VZCZCXRO5534
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHUM #0829/01 3150729
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110729Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0393
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0542

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000829 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE FOR JIM HALLMARK 
STATE FOR EAP/EX/CM ROBERTO G. BRADY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OTRA EAID KMCA ECON MG
SUBJECT: Country Clearance for MCA's Roche International 
Consultants 
 
REF: (A) CHEN-GOLDBECK EMAIL: 11/08/06, (B) 
CHALLENGE 00000295, (C) ULAANBAATAR 793 
¶1. We welcome and grant country clearance to Roche International 
consultants Christian Berube, David Burns, Asil Gezen, Dennis 
Lindberg, Lawrence Phipps, and Deana Silverston for their travels to 
Mongolia during the month of November. The purpose of the visit is 
to work with MCC's Burak Inanc and Marycel Tuazon (refs) on the 
continuation of due diligence of the rail project. 
¶2. POC: Your point of contact is Oyuna Boldbaatar, MCC Staff 
Assistant. Contact numbers are as follows: 
 
--Office Telephone Number: N/A 
--Cellular Number: (976) 9919-3959; 
--Fax Number is N/A; 
--Home Number: (976-11) 361-751; 
--Email Address: oyuka80@yahoo.com 
--Duty Officer Number: (976) 9911-4168. 
 
¶3. VOUCHERS: Post has limited staff and resources.  TDY travelers 
visiting post for less than 30 days should pay all travel bills and 
then voucher the expense when they return to their duty station. 
 
¶4. HOTEL: Hotel bookings for the consultants are made at Ulaanbaatar 
hotel. The hotel's telephone number is (976-11) 320-237, and its fax 
number is (976-11) 324-485. Please provide the hotel administration 
with your credit card information upon arrival to allow them enough 
time to process the charges. 
 
¶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 on board, and your 
travel will be delayed. 
 
¶6. DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL RESTRICTION: "The U.S. Embassy prohibits U.S. 
government personnel use of MIAT domestic service for official 
travel because of uncertainties regarding MIAT's service schedule, 
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.  Pick pocketing 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 9911-4730. 
 
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 
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.  Spring is an 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000829  002 OF 002 
 
 
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. 
 
¶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. 
 
MINTON