VZCZCXRO5879
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHUM #0089/01 0560129
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 250129Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1921
INFO RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 3198
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6006
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2111
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2893
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0092
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1641
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1720
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0277
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0568
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ULAANBAATAR 000089 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
SEOUL PASS TO EAP A/S HILL 
STATE FOR EAP/CM, NEA/NGA, PRM, and DRL 
STATE PASS USTR FOR WINELAND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL EAID ECON MARR PGOV MG IQ
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES 6 PARTY TALKS, IRAQ, KOSOVO, 
MORE 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: FM Oyun told the Ambassador over dinner February 
22 that Russia and the other six party talks (6PT) members had 
responded favorably to Mongolia's proposal to host the next 6PT 
Peace and Security Working Group (PSWG) meeting.  Regarding the 
recent announcement that the Government of Mongolia (GOM) and the 
DPRK had agreed that Mongolia might receive as many as 5,000 DPRK 
laborers, Oyun said complicated domestic political and legislation 
requirements had yet to be resolved, likely delaying arrivals for 
some time.  The Ambassador sensitized Oyun to the agreement's risks 
should some of these laborers seek asylum, noting USG opposition to 
refoulement.  Regarding Kosovo, Oyun said the GOM respects the 
rights of both Serbia and Kosovo and believes the UN should play its 
rightful role, so for the time-being, the GOM was in the "wait" 
mode.   The Ambassador briefed the FM on USG thinking regarding 
troop participation arrangements in Iraq post-UNSCR.  FM Oyun said 
she hopes the USG will soon give agreement to Ambassador nominee 
(MFA State Secretary) Bekhbat and that he might take up his duties 
in March or April.  Oyun responded favorably to the prospect of 
transparency agreement negotiations stemming from the recent Trade 
and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) discussions; the GOM was 
very pleased with the results of the TIFA and the Consultations on 
Bilateral, Regional, and Global Issues (CBRGI) policy talks.  Oyun 
said she had hoped to meet with Secretary Rice on the margins of the 
February 25 inauguration in Seoul but understood the Secretary's 
participation and schedule might not allow this; the FM is 
considering visiting the U.S. later this spring.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  The Ambassador hosted for Foreign Minister Oyun on 
February 22.  MFA Acting Director General for the Americas, Middle 
East and Africa Mounkhou and the DCM also attended the very cordial 
two hour discussion. 
 
SPRING VISIT TO U.S. BEING PLANNED 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) FM Oyun, who will accompany President Enkhbayar to the 
February 25 inauguration ceremonies in Seoul said she had very much 
hoped she and Secretary Rice might meet, but she understood the 
Secretary's schedule and participation in those events might not 
 
SIPDIS 
allow this.  Oyun said she would be pleased to meet with A/S Hill, 
whom she had met last June during Hill's visit to Mongolia, and the 
FM hoped she and the Secretary could connect during a planned trip 
to the U.S. later this spring, though dates had not yet been set for 
this visit. 
 
RUSSIA OKS MONGOLIA'S HOSTING OF 6PT PSWG MEETING 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶4. (SBU) FM Oyun noted Mongolia's earlier offer to host the 6PT PSWG 
meeting had been favorably received by all 6PT members and the 
Russians, who chair the PSWG, said they will consult once dates for 
the meeting had jelled.  She expressed appreciation for the USG's 
support in this regard.  (NOTE:  Speaking just prior to FM Oyun's 
arrival for the dinner, A/DG Mounkhou said A/S Hill's expression of 
support for Mongolia's offer was particularly appreciated by the 
GOM, coming during the February 5 visit by MFA State Secretary 
Bekhbat for the Consultations on Bilateral, Regional, and Global 
Issues (CBRGI) policy talks.  Hill's review of the status of 6PT and 
DPRK compliance performance was also very helpful to the GOM, 
according to Mounkhou.) 
 
DPRK LABOR AGREEMENT NOT A DONE DEAL 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU)  On other DPRK-related subjects, FM Oyun said the recent 
visit of Construction Minister (and former MFA Vice Minister) 
Tsolmon had resulted in an agreement by which Mongolia might receive 
 
SIPDIS 
as many as 5,000 DPRK laborers.  The agreement followed-up on last 
summer's visit by the DPRK Premier and reflected the GOM's desire to 
develop alternative sources beyond Chinese labor.  However, the 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000089  002 OF 003 
 
 
agreement requires legislation to allow the Tugruk 180,000 (about 
US$165)per month foreign labor tax to be waived.  Mongolia's 
parliament had not taken up the issue during the fall session and 
Oyun was doubtful it would be considered during the spring session, 
which begins April 5, given impending June parliamentary elections. 
Some MPs had expressed concern that if an exception is made for DPRK 
labor, other nations, including China, might seek similar exemptions 
-- a deal breaker in Oyun's view.  The issue was a bit of a leper as 
well, she noted, as Labor Minister Demberel demurred on the Prime 
Minister's request, asking that the FM introduce it to the Cabinet 
and Parliament.  Oyun said she understood that at the moment there 
were fewer than 150 DPRK laborers in Mongolia. 
 
