Senate Resolution 352 -- Expressing the Sense of the Senate Regrading the 20th Anniversary of United States-Mongolia Relations

Floor Speech

SENATE RESOLUTION 352--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED STATES-MONGOLIA RELATIONS -- (Senate - October 18, 2007)

Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself, Mr. Lugar, and Mr. Biden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 352

Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with the Government of Mongolia in January 1987 and established its first embassy in Ulaanbaatar in June 1988;

Whereas the United States and Mongolia are both fully democratic states committed to the rule of law;

Whereas, in 1991, the United States established normal trade relations with Mongolia and began a Peace Corps program that now boasts approximately 100 volunteers;

Whereas the United States has a continued commitment to Mongolia's economic and political development and has contributed over $150,000,000 in aid for that purpose since 1991;

Whereas the United States has supported Mongolia's participation in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank;

Whereas the United States and Mongolia strengthened their trade relationship through the signing of a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in 2004 to boost bilateral commercial ties and resolve trade disputes;

Whereas Mongolia continues to work with the United States to combat global terrorism and, since April 2003, has contributed engineers, troops, and medical personnel to Operation Iraqi Freedom and has participated in training National Army artillery units in Afghanistan;

Whereas Mongolia has demonstrated an expanding desire to join the United States in global peacekeeping activities by sending a contingent of 250 soldiers to protect the Special Court for Sierra Leone, a platoon to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mission in Kosovo, and personnel to serve as United Nations observers in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea;

Whereas the United States and Mongolia share an interest in promoting peaceful cooperation in south central Asia; and

Whereas Mongolia was named eligible for Millennium Challenge Compact assistance on May 6, 2004, submitted its official proposal on October 13, 2005, and had its proposal approved by the Millennium Challenge Corporation on September 12, 2007: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

(1) the strength and endurance of the partnership between the United States and Mongolia should be acknowledged and celebrated;

(2) the United States should encourage continued economic cooperation with Mongolia, including in areas such as mining, construction, information technology, tourism, and meat processing, to the betterment of both our economies;

(3) the United States should continue to work with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank to improve Mongolia's economic system;

(4) the United States should provide Mongolia assistance under the Millennium Challenge Compact and work to finalize the compact in a timely fashion; and

(5) the United States should encourage greater academic and cultural exchanges with Mongolia.

Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, Mongolia has made incredible strides to improve its relationship with the United States since 1987. Following the downfall of communism in that nation, our ties have grown exponentially.

Mongolia has worked hard in the past two decades to create a robust and strong democracy and the United States has been a partner in that effort from its inception.

Although it lies on the other side of the globe and sits between Russia and China, Mongolia has long sought close ties with the United States, with some even referring to the United States as its ``Third Neighbor.''

On the economic front, the United States-Mongolian relationship is dynamic and growing with over one hundred U.S. and U.S.-Mongolian joint ventures registered in areas ranging from oil exploration, textiles, animal husbandry, tourism, mining, and banking. The United States is also one of Mongolia's largest sources of foreign investment.

While a large recipient of foreign aid, Mongolia still commits itself to giving back to the global community through its significant peacekeeping efforts in Africa and Eastern Europe, with personnel in Sierra Leone and Kosovo.

Mongolia is also a strong partner in the War on Terror. Mongolia has contributed engineers, troops, and medical personnel to Operation Iraqi Freedom and has participated in training National Army artillery units in Afghanistan. Prior to 2000, Mongolia did not have a national policy of deploying forces beyond its borders. Yet they were the first coalition country to contribute an infantry battalion to Iraq.

Mongolia's contributions mean a bit more to the State of Alaska. Since 2003, we have partnered with Mongolia through the Alaska-Mongolia National Guard Partnership. Our National Guard has established broad working relationships and increased exchanges with their Mongolian partners. They stand side by side with the Mongolian Armed Forces in Iraq--in fact, the Mongolian Ministry of Defense specifically requested Alaska National Guard support based on Alaska's relationship with their nation.

The success that the partnership has enjoyed is a direct reflection of the willingness and eagerness on both sides to further our relations. The Alaska National Guard tells me that Mongolia is enthusiastic about their democratic reforms and is aggressively working to meet its goals.

So with 2007 being the 20th Anniversary of U.S.-Mongolia relations, I am proud to introduce this resolution marking our ties and the significant progress that has been achieved between our two countries in that short time frame. I look forward to what the next 20 years will bring.

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