Serving as Ambassador in Mongolia
Until the 1990s, Mongolia was a member of the Eastern bloc. Therefore, the Mongolian diplomatic community was represented by socialist countries. Now, most former socialist countries shut down their embassies. We do not have any more embassies from Hungary, Poland, and Romania etc. For ambassadors from these countries, Mongolia was another socialist country, and it was mostly clear.
Children would go to Soviet schools, and there would be typical life around the Soviet embassy. Of course, the Soviet embassy would be the biggest embassy in that country. Mongolia was like that: soviet school with the biggest Soviet embassy in the center of Ulaanbaatar city. Sometimes, it was completely different. For example, the Soviet Union sent the prominent Soviet leader Vyacheslav Molotov into exile as ambassador of the Soviet Union in Mongolia from 1958-1960. Now everybody from around the world knows Mr. V. Molotov from his famous Molotov cocktail or famous Molotov Ribbentrop Pact.
Sometimes, if you are Governor of a neighboring province in Russia, you might receive a “promotion” to serve as Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Mongolia. It happened with Mr. Boris Govorin, who served as Russian Ambassador here.
Now it is completely different. Mongolia has mostly embassies from countries which never were expected to be here. We never expected to have embassies from the Republic of Korea, USA, and Canada etc.
Being an ambassador of these countries is different from being one from former Eastern bloc countries, who served in Mongolia before 1990s. Until now, Mongolia was an extremely boring place, and for most ambassadors in Mongolia, this was like a jail sentence. Therefore, they had a lot of time to kill here. Some of them tried to attract investment from their home country. For example, the US Ambassador Alphonse F. LaPorta, who served in Mongolia from 1997 to 2000 was like that. Unfortunately, the Asian economic crisis in 1997, and the fall of gold prices in 1998 destroyed his attempts to attract American businesses to Mongolia. This was the same approach taken by the ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr. Park, Jin-Ho, who served until 2009 in Ulaanbaatar.
Some lucky ambassadors could have a chance to host their President in Mongolia. For example, Mrs. Pamela J.H. Slutz hosted the President of the USA Mr. George Bush with his first US President’s visit to Mongolia. South Korean Ambassador Mr. Park Jin-Ho also hosted his President Mr. Roh Moo-Hyun. This was the second visit of a South Korean President to Mongolia. Of course, this is very rare event, since Ulaanbaatar is not Beijing or Moscow.
However, for most ambassadors, Ulaanbaatar is another destination in their diplomatic career. Therefore, they are probably shocked when it is completely different from their expectations. Sometimes, it will be fast process with presentation of their credentials to the President of Mongolia. Very often, they will be shocked with the age and experience of their Mongolian counterparts. For example, the current Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Bolor is quite young at only 32 years old. For the Canadian ambassador, it is probably a big shock that the current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. D. Zorigt, is only 39 years old. For most ambassadors these people are so young, and for the most of them (ambassadors) they will never become even vice ministers in their own Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Of course, there are different paths for any ambassador. Some ambassadors are relocated, such as the US Ambassador Mark Minton, who came from South Korea. Some ambassadors will become ambassador for the first time in Mongolia, such as the current South Korean Ambassador Mr. Chung Il. It looks like he will not be as lucky as his predecessor. There are no plans for South Korean President Mr. Lee Myung-bak to visit Mongolia. It was his plans to visit Mongolia this year and last year. But Mr. Chung Il was extremely happy when Dr. Park Geun-hye visited Mongolia. She is probably the most influential politician in South Korea. Dr. Park Geun-hye is the daughter of former South Korean President Park Chung-hee (1962-1979). According to The Economist, the current President of South Korea Mr. Lee Myung-back admires her father Mr. Park Chung-hee. But she might defeat him in upcoming elections.
Usually, you will not return as ambassador to Mongolia for a second stint. But you never know what might happen. For example, the “new” Her Majesty’s Ambassador Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt returned after her departure in 2009. Of course, you might have served in a lower position previously in your embassy in Mongolia, and then you might come back to Mongolia as an ambassador. This happened to the current Ambassadors from the USA and Japan. It the end, Mongolia is just another destination for most ambassadors. It is probably not the most important destination in their careers but it might become an important destination such as the case with Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt.
