

Currently released so far... 12648 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AORC
AF
AU
ASEC
AMGT
AS
APER
AR
AG
ARF
AJ
AA
AINF
APECO
AODE
ABLD
AMG
ATPDEA
AE
AEMR
AMED
AGAO
AFIN
AL
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AID
ASCH
AM
AORL
ASEAN
APEC
ADM
AFSI
AFSN
ADCO
ABUD
AN
AY
AIT
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AMCHAMS
AGMT
AADP
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
ACS
APCS
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AECL
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
AFU
BR
BTIO
BY
BO
BA
BU
BL
BN
BM
BF
BEXP
BK
BG
BB
BTIU
BBSR
BRUSSELS
BD
BIDEN
BE
BH
BILAT
BC
BX
BT
BP
BMGT
BWC
CS
CA
CH
CD
CO
CE
CU
CVIS
CASC
CJAN
CI
CPAS
CMGT
CDG
CIC
CAC
CBW
CWC
COUNTER
CW
CT
CY
CNARC
CACM
CG
CB
CM
CV
CIDA
CLINTON
CHR
COE
CR
CIS
CDC
CONS
CF
CODEL
COPUOS
CIA
CFED
CARSON
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CACS
CN
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CARICOM
CSW
CITT
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
EAID
ECON
EFIS
ETRD
EC
ENRG
EINV
EFIN
EAGR
ETTC
ECPS
EINT
ES
EIND
EAIR
EU
EUN
EG
EPET
ELAB
EWWT
EMIN
ECIN
ESA
ER
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EAIG
ET
ETRO
ELTN
EI
EN
EUR
EK
EUMEM
EPA
ENGR
EXTERNAL
EUREM
ELN
EUC
ENERG
ENIV
EZ
ERD
EFTA
ETRC
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ENNP
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
EFINECONCS
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXIM
ERNG
ECA
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
IC
IV
IAEA
IR
IO
IT
IN
IS
IZ
IMO
IPR
IWC
ICAO
ILO
ID
ICTY
ICJ
INMARSAT
INDO
IL
IMF
IRS
IQ
IA
ICRC
IDA
IAHRC
IBRD
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
IDP
ICTR
IEFIN
IRC
ITRA
ITALY
INRB
INTELSAT
IBET
IRAQI
ISRAELI
IIP
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
KBTR
KPAO
KOMC
KCRM
KDEM
KHIV
KBIO
KTIA
KMDR
KNNP
KSCA
KTIP
KWMN
KIPR
KCOR
KRVC
KFRD
KPAL
KWBG
KE
KTDB
KUNR
KSPR
KJUS
KGHG
KAWC
KCFE
KGCC
KOLY
KSUM
KACT
KISL
KTFN
KFLU
KSTH
KMPI
KHDP
KS
KHLS
KMRS
KID
KN
KU
KAWK
KSAC
KCOM
KAID
KIRC
KWMNCS
KMCA
KNEI
KCRS
KPKO
KICC
KPOA
KV
KDRG
KIRF
KSEO
KVPR
KSEP
KTER
KBCT
KFIN
KGIC
KCIP
KZ
KG
KWAC
KRAD
KPRP
KTEX
KNAR
KPLS
KPAK
KSTC
KFLO
KSCI
KIDE
KOMS
KHSA
KSAF
KPWR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KRIM
KVRP
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KWMM
KMFO
KMOC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KREC
KX
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KMIG
KRGY
KIFR
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MX
MNUC
MCAP
MO
MR
MEPP
MTCRE
MAPP
MEPN
MZ
MT
ML
MA
MY
MIL
MD
MASSMNUC
MU
MK
MTCR
MUCN
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MC
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTRE
MASC
MG
MARAD
MRCRE
MW
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
NATO
NZ
NL
NO
NK
NU
NPT
NI
NG
NEW
NSF
NA
NPG
NSG
NE
NSSP
NS
NDP
NSC
NAFTA
NH
NV
NP
NPA
NSFO
NT
NW
NASA
NORAD
NATIONAL
NGO
NR
NIPP
NZUS
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
OEXC
OTRA
OPRC
OVIP
OAS
OIIP
OSCE
OREP
OPIC
OFDP
OMIG
ODIP
OVP
OSCI
OIC
OECD
OIE
OPDC
ON
OCII
OPAD
OBSP
OFFICIALS
OPCW
OHUM
OES
OCS
OTR
OSAC
OFDA
PGOV
PREL
PM
PHUM
PTER
PINR
PINS
PREF
PARM
PL
PK
PU
PBTS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PO
PROP
PA
PNAT
POL
PLN
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PCUL
PAK
PGGV
PAO
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PAS
PGIV
PHUMPREL
PCI
PG
POGOV
PHUMPGOV
PEL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PP
PREO
PAHO
PBT
PMIL
POV
PRL
PDOV
PTBS
PRAM
PREFA
PSI
PAIGH
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PINF
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PGOC
PY
PHUH
PF
PHUS
RU
RS
RO
RW
RP
RFE
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
ROOD
RCMP
RM
RSO
ROBERT
RICE
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
SENV
SU
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SL
SW
SMIG
SP
SY
SA
SHUM
SZ
SYRIA
SF
SR
SO
SARS
SN
SC
SIPRS
SI
SYR
SEVN
SG
SPCE
SK
STEINBERG
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SNARIZ
SNARN
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SEN
SANC
SWE
SHI
TW
TU
TBIO
TSPL
TPHY
TRGY
TC
TT
TSPA
TINT
TERRORISM
TX
TR
TS
TN
TD
TH
TIP
TNGD
TI
TZ
THPY
TP
TBID
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
UN
UK
UNSC
UNGA
US
UNESCO
UP
UNHRC
UNAUS
USTR
UNDP
UNEP
UY
UNCHR
UG
UZ
UNPUOS
USEU
UNMIK
UNDC
UNICEF
UV
UNHCR
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
USUN
USNC
UNIDROIT
UNO
UNCND
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08ULAANBAATAR15, Visiting Canadian Trade Minister Advises Against State
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ULAANBAATAR15.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08ULAANBAATAR15 | 2008-01-11 08:29 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ulaanbaatar |
