VZCZCXRO0923
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHLMC
DE RUEHUM #0046/01 0250847
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250847Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1851
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5958
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0054
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0444
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0857
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0076
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0285
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC 0042
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/CM - D.CITRON; EAP/RSP - R.KURZBAUER; OES/ENV 
-H.FINMAN; A/LM/AQM/IP - D.HUNTER; OES/PCI - Ann Covington 
EAP - INTERNATIONAL FOR M. ENGLE, M. BAILEY 
STATE PASS TO AID/ANE 
MCC FOR JIM HALLMARK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON EMIN SENV PGOV MG
SUBJECT: Mongolia to Host Asian Ministerial Meeting on Environment 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During the Ambassador's courtesy call on January 
24, Mongolian's new Minister for Nature and Environment, G. 
Shiilegdamba, revealed that Mongolia would host a meeting of North 
East Asian Environment Ministers in Ulaanbaatar in May.  He made 
clear that this would be the precursor to higher-level meetings on 
regional cooperation on climate-change issues to take place in the 
fall in Ulaanbaatar (Note: dates are still pending).  Shiilegdamba 
said the Government of Prime Minister S. Bayar would emphasize 
greater international cooperation on climate-change issues and 
environmentally sustainable development, as Mongolia's mining sector 
grows.  The Ambassador recapped recent bilateral cooperative efforts 
on the environment, including the recent completion of a US $100,000 
EAP/ESF grant to study and publicize the environmental consequences 
of widespread mercury use in artisanal mining; provisions for 
environmental-assessment surveys and capacity building under the 
newly signed MCA Compact; the signing of an MOU between Denali 
National Park in Alaska and Mongolia's Altai Tavan Bogd National 
Park; and Nature Conservancy efforts to protect Mongolia's 
grasslands.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) The Ambassador paid a courtesy call January 24 on Mongolia's 
new Minister for Nature and Environment G. Shiilegdamba. The 
Minister, who last served as Vice Minister for Road, Transport and 
Tourism, thanked the USG for recent efforts to preserve Mongolia's 
environment.  He added that GOM priorities under Prime Minister S. 
Bayar include a greater focus on environmentally sustainable 
management of natural resources, and increased cooperation with the 
international community and donors on key environmental issues.  He 
noted that Mongolia was a party to several international agreements 
on the environment and said Mongolia intended to host three regional 
conferences on climate-change issues (a technical meeting in March, 
a Ministerial meeting in May, and then a high-level meeting in 
September).  He also looked to tap U.S. expertise on assisting with 
chemical-waste runoffs from mining, and asked for Embassy support 
for seven environmental projects recently submitted for possible 
funding through an EAP/ESF grant. 
 
US-Mongolia Cooperation on Environment Issues 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (U) The Ambassador updated the Minister on recent USG and NGO 
activities aimed at helping Mongolia protect and preserve its 
environment.  The recently signed MCA compact, he said, would 
provide funding (more than US $1.5 million) for environmental-impact 
studies of the four MCA projects.  The funds would also train, 
educate and build capacity for officers at the Ministry for Nature 
and Environment (MNE) and Customs, which would help mitigate 
negative environmental impacts from increased illegal logging or 
rapid mining development that could result from an improved railway 
system.  The funds would also help disposal of hazardous waste as 
part of the health project, and provide for groundwater surveys for 
peri-urban grazing and housing development. 
 
¶4. (U) He noted the successful completion of the Mercury Awareness 
Project, funded through a US $100,000 grant from the Department's 
Office of Oceans, Environment and Science.  The project helped fund 
a detailed study of rising mercury levels in areas where artisanal 
miners are active; it also created a publicity campaign that warned 
of dangers associated with mercury use.  The Ambassador applauded 
the signing of an MOU during President Enkhbayar's visit to Alaska 
in October 2007 between the Denali National Park in Alaska and the 
Altai Tavan Bogd National Park in Western Mongolia, which will 
increase information exchanges between the two parks.  He also spoke 
about the Nature Conservancy's recently launched program to protect 
globally significant grasslands of the Eastern Steppe of Mongolia. 
 
Shiilegdamba Bio 
---------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ganhuyag SHIILEGDAMBA (b. 1975) earned a Master's Degree 
from Maastricht University in Holland in 2004 while serving as 
Deputy Director of the government's Tourism Authority (2000-2004). 
In 2004 he was named Vice Minister of Roads Transport and Tourism 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000046  002 OF 002 
 
 
where he served until his recent elevation to Minister of Nature and 
Environment earlier this year.  Except for a one-year stint as 
Executive Director of his father's "Bayangobi" tourism company 
(1999-2000) he has no private-sector experience. 
 
¶6. (SBU) At 32 years of age, Shiilegdamba is by far the youngest 
minister in PM Bayar's Cabinet.  Environmentalists complain that he 
lacks experience in environmental matters and that his appointment 
is proof that the MNE has little standing or respect within the 
Government.  (Note: Former Industry and Trade Minister Davaadorj 
refused the position earlier this year, seeing it [correctly] as an 
attempt by Bayar to demote and marginalize the Republican Party 
within the Government). Others, however, contend that MNE is a 
"training wheels ministry," and that Shiilegdamba could be destined 
for bigger things.  He was chosen for the job, many say, because his 
wealthy father has been a long-time contributor to the MPRP. 
 
Minton