[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3848-S3849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON, DC
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to S. Res. 208.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 208) expressing the sense of the
Senate regarding Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj's
visit to Washington, DC and its support for the growing
partnership between the United States and Mongolia.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any
statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 208) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 208
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
Resolved, 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,
[[Page S3849]]
cultural, and other people-to-people exchanges with Mongolia.
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