VZCZCXRO4003
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHUM #0438/01 2080832
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 270832Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1345
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2592
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2875
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1857
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1420
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1503
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 0340
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0164
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0481
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPODC/USDOC WASHDC 1342
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0661
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ULAANBAATAR 000438 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV CVIS SCUL EINV AMGT PREL MG
SUBJECT: 164-Foot Genghis Khan with Laser Eyes to Tower Over Niagara 
Falls? 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000438  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Sensitive But Unclassified, Contains Proprietary Commercial 
Information.  Not For Internet Distribution 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY AND COMMENT:  If Mongolian promoters have their 
way, a 164-foot tall statue of Genghis Khan with laser eyes may soon 
tower over the base of Niagara Falls.  Per the promoters, supporting 
the project, there will be cheap, direct flights between Ulaanbaatar 
and Niagara Falls, both to carry cargo for foreign miners here and 
to ferry over the many Mongolians who would henceforth work at 
Niagara Falls.  A U.S. press report available on the Internet 
suggests Niagara Falls officials are taking at least some parts of 
the proposal seriously.  Extensive excerpts in para 4 from the 
project's "Executive Summary" allow readers to form their own 
opinion of the project's commercial viability.  Post provides 
information on this proposal partly seriously because some aspects 
are apparently being actively pursued and partly tongue-in-cheek. 
In any case, you read it here first. END SUMMARY AND COMMENT. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) More than one section of the Embassy has recently been 
approached to gain our assistance in promoting a project to build a 
Mongolian Cultural Village (MCV) at Niagara Falls.  The lead person 
in these approaches has these qualifications: 
 
-- Prominent opposition Member of Parliament 
 
-- Wealthy businessman and owner of a major Ulaanbaatar hotel 
 
-- Ineligible for a visa due to alien smuggling allegations 
 
-- Widely believed to be linked to Russian organized crime 
 
-- According to multiple credible reports, last summer the MP 
personally beat up the President's Foreign Policy Advisor (FPA), who 
is also a leading member of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary 
Party (MPRP, the majority ruling party) Youth Wing, ostensibly over 
"differences in views" over the bank in which both are shareholders. 
 The cause was the FPA's refusal to sell the MP his shares in a 
Mongolian bank which the MP had decided he wanted to own more of. 
There were no apparent repercussions for the MP, but our colleague 
the FPA lost a few teeth and wore dark glasses for a while to 
camouflage his black eye. 
 
¶3.  (U) Press reports indicate that the Ulaanbaatar Mayor, a member 
of the ruling MPRP, visited Niagara Falls last year and met with key 
officials there to talk up the project.  According to an 
enthusiastically written article that appeared in the October 3, 
2006, edition of the Niagara Falls Reporter, the Mayor found common 
cause with Niagara Falls Redevelopment Executive Vice President. 
The article reported the UB Mayor as saying that the purpose of the 
cultural center and increased air links "would be to improve 
conditions in my country and in Niagara," and added, the Executive 
VP "is a man who it is possible to trust." The Reporter also quoted 
a NY State Senator, who described the plan as "fantastic." 
 
¶4.  (U) Begin extracts from the project proposal's Executive Summary 
(cross our hearts, we've typed carefully, except for our 
parenthetical notes the following is exactly as received, letter for 
letter): 
 
The MCV set-up will comprise of 5 parts: 
 
-- 1. Monument of Chinggis Khaan (note:  Genghis Khan) on the Horse 
Back 
 
A 50 meters high statue of chinggis khan on the horse-back 
constructed in steel overlooking the falls, it will house stairs and 
elevators to take tourist to the top where one can view the falls, 
Canada and the beautiful landscape that surrounds it.  The viewing 
gallery from the head of the horse will have coin operated 
binoculars and the eyes of chinggis khan will feature laser lights 
shooting over the falls at night. The base of the statue will have a 
souvenir shop featuring replicas of the monuments and handmade 
handicraft from Mongolia, a history museum of the secret history of 
the great Mongol, Mongolian fast food outlets, Chinggis Khaan 
Military Museum, public toilets and a rest area.  The whole monument 
will be lighted up in the night to give a fantastic view for tourist 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000438  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
visiting the falls during the night and the weekend fire-work 
display. 
 