Children would go to Soviet schools, and there would be typical life around the Soviet embassy. Of course, the Soviet embassy would be the biggest embassy in that country. Mongolia was like that: soviet school with the biggest Soviet embassy in the center of Ulaanbaatar city. Sometimes, it was completely different. For example, the Soviet Union sent the prominent Soviet leader Vyacheslav Molotov into exile as ambassador of the Soviet Union in Mongolia from 1958-1960. Now everybody from around the world knows Mr. V. Molotov from his famous Molotov cocktail or famous Molotov Ribbentrop Pact.
Sometimes, if you are Governor of a neighboring province in Russia, you might receive a “promotion” to serve as Ambassador of the Russian Federation in Mongolia. It happened with Mr. Boris Govorin, who served as Russian Ambassador here.
Now it is completely different. Mongolia has mostly embassies from countries which never were expected to be here. We never expected to have embassies from the Republic of Korea, USA, and Canada etc.
Being an ambassador of these countries is different from being one from former Eastern bloc countries, who served in Mongolia before 1990s. Until now, Mongolia was an extremely boring place, and for most ambassadors in Mongolia, this was like a jail sentence. Therefore, they had a lot of time to kill here. Some of them tried to attract investment from their home country. For example, the US Ambassador Alphonse F. LaPorta, who served in Mongolia from 1997 to 2000 was like that. Unfortunately, the Asian economic crisis in 1997, and the fall of gold prices in 1998 destroyed his attempts to attract American businesses to Mongolia. This was the same approach taken by the ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr. Park, Jin-Ho, who served until 2009 in Ulaanbaatar.
Some lucky ambassadors could have a chance to host their President in Mongolia. For example, Mrs. Pamela J.H. Slutz hosted the President of the USA Mr. George Bush with his first US President’s visit to Mongolia. South Korean Ambassador Mr. Park Jin-Ho also hosted his President Mr. Roh Moo-Hyun. This was the second visit of a South Korean President to Mongolia. Of course, this is very rare event, since Ulaanbaatar is not Beijing or Moscow.
However, for most ambassadors, Ulaanbaatar is another destination in their diplomatic career. Therefore, they are probably shocked when it is completely different from their expectations. Sometimes, it will be fast process with presentation of their credentials to the President of Mongolia. Very often, they will be shocked with the age and experience of their Mongolian counterparts. For example, the current Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. B. Bolor is quite young at only 32 years old. For the Canadian ambassador, it is probably a big shock that the current Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Mr. D. Zorigt, is only 39 years old. For most ambassadors these people are so young, and for the most of them (ambassadors) they will never become even vice ministers in their own Ministries of Foreign Affairs.
Of course, there are different paths for any ambassador. Some ambassadors are relocated, such as the US Ambassador Mark Minton, who came from South Korea. Some ambassadors will become ambassador for the first time in Mongolia, such as the current South Korean Ambassador Mr. Chung Il. It looks like he will not be as lucky as his predecessor. There are no plans for South Korean President Mr. Lee Myung-bak to visit Mongolia. It was his plans to visit Mongolia this year and last year. But Mr. Chung Il was extremely happy when Dr. Park Geun-hye visited Mongolia. She is probably the most influential politician in South Korea. Dr. Park Geun-hye is the daughter of former South Korean President Park Chung-hee (1962-1979). According to The Economist, the current President of South Korea Mr. Lee Myung-back admires her father Mr. Park Chung-hee. But she might defeat him in upcoming elections.
Usually, you will not return as ambassador to Mongolia for a second stint. But you never know what might happen. For example, the “new” Her Majesty’s Ambassador Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt returned after her departure in 2009. Of course, you might have served in a lower position previously in your embassy in Mongolia, and then you might come back to Mongolia as an ambassador. This happened to the current Ambassadors from the USA and Japan. It the end, Mongolia is just another destination for most ambassadors. It is probably not the most important destination in their careers but it might become an important destination such as the case with Miss Thorda Abbott-Watt.
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