VZCZCXRO9558
RR RUEHLMC RUEHVC RUEHVK
DE RUEHUM #0015/01 0110829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110829Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1799
INFO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0559
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 3128
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2057
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0037
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0079
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0038
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5939
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1595
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0251
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2823
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 1682
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0218
RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 0430
RUEHVK/AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK 0214
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 0067
RUEHON/AMCONSUL TORONTO 0005
RUEHMT/AMCONSUL MONTREAL 0014
RUEHVC/AMCONSUL VANCOUVER 0096
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC 0036
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ULAANBAATAR 000015
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM, EB/ESC, AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS USTR, USGS, DOC/ITA, EXIM, OPIC, AND EPA
STATE PASS AID/ANE D. WINSTON
COMMERCE FOR ITA FOR ZHEN GONG CROSS
MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC FOR F.REID
TREASURY PASS USEDS TO IMF, WORLD BANK
MANILA AND LONDON FOR USEDS TO ADB, EBRD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG EMIN PREL SENV ELTN ETRD CA MG
SUBJECT: Visiting Canadian Trade Minister Advises Against State
Ownership of Natural Resources
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Canadian International Trade Minister David
Emerson's 24 hour visit to Mongolia, the first by a Canadian
Minister in over 10 years, included meetings with President N.
Enkhbayar, Prime Minister S. Bayar, Foreign Minister Oyun, and his
counterpart at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Kh. Narankhuu.
Minister Emerson also spoke at a business breakfast largely attended
by Canadian mining firms active in Mongolia. At meetings with the
GOM and business representatives, Emerson made clear that the
Government of Canada (GOC) sought to discourage the Government of
Mongolia's (GOM) apparent insistence on owning and perhaps even
operating mines. However, he also signaled that Canada would engage
with Mongolia in the important mining sector, would support several
initiatives to improve mining administration and would begin
negotiations on a bilateral investment agreement with the GOM in
March. Emerson assured the business community that Canada intended
to support their positions before the GOM and that the GOC would
raise its profile in Mongolia. A local Canadian businessman was
made Canada's Honorary Consul, filling a position vacant these past
18 months. The Charge'and the British Ambassador respectively
explained U.S. and British approaches to moving investment forward.
END SUMMARY.
President Enkhbayar Bangs The Old Time Socialist Drum
--------------------------------------------- --------
¶2. (SBU) At the North American Mongolian Business Council's January
10 breakfast with business and diplomatic representatives, Minister
Emerson described the results of his meetings the previous day with
GOM senior officials. Emerson said he met with President Enkhbayar,
whom he characterized as extremely well informed, articulate, and
visionary. After this brief encomium, Emerson expressed concern
that Enkhbayar's approach to mining was too statist for Canadian
tastes, saying that Enkhbayar was behind many of the efforts to
re-nationalize Mongolia's natural resources, in spite of clear
evidence that this was not the best development path. Emerson
recounted for Enkhbayar that Canada, much to its regret, had already
tried nationalized resource businesses in mining and lumber, and
that those efforts had largely failed to produce sustainable,
efficient industries, forcing Canada to eventually privatize those
industries in the end. Canada's experience, and that of other
nations, demonstrated that a sound legal and administrative
framework could achieve the state's financial and social goals for
its environment and people more effectively than outright government
ownership and operation of assets.
PM Bayar's Pragmatic Government More
Encouraging Than Presidential Visions
--------------------------------------
¶3. (SBU) Emerson collectively praised PM Bayar, Foreign Minister S.
