VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUM #0363/01 1730206
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220206Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1230
INFO RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0169
RUEHSV/AMEMBASSY SUVA 0007
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2525
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5620
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2795

UNCLAS ULAANBAATAR 000363 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: OREP AMGT PREL ASEC AFIN MG
SUBJECT: Country Clearance for Codel Payne 
 
REF: State 081667 
 
¶1. We warmly welcome and grant country clearance to Codel Payne to 
visit Ulaanbaatar from July 1-4.  Schedule information is being 
exchanged via email. 
 
¶2. Control officer for the Codel is Economic/Political Section Chief 
Patrick Freeman. Contact numbers are as follows: 
 
--Office Telephone Number: (976-11) 329-095, x4771; 
--Cellular Number: (976) 9904-5337; 
--Fax Number is (976-11) 320-776; 
--Home Number: (976-11) 313-812; 
--Email Address: FreemanPJ@state.gov 
--Duty Officer Number: (976) 9911-4168. 
 
¶3. The Embassy has booked rooms at the Hotel Mongolia for the Codel. 
 The rooms are within per diem, and the rate includes breakfast and 
VAT.  The hotel's website is:  www.hotel-mongolia.com; tel: 
976-11-490-154; fax: 976-11-325-861. 
 
¶4. ADMIN POL: Management Officer Harold Zappia is handling the 
logistical arrangements for the visit. 
 
--Office Telephone Number: (976-11) 329-095, x4422; 
--Cellular Number: (976) 9904-2330; 
--Home Number: (976-11) 312-731; 
--Email Address: ZappiaHE@state.gov 
 
¶5. 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. 
 
¶6. 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. 
 
¶7. 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. 
 
¶8. 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. 
 
¶9. 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. 
 
¶10. 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)329-095x4555/4556 and fax number is (976-11) 313-133. The 
hours of operation are Monday through Friday 08:30 am - 5:00pm. For 
appointments please contact Health Unit by (976-11) 313-133, 
(976-11) 329-095-4556 or Suvdaa at 9909-2876. After hours please 
call Medical Unit Duty Phone at 9904-0261. 
 
The SOS International Clinic's telephone number is (976-11) 464175, 
(976-11) 464325, (976-11) 464326, (976-11) 464327 and fax number is 
(976-11) 454537. 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. 
 
¶11. 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. 
 
¶12. 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. 
 
¶13. DOLLARS AND TUGRUGS:  Mongolia's financial infrastructure is 
still limited.  Traveler's checks are rarely accepted. Mongolia is a 
predominantly cash based economy. Cash advance can be taken at 
banks. 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. 
 
¶14. 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. 
 
¶15. We look forward to your arrival. Regards. 
 
GOLDBECK