III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 208 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 15, 2011 Mr. Kerry (for himself, Mr. McCain, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Webb) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj’s visit to Washington, D.C., and its support for the growing partnership between the United States and Mongolia.

Whereas the United States Government established diplomatic relations with the Government of Mongolia in January 1987, followed by the opening of a United States Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in June 1988; Whereas in 1990, the Government of Mongolia declared an end to 1-party Communist rule and initiated lasting democratic and free market reforms; Whereas the United States Government has a longstanding commitment, based on its interests and values, to encourage economic and political reforms in Mongolia, having made sizeable contributions to that end since 1991; Whereas in 1991, the United States— (1)signed a bilateral trade agreement that restored normal trade relations with Mongolia; and (2)established a Peace Corps program in Mongolia that has had 869 total volunteers since 1991; Whereas in 1999, the United States granted permanent normal trade relations status to Mongolia; Whereas the Government of Mongolia has increasingly participated in the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, among other international organizations; Whereas in 2007, the House Democracy Partnership began a program to provide parliamentary assistance to the State Great Khural, the Parliament of Mongolia, to promote transparency, legislative independence, access to information and government oversight; Whereas on May 24, 2009, the people of Mongolia completed the country’s fourth free, fair, and peaceful democratic election, which resulted in the election of opposition Democratic Party candidate Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj; Whereas in July 2011, Mongolia will assume the 2-year chairmanship of the Community of Democracies; Whereas in 2013, Mongolia will host the Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Community of Democracies in Ulaanbaatar; Whereas the Government of Mongolia continues to work with the United States Government to combat global terrorism; Whereas Mongolia deployed about 990 soldiers to Iraq between 2003 to 2008 and currently has 190 troops in Afghanistan; Whereas in 2010, the Government of Mongolia deployed a United Nations Level II hospital in Darfur, Sudan; Whereas the Government of Mongolia has actively promoted international peacekeeping efforts by sending soldiers— (1)to protect the Special Court of Sierra Leone; (2)to support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Kosovo; and (3)to support United Nations missions in several African countries; Whereas the Government of Mongolia has built a successful partnership since 2003 with the Alaska National Guard that includes humanitarian and peacekeeping exercises and efforts; Whereas the United States Government and the Government of Mongolia share a common interest in promoting peace and stability in Northeast Asia and Central Asia; Whereas in 1991 and 1992, the Government of Mongolia signed denuclearization agreements committing Mongolia to remain a nuclear weapons-free state; Whereas in 2010, Mongolia became the Chair of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency; Whereas in 2010, the United States and Mongolia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation on the peaceful use of civil nuclear energy; Whereas the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Nuclear Energy Agency of the Government of Mongolia successfully completed training on response mechanisms to potential terrorist attacks; Whereas between 1991 and 2011, the United States Government granted assistance to Mongolia— (1)to advance the legal and regulatory environment for business and financial markets, including the mining sector; (2)to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions; and (3)to support good governance programming; Whereas in 2007, the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed an agreement with Mongolia to promote sustainable economic growth and to reduce poverty by focusing on property rights, vocational education, health, transportation, energy, and the environment; Whereas Mongolia's plan to enhance its rail infrastructure promises to diversify its trading and investment partners, to open up new markets for its mineral exports, and to position Mongolia as a bridge between Asia and Europe; Whereas the United States has assisted Mongolia’s efforts— (1)to address the effects of the global economic crisis; (2)to promote sound economic, trade, and energy policy, with particular attention to the banking and mining sectors; (3)to facilitate commercial law development; and (4)to further activities with Mongolia’s peacekeeping forces and military; Whereas in January 2010— (1)the United States Government and the Government of Mongolia agreed to promote greater academic exchange opportunities; (2)the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science pledged to financially support the U.S.-Mongolia Fulbright Program; and (3)the United States Department of State announced its intention to increase its base allocation for the U.S.-Mongolia Fulbright Program in fiscal year 2010; Whereas in 2011, Mongolia is celebrating the 100 year anniversary of its independence; Whereas on June 16, 2011, President Elbegdorj, during a working visit to the United States, is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama, Congressional leaders, academics, and representatives of the business community; Whereas in late 2011, Vice President Joseph Biden is scheduled to travel to Mongolia to highlight our shared interests and values; Now, therefore, be it

That it is the sense of the Senate that— (1)Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj’s historic visit to Washington, D.C. cements the growing friendship between the governments and peoples of the United States and Mongolia; (2)the continued commitment of the Mongolian people and the Government of Mongolia to advancing democratic reforms, strengthening transparency and the rule of law, and protecting investment deserves acknowledgment and celebration; (3)the United States Government should— (A)continue to promote economic cooperation; and (B)consider next steps in securing increased investment and trade to promote prosperity for both countries; (4)the United States Government should continue to support the Government of Mongolia as it works with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to improve its economic system and accelerate development; and (5)the United States Government should continue to expand upon existing academic, cultural, and other people-to-people exchanges with Mongolia.