Oyun, and MIT Minister Narankhuu for their pragmatic approach to
ULAANBAATA 00000015 002 OF 004
developing Mongolia's resources. While the three senior GOM
officials acknowledged the severe political pressures for
nationalization impinging on Mongolia's development process, each of
them also recognized and agreed with the GOC's view that the GOM
needed foreign investment to bring its mines on line, and they
agreed with GOC views that government ownership of assets was not
the best way to develop them. However, ministerial discussions
revealed that the GOM simply lacked the statutory and regulatory
apparatus needed to manage its resources effectively even as just a
regulator, much less than as an owner. In response, Emerson stated
that the GOC intended to provide technical assistance to help the
GOM improve its regulatory framework. (Comment: Local analysts say
it is this gulf between the GOM's fear that it won't get its fair
share of Mongolia's mineral wealth and its inability to regulate the
sector to that end that is, as much as anything, driving GOM
attempts to nationalize assets, based on a belief that if the GOM
owns a piece of the pie outright, then it will at least get
something from natural resource extraction. Given that at least 30%
of the GOM's budget is underwritten by the state-owned Erdenet
copper mine, Mongolia's insistence on state participation is
explainable. End Comment.)
¶4. (SBU) Emerson also formally announced that the GOC would enter
into negotiations with the GOM on an investment agreement, the
"Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement," the aim of
which is to boost Canada's trade ties with Mongolia. Canada is
Mongolia's second-largest investor, with about US$397 million worth
of assets in the country, and the prospective agreement would give
investors from either country legally binding rights in the other.
Emerson stated that "our desire to put in place an investment
agreement with Mongolia is a clear expression of Canada's commitment
to building a strong long-term partnership."
Interaction with Canadian Mining Business,
Diplomats, and NGO Representatives
-----------------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) During the January 10 breakfast, Minister Emerson and his
delegation also heard a range of viewpoints regarding the GOM's
approach to mining. Mining representatives delivered consistent
points to the Minister. Firms stated they are able and willing to
handle the commercial aspects of their respective businesses, but
they want and need foreign governments to project a united front to
the GOM to cover their political flank. In short, the mining
companies told Canada to join U.S., British, Japanese, Australian
and German efforts to encourage (cajole, harangue, etc.) the GOM
into staying out of the mining business while creating a
transparent, predictable, best practice-based, rule of law approach
to regulating and profiting from its resource base.
¶6. (SBU) The British Ambassador echoed these sentiments. He noted
that Mongolia had not really grasped the implications of its
"Third-Neighbor" policy. Her Majesty's government was reconsidering
ULAANBAATA 00000015 003 OF 004
its level of engagement with Mongolia because Britain had little of
substance on the ground. If Mongolia wanted the British relationship
to continue or increase, it had to do what was necessary to get
British investment. If Mongolia really wants to balance China and
Russia with investment and political support from Britain, the U.S.,
Canada, Japan, etc., then it must create and sustain an environment
conducive to investment.
¶7. (SBU) The Charge' agreed with the British position, noting the
USG had consistently and constantly encouraged the GOM to create and
sustain a solid market environment for all investors. He added that
attracting investment also depended on Mongolia giving full and
careful consideration as well as a timely decision to major
development project proposals such as the copper-gold mine at Oyu
Tolgoi.
Chances For A Canadian Embassy In Mongolia Seem Slim
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶8. (SBU) Minister Emerson went out of his way to assure his fellow
Canadians that Canada intended to represent their interests more
assiduously. He noted that this first ministerial visit in 10 years
clearly indicated Canada's growing interest in Mongolia. (Note:
Minister Emerson's Policy Advisor told Commoff that he had to "beg"
Minister Emerson to take a day in Mongolia. Apparently, the
Minister was concerned about the distance between Beijing and
Ulaanbaatar (two hours flight time). The Advisor also pointed out
that Canada had at least US$400 million invested in Mongolia with
the prospect of more in coal, uranium, services, etc., and that the
Minister should give some push to an emerging portfolio.) He pointed
out that Canada had just the previous day formally installed a new
Honorary Canadian Consul, Mr. Alain Fontaine, a very accomplished
French Canadian who serves as the CEO of one of Mongolia's largest
technology and infrastructure firms.
Comment
-------
¶9. (SBU) The visit by Canadian Trade Minister Emerson has provided a
temporary boost in attention here and perhaps in Canada, but it is
important to note that neither the Mongolians nor the Canadians
present seemed to be much moved by Canadian protestations of
interest. One prominent local businessman was extremely indifferent,
saying he used to get excited about Canadian promises to set up shop
in Mongolia, but he has been disappointed so many times that he no
longer believes GOC promises. After all, the Minister provided no
time tables for raising the profile on the ground. And it was only
after Canadian firms protested loudly to Ottawa in recent years that
their Beijing Embassy increased the frequency of its brief TDY
visits to UB from annual to quarterly to monthly levels, albeit not
always consistently nor with the right officer at the right level.
And even the Honorary Consul post was left vacant for 18 months.
Nonetheless, from post's perspective, it was useful for senior
ULAANBAATA 00000015 004 OF 004
Mongolian officials to hear messages similar to our own from a
senior Canadian minister representing their second largest investor,
and one which can speak from experience of the faults of state
ownership and participation in the mining sector. END COMMENT.
Goldbeck
1