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DE RUEHUM #0332/01 3220823
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P 180823Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3116
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0123
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6551
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0043
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0039
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 2647
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 3834
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 3480
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L ULAANBAATAR 000332 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/CM AND EAP/RSP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/17/2019 
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS MG
SUBJECT: MONGOLIA PROPOSES SUPPLEMENTAL AFGHAN DEPLOYMENT 
AND INCREASED MILITARY COOPERATION 
 
REF: ULAANBAATAR 329 
 
Classified By: Political Section Chief Andrew Covington, 
               Reasons 1.4 (a), (b), and (d) 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: During his November 16-18 visit to 
Ulaanbaatar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
Partnership Strategy and Stability Operations, James Schear, 
accompanied by the Charge and DATT, met key offials at the 
Ministries of Defense and of Foreign Affairs, including 
Defense Minister Bold and Foreign Minister Zandanshatar. 
Bold and other senior Mongolian military officials voiced a 
number of new proposals for military development and possible 
bilateral cooperation.  In contrast, DASD Schear's meeting 
with newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Zandanshatar 
was brief and far more formal, as the FM mostly restricted 
his remarks to a prepared statement expressing appreciation 
for our positive role in Mongolia's democratic transition and 
support for our efforts in Afghanistan.  Zandanshatar also 
stated he worked with Ambassador Addleton when the latter was 
USAID director in Ulaanbaatar and looks forward to meeting 
him again.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------- 
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE 
------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) At the Ministry of Defense November 17, Defense 
Minister Lu. Bold reiterated his support for U.S. operations 
against terrorist groups and expressed satisfaction regarding 
the level of cooperation to date.  He described the just 
departed second deployment to Afghanistan tasked with fixed 
site security and the training of Afghan soldiers as a next 
step in fostering security ties.  Of note, Bold proposed 
deploying small numbers of Mongolia's medical personnel to 
Afghanistan in support of U.S. efforts.  In a subsequent 
meeting, Chief of General Staff of the Mongolian Armed Forces 
(MAF) Lieutenant General Byambajav expanded upon this. 
Although ultimately intended for UN peacekeeping operations 
in Chad and eventually Darfur at a Level II capacity, 
Byambajav expressed the hope that some medical personnel 
could integrate into U.S. combat medical units in Afghanistan 
and develop their capabilities.. 
 
¶3. (C) Byambajav stated his hope to develop more tactical 
mobility in the MAF through the establishment of a cavalry 
contingent in the West as well as the acquisition of C-130 
aircraft from the U.S. for troop conveyance.  Invoking 
Mongolia's long equestrian history, Byambajav explained that 
horse riding soldiers were better able to navigate hilly 
terrain and could be of use in striking at terrorist cells in 
such environments.  Byambajav recounted that the Russians had 
bought Mongolian horses for a mounted contingent in the 
Caucasus.  He further suggested that such a western cavalry 
unit could be used for regional training purposes as well. 
He assented when Schear asked if the training might involve 
the Kazakhs, who also have contributed to recent U.S. 
military efforts.  On the subject of C-130s, Byambajav 
insisted that the MAF could adequately maintain and use theQ 
despite the harsh environment. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Lastly, Byambajav touched upon improving MAF 
training and research capacities.  Citing the prominence of 
U.S. trained military officials in the MAF and his own such 
experience at U.S. Central Command in Tampa Florida, he 
expressed interest in increasing the number of slots 
available to the MAF through these programs.  He furthermore 
stated the goal of establishing a local "lessons learned" 
center within the MAF to build upon the experience attained 
from their numerous international deployments. 
 
¶5. (U) Schear also devoted time to greeting and expressing 
gratitude to Mongolian soldiers for their work in supporting 
U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and global peacekeeping 
operations.  He personally bid farewell to the outbound 
Afghanistan contingent on November 16 from the airport, en 
route to provide fixed site security as well as training to 
the Afghan military in the use of old Soviet artillery.  The 
following day Schear had lunch with Col. Ontsgoibayar and 
selected troops from the 150th Peacekeeping Battalion under 
 
his command, bound for Chad on November 20.  Afterwards he 
visited the Five Hills Regional Training Center, which hosts 
numerous combined multinational training opportunities for 
peacekeepers. 
 
------------------------------------- 
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) DASD Schear also met with Foreign Minister 
Zandanshatar on November 17 (see reftel for details of 
Zandanshatar's November 12 appointment).  The meeting was 
Zandanshatar's first as FM with a high-ranking visitor from 
Washington; he mostly kept to prepared remarks.  The FM 
expressed appreciation for the role the United States plays 
in the building of democracy and a market economy in 
Mongolia, noting the significant growth in the bilateral 
relationship in last several years.  He said Mongolian 
foreign policy is focused on long-term, balanced, and 
friendly relationships -- in particular the close 
partnerships with Mongolia's "third neighbors." 
 
¶7. (C) Zandanshatar said Mongolia seeks a comprehensive 
partnership with the United States and that cooperation in 
the defense field has been fruitful.  He thanked us for U.S. 
contributions to enhance Mongolia's defense capabilities and 
underscored that Mongolia is moving toward light and mobile 
armed units that are flexible in relief and peacekeeping 
situations -- noting that Mongolia is undertaking these 
changes as budget constraints allow. 
 
¶8. (C) Zandanshatar stated that Mongolia welcomes and fully 
supports the new U.S. strategy in Pakistan and Afghanistan 
and is pleased to be sending additional troops to 
Afghanistan.  He said Mongolia can be an example of a 
successful democracy for countries in central and northeast 
Asia. 
 
¶9. (C) The FM noted he was close friends with Ambassador 
Addleton when the former worked on banking reform under USAID 
auspices.  He said he looks forward to seeing the Ambassador 
after he arrives in Ulaanbaatar to take up his new 
assignment.  Zandanshatar further stated that Mongolia can be 
considered a strategic partner and therefore wishes to 
evaluate and improve our bilateral cooperation. 
 
¶10. (SBU) DASD Schear cleared this cable. 
HILL