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DE RUEHUM #0429/01 2050841
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 240841Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1330
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5685
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2581
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2862
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1847
RUCPODC/USDOC WASHDC 1337
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0653
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000429 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV EMIN EINV MG
SUBJECT: CODEL PAYNE'S VISIT TO MONGOLIA 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) led a delegation of 
members from the House Democracy Assistance Commission (HDAC) 
through three days of highly productive meetings with 
representatives of the Mongolian legislative and executive branches, 
July 1-4, 2007.  Delegation members included Rep. David Dreier 
(R-CA), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), and Rep. 
Mazie Hirono (D-HI). The delegation engaged their Mongolian State 
Great Hural (parliament) counterparts on a range of issues related 
to the promotion of effective legislative government in Mongolia. 
Highlights of the visit included meetings with the Mongolian 
President, Prime Minister, and Speaker; individual and group 
meetings between parliamentarians and government officials; and a 
tour of Ulaanbaatar and a demonstration of traditional Mongolian 
sports.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Meetings with Parliament 
------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) During a series of breakout meetings between U.S. and 
Mongolian parliamentarians and staff members, participants exchanged 
lessons learned and shared their experiences functioning in their 
respective legislative systems. Discussions ranged from issues of 
budgeting and social policy to media and constituent relations, and 
Codel members stressed to their Mongolian counterparts the 
importance of effective oversight, transparency, accountability, 
effective legislation, and responsiveness to constituents. 
 
Meeting with President Enkhbayar 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) President Enkhbayar warmly welcomed the Codel, noting that 
Parliamentary exchange was a valuable part of the U.S.-Mongolian 
relationship.  Enkhbayar also expanded on Mongolia's "third partner" 
policy. With big neighbors--Russia and China--Mongolia seeks 
balance, and needs U.S. engagement and assistance in its efforts. 
He mentioned the importance of concluding the Millennium Challenge 
Corporation (MCC) compact agreement, and expressed his hope that, 
with Congressional support, it could be finished in time for his 
trip to Washington later this autumn. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The President highlighted Mongolia's contribution to Iraq 
and said it was a symbol of partnership between our two countries. 
He noted also that Mongolian forces' participation in Iraq was also 
good for the training and readiness of Mongolian troops.  He 
reminded the Codel that Mongolia also seeks to deepen the commercial 
relationship and seeks a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S. 
 
¶5. (SBU) President Enkhbayar also expressed his hope that a 
situation could be created to provide more visas for Mongolians to 
travel to the U.S., thereby promoting people-to-people exchanges. He 
mentioned in that regard, Mongolia's desire for more opportunities 
for students to study in the U.S.  Rep. Payne underscored the 
importance of the relationship and all the issues raised by the 
President. He provided an explanation of the HDAC program and said 
the delegation would write a letter, upon returning to Washington, 
asking the Administration to complete the MCC compact in time for 
the President's visit. He noted that there would be legislation in 
the House to expand scholarships for foreign students to study in 
the U.S. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Rep. Drier explained the U.S. Trade Representative's 
recently proposed "transparency initiative" as a first step towards 
an enhanced commercial relationship. Rep. Drier offered his 
appreciation for the President's strong leadership on the global war 
on terrorism, especially for the continued dispatch of Mongolian 
troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, and for supporting peacekeeping 
operations in Sierra Leone and Kosovo. Rep. Drier noted that he had 
supported a call for negotiating an FTA with Mongolia.  Rep. Miller 
noted that he had visited Camp Echo in Iraq and thanked President 
for Mongolian troops there. Doing a fine job, he said. 
 
Meeting with Prime Minister Enkhbold 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) In his meeting with the Codel, Prime Minister Enkhbold 
reiterated a number of points raised in previous recent discussions 
with the Embassy. These included the need for a bilateral 
Comprehensive Partnership Framework Agreement for the upcoming 
summit, the importance of concluding the MCC agreement, and his 
desire for an FTA. He also noted that Mongolia made a hard decision 
sending troops to Iraq, and many were critical of this decision. 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000429  002 OF 002 
 
 
Initially, Mongolia had planned to send only five officers on the 
latest rotation, but following a phone call from President Bush, the 
government decided again on a full rotation.  He also expressed his 
support for further Congressional exchanges, and expressed his view 
that Mongolia should be included in visa waiver program. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Rep. Payne thanked the Prime Minister for his continued 
support for Iraq, promised support for concluding MCC, and was 
noncommittal on the issue of the visa waiver program. 
 
Meeting with Speaker Lundeejantsan 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) The meeting with Speaker Lundeejantsan, who had only the 
previous week replaced Speaker Nyamdorj, sounded many of the same 
themes and gave greater focus on HDAC activities and next steps. 
 
 
Meeting with Defense Minister Sonompil 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Minister Sonompil welcomed the group and expressed 
appreciation for the security assistance Mongolia had received from 
the United States.  The Minister briefly discussed how the Mongolian 
Armed Forces are undergoing a transformation to an "elite, smaller, 
professional" force suited to participate in UN peacekeeping 
missions around the world.  The Minister emphasized the importance 
of the U.S.-GOM defense relationship as an accepted pillar of the 
overall U.S.-GOM relations.  The Minister added that the decision to 
send an 8th rotation to Iraq was very difficult politically for 
Mongolia. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The delegation expressed their appreciation for Mongolia's 
continued support to UN missions and OIF and OEF, and noted that 
because of Mongolia's willingness to support and field forces for UN 
peacekeeping missions and the Global War on Terrorism, Mongolia's 
armed forces were becoming known around the world.  The delegation 
later discussed specifics on Mongolia's contingent in Iraq, the 
current state of Mongolia's armed forces, and third country security 
assistance and training programs.  Minister Sonompil closed with an 
appeal to speed up current security assistance spending and 
implementation. 
 
 
Full Delegation List 
-------------------- 
 
¶12. (U) Members of Congress: Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ), Rep. David 
Dreier (R-CA), Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL), Rep. 
Mazie Hirono (D-HI). Staff Members: John Lis, Staff Director, HDAC; 
Jon Stivers, Adviser, Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Brad Smith, 
Professional Staff Member, House Rules Committee; Mr. Tommy Ross, 
Legislative Assistant to Rep. David Price; Rachael Leman, Policy 
Coordinator to Rep. David Dreier; Nkechi Mbanu, Legislative 
Assistant/Deputy Press Secretary to Rep. Donald Payne. Other: Lt. 
Cmdr. (Dr.) Alaric Franzos, USN; Lt. Kelechi Ndukwe, USN; Gy. Sgt. 
Ramses Cypress, USMC; and Ms. LuAnn Bennett, wife of Rep. Moran. 
 
¶13. (U) CODEL cleared this message. 
MINTON