-- 2. 13th Century Mongolian National Park 
 
This park will feature the lifestyle of the Mongolian people living 
during this era, there will be actual Mongolians living in this 
park, their homes, clothing, their utensils and livestock.  They 
will also be producing from scratch their felt cloth from raw 
materials, milk products, handicraft, weapons, armored uniforms, 
etc... visitor can fully enjoy the culture of the Mongolian people 
during the 13th Century and forget the world outside the moment they 
step in.  Here visitors can enjoy horse riding, archery, camel 
riding and enjoy choreographed shows depicting the life of chinggis 
khan and his followers.  Sip into the homemade alcoholic beverages 
and witness the making of it.  Its will also feature live Sharman 
in-trans and display of live horses from around the world.  Visitors 
can participate in games played during that era by the kings. 
 
-- 3.  Asian Calendary Site "Buddhist Park" 
 
Here visitors will enjoy a spectacular view of 30 meters tall golden 
statue of Buddha "Martyred" Goddess of future, on the foot of the 
statue will feature an Asian cuisine restaurant that seats 200 
seats... The back of the statue will have a fairies wheel commuting 
tourists for a bird-eye view of the surrounding landscape, the 12 
wagons that don the fairies wheel will each feature animal from the 
ancient lunar calendar.  Here visitors can get their palm read by 
famous lama from Mongolia, experience Buddhist culture in the 
Buddhist library, get treated traditionally by ancient styled 
acupuncture and herbal medication, meditate in serene enclosure with 
tea service or walk on a specially made pebbles stone path which 
improves your blood circulation. 
 
-- 4.  Mongolian Cultural Center 
 
This is a turtle shaped existing building, here visitors will enjoy 
various cultural shows, Sharman trans-dance show, Ancient Mask show 
of 108 masks, cultural son & dance, Hummi & Throat Singing, 
Contortionist, Tradition costume fashion show and more... Adjourning 
to the hall will be an amphitheatre which will feature a musical 
fountain with laser light show in the night featuring animated 
stories of chinggis khan and the golden whip.  On the whole visitor 
with get to enjoy the spectacle culture during the day, rest relax 
and enjoy the shows in the night. 
 
-- 5.  Chinggis Khaan Hotel 
 
A four star hotel with 200 rooms, Sky lounge, all day dinning 
restaurant, Mongolian style Bar and an indoor pool and pool-side 
cafe.  Hotel will be conceptualized with the theme of Mongolia and 
each room will feel like staying in a ger (note: Mongolian for yurt, 
the traditional round nomad's tent) with modern facilities. 
 
-- 1.1 Objective and Mission 
 
... 
 
The current and past status of the region's politics and deterred 
many investors, big and small to do something there, but many have 
tried and failed due to improper partnership and bad blood between 
politicians and redevelopers.  This will all soon change with the 
changing of major of the region and with the keen support of the 
public; many things are achievable in this area.  It is currently a 
blank canvas ready to be painted.  Property acquisition is a perfect 
timing for capitalization. 
 
With the privatization of the Niagara falls international airport 
and our partners involvement in it, it would be perfect for visitors 
accessibility to the region, cheaper fare due to cheaper handling 
fee compared to Toronto and buffalo airport, the cargo potential is 
also great as Canadian side can export cargo to Ivanhoe mines, Boro 
gold and Rio Tinto sites at cheaper rates. (Note: According to their 
remarks to us, supporting this facility planners envision 
regularly-scheduled cargo flights creating a massive air bridge 
between Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khaan International Airport and 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000438  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Niagara Falls International Airport.) 
 
... 
 
-- 2.4 Business Concept 
 
The management of the proposed development will be fully foreign 
managed and will be staffed by foreign trainees from Philippines, 
Indonesia and Mongolians for rank and file positions. 
 
... 
 
-- 7.0 PROMOTIONAL IDEAS 
 
-- Retailing of MCV merchandise of souvenirs 
 
-- T-Shirts, Caps, Jacket (Leather & Demin), Lighters etc.... 
 
-- Oversized cocktail long drink mugs which can be reuse as gifts 
 
-- Gemstone drinks week 
 
-- Membership Card for selected few based on spending power and 
monitored over time. 
 
-- Data management of patrons and reward system 
 
End excerpts 
 
MINTON