VZCZCXRO9704
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHUM #0844/01 3320215
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 280215Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0564
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 2540
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2298
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1627
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1383
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1266
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0064
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0029
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0070
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0461
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0274
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCPODC/USDOC WASHDC 1129
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC 0402
RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ULAANBAATAR 000844 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, ECA/C, IIP/G/EAP, 
STATE PASS USTR, OPIC, EXIM, TDA, FED RESERVE 
HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS:                
SUBJECT: Opportunity to Strengthen US-Mongolia Ties: 2007 Marks 20th 
Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations 
 
Ref: Ulaanbaatar 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000844  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
1.(U) SUMMARY: This cable includes action requests; please see 
paragraphs 3, 6, and 13.  January 27, 2007 will mark the twentieth 
anniversary of diplomatic ties between the United States and 
Mongolia.  Post plans to tie events throughout 2007 to the 
anniversary, in order to highlight the bilateral relationship. 
Embassy Ulaanbaatar seeks Washington's support through VIP visits, 
activities, events, and supplementary funding to maximize this 
opportunity.  As this week's interest in commemorating President 
Bush's November 2005 visit demonstrated (reftel), the 20th 
anniversary presents significant public diplomacy opportunities. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2.(U) Post has held preliminary discussions with Mongolia's Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs.  The anniversary year in 2007 will include 
events planned independently by the U.S. government, joint events 
planned with the Mongolian government, as well as events planned 
independently by the Mongolian government here and in Washington. 
 
----------------------------------- 
 Video Message from President Bush 
----------------------------------- 
 
3.(U) Action request: Post recommends/requests a video message from 
the President to thank the Mongolian people for their friendship and 
cooperation on the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations. 
Embassy Ulaanbaatar requests NSC assistance in exploring the 
possibility of preparing a message to a nation that seeks to 
complete its transformation to democracy and a free market economy, 
is working to complete a Millennium Challenge Account compact and is 
supporting counter terrorism efforts in Iraq.  The target date for 
broadcasting in Mongolia is the 20th anniversary date 
itself--January 27, 2007.  The Mongolian Foreign Ministry stated a 
video message from President Bush would be greatly appreciated. 
President Bush's congratulatory message for the 800th anniversary of 
the Mongol State this summer was very well received and gained wide 
press coverage.  MFA also indicated they would solicit an exchange 
of written messages between the Secretary and the Foreign Minister. 
 
----------------------------------- 
 Visit by Assistant Secretary Hill 
----------------------------------- 
 
4.(U) The Embassy anticipates a visit by Assistant Secretary Hill 
would give high visibility to the anniversary and help initiate a 
year of commemorative events.  Post has invited Assistant Secretary 
Hill to visit Mongolia, January 28-30. Per the proposed schedule, 
A/S Hill would open the annual Comprehensive Bilateral, Regional, 
Global Issues meeting, visit Peace Corps Volunteers in the 
countryside, and meet with political and business leaders as well as 
journalists in Ulaanbaatar.  In addition to participation in 
commemorative events, such as an academic conference, we hope the 
Mongolian government will be prepared to sign a Consular Convention 
and perhaps a Bilateral Cultural Preservation Agreement and a 
Proliferation Security Initiative agreement. 
 
----------------------------- 
 Commercial and Trade Events 
----------------------------- 
 
5.(U) In February, post will also seek to tie the Trade and 
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) talks to twentieth anniversary 
events.  The U.S. and Mongolia share an interest in expanding 
commercial connections during the twentieth anniversary year.  The 
North America Business Council of Mongolia is organizing events 
around a visit to Chicago for President Enkhbayar tentatively 
scheduled for April.  The Foreign Ministry is interested in holding 
a large seminar on trade and business.  Post believes the 
 
ULAANBAATA 00000844  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
anniversary presents a timely opportunity to begin regular trade 
shows in Mongolia. 
 
6.(U) Action request: The Embassy would appreciate support from 
Washington for VIP visits to Mongolia by the Commerce Secretary, 
USTR, and others during 2007.  Post is prepared to structure such 
seminars or trade shows around those visits. 
 
------------------- 
 Other VIP Visits 
------------------- 
 
7.(U) The Mongolian Foreign Ministry expressed the hope for 
exchanges of high-level delegations during the year.  In particular, 
they would like to have a high-level delegation visit coincide with 
a signing of the prospective MCC compact agreement.  Post 
anticipates a CODEL visit in May and a visit to Washington by 
Mongolian Members of Parliament in September in conjunction with a 
House Democracy Action Committee project. 
 
----------------------- 
 Other Mongolian Plans 
----------------------- 
 
8.(U)The Mongolian Foreign Ministry noted they hope for high-level 
bilateral meetings with the US Treasury and Department of Defense, 
as well as other U.S. departments.  Other Mongolian government 
ministries will also plan special events during the year. 
 
9.(U) The Mongolian government is planning to issue a postage stamp 
commemorating the twentieth anniversary around June.  The Mongolian 
Embassy in Washington is also planning a series of events. 
 
------------------ 
 Cultural Events 
------------------ 
 
10.(U) Post and the Mongolian Foreign Ministry hope to make cultural 
events of high visibility an important part of commemorative 
activities, for example, art exhibitions in Mongolia featuring 
American works and in the United States featuring Mongolian works. 
A tour by American musical groups would be very welcome, and post is 
prepared to work with neighboring posts, such as Beijing and Seoul, 
to reduce costs. 
 
-------------------- 
 Academic Programs 
-------------------- 
 
11.(U) In addition to opinion editorials and a year-long series of 
speeches by Embassy officers, post plans to stimulate academic and 
professional dialogues through DVCs and a large academic 
conference. 
 
12.(U) Post is interested in compiling a booklet including the key 
documents related to the establishment of diplomatic relations, as 
well as a chronology of official contact between the United States 
and Mongolia. 
 
13.(U) Action request: Post requests the assistance of the Ralph 
Bunche Library and the Office of the Historian for obtaining 
electronic copies of key documents related to the 20th anniversary. 
 
MINTON