Forces personnel were fluent in Russian and that they could assist in working with more senior members of the Afghan National Security Forces, who may be Russian speakers as well. A number of Border Forces officers and NCOs are also competent in English and would be able to conduct liaison with ISAF and U.S. Operation Enduring Freedom forces in English. ¶5. (C) DATT noted that the Border Forces may very well be in an excellent position to provide police operational mentor and liaison teams. Mongolia's Border Forces, formerly part of the Mongolian Armed Forces under the Ministry of Defense, have for well over a decade fallen under the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs. They are a militarily organized and uniformed disciplined force of approximately 13,500 soldiers who conduct border and border zone security for Mongolia. Over 80 have participated in Mongolian Armed Forces deployments in Iraq and in support of UN peacekeeping operations, including in Sierra Leone. ¶6. (C) In discussions with the Commanding General of the Border Forces in January of 2010, the DATT had been informed that the Border Forces were seeking opportunities to participate in UN and international peace support operations. At least some of the equipment and weaponry both forces use is similarly older Russian equipment, and Mongolian deployed in support of OIF and OEF are used to working with a mix of US and Russian equipment. The Border Forces also have arrest authority when conducting area security missions within Mongolia's border protection zones, so in many respects their role is quite parallel to that of the Afghan National Security Force. HILL