VZCZCXRO9375
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHUM #0616/01 2260720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140720Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0245
INFO RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 0008
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5178
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2398
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0339

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000616 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT PREL PREF MG
SUBJECT: Country Clearance for Staffdel Bixby 
 
Ref: State 131325 (notal) 
 
¶1.  Embassy warmly welcomes and grants country clearance for the 
August 22-26 visit by HIRC staff members Melanie Bixby, Paul 
Oostburg Sanz, and Lynne Weil to examine the proposed Millennium 
Challenge Account programs in Mongolia. 
 
¶2.  Embassy control officer for the visit will be DCM Brian 
Goldbeck, assisted by Economic/Political chief Patrick Freeman. 
Contact information follows.  Mongolia is 13 hours ahead of Eastern 
Daylight Time. 
 
Brian Goldbeck 
goldbeckbl@state.gov 
Cell: (976) 9904-5336 
Home: (976-11) 326-424 
Embassy phone: (976-11) 329-095 x 4545 
 
Patrick J. Freeman 
freemanpj@state.gov 
Cell: (976) 9904-5337 
Home: (976-11) 313-212 
Embassy phone: (976-11) 329-095 x 4771 
 
Embassy Fax: (976-11) 320-776 
 
¶3.  Embassy has reserved three rooms for the staffdel at the Khan 
Palace Hotel.  The rate is within per diem. The phone number for the 
Khan Palace Hotel is: (976-11) 463-463, and fax is: (976-11) 
463-464.  The rate includes breakfast.  An Internet connection is 
available in the room. The hotel's website is: 
http://www.khanpalace.com. 
 
¶4.  Embassy will meet and assist the staffdel at the airport on 
arrival and departure.  Information on the notional schedule for 
Mongolia will be sent via email. 
 
¶5. VISA:  A visa is not required for Mongolia. If you will travel 
via Beijing, you must have a valid Chinese visa for each time you 
land in China.  This means a double-entry visa if your itinerary is 
Beijing-Ulaanbaatar-Beijing.  The Chinese require a visa even to 
transit between two international flights.  If you don't have a 
valid (unused) visa, the airline will not let you board, and your 
travel will be delayed. 
 
¶6. DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTION: The U.S. Embassy prohibits U.S. 
government personnel use of the domestic services of MIAT and all 
services of Hangard and Trans-Ulgii for official travel because of 
uncertainties regarding service and maintenance schedules, aircraft 
certification and insurance status. This prohibition does not extend 
to MIAT's international flights. 
 
¶7. EXPORT LIMITS:  Mongolia limits the export of art, antiques, and 
icons.  Reputable art and antique dealers can give you documents 
that will let you export what you buy.  Customs duties, however, may 
apply, and you must be ready to pay in cash (not credit card).  We 
can give you more information. 
 
¶8. SECURITY SITUATION:  Mongolia and Ulaanbaatar are generally safe 
places to visit.  Mongolians accept foreigners readily and are 
congenial hosts.  There is no known specific threat to Americans. 
However, the poor economic situation and obviousness of foreigners 
makes us easy targets for petty crime.  We strongly recommend that 
you carry only the money you expect to need and leave your passport, 
wallet, and other valuables in the hotel's safekeeping.  We 
recommend that you be especially cautious at night and in crowded 
public places, such as the "black market," within and in front of 
the State Department shopping store, and anywhere foreigners 
frequent.  Pickpocketing is an increasing problem. 
 
¶9. HEALTH CARE:  Health care for Embassy personnel and visitors is 
provided by the Embassy's Health Unit and the SOS International 
Clinic in Ulaanbaatar. 
 
The Embassy's Health Unit's telephone number is (976-11) 313-133. 
The hours of operation are Monday through Friday 1:00pm - 5:00pm. 
For appointments outside of scheduled office hours please call Eric 
Wood at 9905-2911. 
 
The SOS International Clinic's telephone/fax number is (976-11) 
342-550.  The clinic is expensive and requires payment upon receipt 
of services.  It is important that your health insurance is up to 
date.  Filling an insurance claim is the responsibility of the 
visitor.  SOS International takes MasterCard, Visa, or cash as 
payment. 
 
¶10. GENERAL MEDICAL INFORMATION:  We suggest that you talk with your 
medical office about recommended inoculations.  Over-the-counter 
drugs such as cold, fever, and painkiller medications are not 
readily available. Plan to bring enough over-the-counter and 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000616  002 OF 002 
 
 
prescription medicines to last your entire time in Mongolia.  You 
should take health precautions in Mongolia:  drink only bottled or 
boiled drinks, and eat only hot, freshly prepared food.  Also, we 
recommend that you wear sturdy shoes with good traction. 
 
¶11. WEATHER:  Ulaanbaatar has an extreme continental climate.  The 
weather is unpredictable.  It can be cold anytime September through 
May, and is extremely cold November through February.  Summertime 
temperatures can approach 100 degrees Fahrenheit but may dip into 
the 50's.  Spring is an uncertain time of year, with occasional high 
winds and snow.  We recommend you be prepared with layers of 
clothing and warm, sturdy footwear.  Several internet sites, 
including Yahoo! Weather, give forecasts for Ulaanbaatar. 
 
¶12. DOLLARS AND TUGRUGS:  Mongolia's financial infrastructure is 
still limited.  Traveler's checks are rarely accepted. Mongolia is a 
predominantly cash based economy. Western-oriented businesses and 
hotels accept credit cards - Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. 
 Hotels provide official currency exchange. ATMs are infrequent and 
unreliable. The few existing units are VISA only. 
 
¶13. WEBSITE:  Please visit our Embassy website at 
http://ulaanbaatar.usembassy.gov . It provides interesting and 
useful information.  Mongolia is a beautiful and fascinating 
country; we hope you will have a chance to see a bit of it after 
work hours. 
 
¶14. We look forward to your arrival.  Regards. 
 
SLUTZ