DPRK LABOR AGREEMENT-REFUGEE CONNUNDRUM 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Ambassador took the opportunity to flag for FM Oyun the 
sensitivities surrounding the possibility that some of the GOM/DPRKG 
agreement's laborers might seek asylum, putting the GOM in an 
awkward position, as the DPRK would almost certainly seek their 
return.  The USG, the Ambassador said, had repeatedly expressed its 
appreciation for Mongolia's "humanitarian" treatment of refugees and 
especially its policy of allowing them to be resettled in South 
Korea, the U.S., or elsewhere rather than refoulement to almost 
certain punishment or death in the DPRK. 
 
MONGOLIA IN "WAIT" MODE ON KOSOVO 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU)  FM Oyun acknowledged the GOM had not yet given the U.S. a 
full answer regarding recognizing Kosovo.  She said the GOM respects 
the right of both Serbia and Kosovo and believes the UN should play 
its rightful role.  So for the time-being, the GOM's approach was to 
wait; it had not made a firm decision either way but could not be 
among the early group to recognize Kosovo.  She volunteered that 
neither Russia nor China had approached the GOM to influence its 
decision, despite their own well-known views on this topic.  Oyun 
asked several questions regarding Kosovo's status - had it been a 
federal state, were the parallels with other regions, etc., which 
the Ambassador answered, drawing upon his earlier experience on 
Kosovo while serving with USUN. 
 
MONGOLIA'S PARTICIPATION IN POST-UNSCR USG/GOI SOFA 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶8. (SBU)  Turning to Iraq, the Ambassador thanked FM Oyun for 
Mongolia's continued coalition membership and support in Iraq.  He 
reviewed recent positive trends in security and underlined the need 
for continued support.  He explored the USG's thinking regarding the 
evolution of security arrangements for forces in the absence of a UN 
Security Council resolution, including plans for a "status of 
forces" (SOFA)-like agreement with the Government of Iraq, adding 
this issue had earlier only been raised with Presidential Foreign 
Policy Advisor Tsogtbaatar.  In the months ahead, the U.S. would 
brief the GOM on this USG/GOI agreement and options for GOM 
participation under it.  FM Oyun sought additional information on 
SOFAs the USG has with other countries and the GOM will wait for 
greater clarity in the USG/GOI agreement. 
 
FM HOPES NEW AMBASSADOR TO U.S BEKHBAT 
WILL ARRIVE IN THE U.S. BY MARCH OR APRIL 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU)  State Secretary Bekhbat had been nominated to be 
Mongolia's Ambassador to the U.S., FM Oyun said, the GOM was seeking 
agreement from the U.S., which she hoped would soon be forthcoming. 
She inquired about the process and timing for the presentation of 
his credentials.  Oyun acknowledged there had been some discussion 
of delaying Bekhbat's departure for the U.S. until after the June 
parliamentary elections, but she hoped he would arrive in the U.S. 
in March or April and might soon thereafter present his credentials, 
perhaps then returning briefly to hand over his State Secretary 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000089  003 OF 003 
 
 
duties. 
 
LAND CONFUSION EMBARASSMENT AVERTED; MAY BE RESOLVED 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶10. (SBU)  The Ambassador reviewed a recent land dispute in which 
the two sides narrowly averted an embarrassing confrontation which 
would have seen President Enkhbayar breaking ground on the Embassy's 
leased land on February 21 for a new Kuwaiti-funded state library. 
Intense Embassy lobbying was required to stop it (septel).  Oyun 
said she and other senior MFA officials had been seized by the 
problem, and the President himself decided to cancel the event, 
ordering another suitable site be found for the library.  The 
problem stemmed from a disconnect between the Mayor's office, the 
Ulaanbaatar land office, and MFA, she said, adding that it appears 
the Embassy's leases were never recorded with the land office, but a 
resolution of the problem was in the offing.  (Note:  MFA Treaties 
and Laws DG Altangerel has invited the DCM in February 25 to discuss 
the issue, which includes a long-standing proposal for the 
consolidation of the Embassy's leases.) 
 
USTR TRANSPARENCY AGREEMENT PROPOSAL REVIEWED 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU)  The DCM summarized the results of the February 4 USTR-led 
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement discussions in Washington. 
He reviewed the exchanges regarding USTR's transparency agreement 
proposal and described the next steps and timeline envisioned for 
negotiations to begin.  Oyun said she had heard of the proposal and 
sees the merits of it; she agreed to support this process when the 
issue is put before the cabinet. 
 
GOM VERY PLEASED WITH CBRGI, TIFA RESULTS 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU)  While waiting for FM Oyun to arrive for dinner, A/DG 
Mounkhou said the GOM was very pleased with the results of both the 
CBRGI and the TIFA.  In both cases, the GOM was please with the 
substance of the discussions and actionable outcomes.  In 
particular, the GOM was impressed by the breadth of issues covered, 
signifying an expansion of areas of interest and cooperation, as 
well as the number of USG agencies now engaged or seeking engagement 
with Mongolia. 
 
MINTON