[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[Senate]
[Page 9438]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             WELCOMING HIS EXCELLENCY TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ

  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, today as ranking member of the Senate 
Foreign Relations Committee, I am pleased to welcome the President of 
Mongolia, His Excellency Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, a renowned promoter of 
democracy and a longtime friend of the United States.
  As a leader of the peaceful democratic revolution in Mongolia in 
1990, President Elbegdorj was a pioneer of freedom in Mongolia. His 
distinguished service to Mongolia includes serving as Prime Minister 
and Vice Speaker of the Great Hural/Parliament.
  The United States recognized Mongolia in 1987 and established our 
first Embassy in Ulaanbaatar in 1988. We have supported Mongolia in its 
move toward democracy and market-oriented reforms.
  Our partnership with Mongolia is vibrant and growing with multiple 
intersects covering trade and economic issues, defense cooperation, and 
people-to-people programs. Mongolia is also active in regional and 
global affairs and would be an appropriate host for future multilateral 
talks related to North Korea and its nuclear weapons program.
  Since 2003, Mongolian troops have been deployed in support of 
coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, Mongolia has 
deployed over 3,000 personnel on U.N. peacekeeping missions in 
approximately 10 countries.
  I appreciate this opportunity to convey my appreciation for the 
personal leadership of President Elbegdorj and his important 
contribution to the growing of Mongolia-U.S. relations.

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