[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7943-7944]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 189--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
               25TH ANNIVERSARY OF DEMOCRACY IN MONGOLIA

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself and Mr. McCain) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 189

       Whereas the United States Government established diplomatic 
     relations with the Government of Mongolia in January 1987;
       Whereas, in 1990, the Government of Mongolia declared an 
     end to a one-party, authoritarian, Communist political system 
     and adopted a lasting, multiparty democracy and free market 
     reforms;
       Whereas the Government of Mongolia has demonstrated a 
     commitment to democracy and continues to strengthen 
     democratic institutions in Mongolia;
       Whereas the Government of Mongolia is an important leader 
     in, and model for, the successful and peaceful transition to 
     democracy;
       Whereas Mongolia successfully chaired the Community of 
     Democracies, which was held in Ulaanbaatar in 2013, and 
     sponsored a United Nations General Assembly resolution 
     entitled ``Education for Democracy'' (United Nations General 
     Assembly Resolution 69/268 (2015)) to promote democratic 
     institutions, civic life, and human rights;
       Whereas President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj has stated that 
     Mongolia is willing to serve as ``a center of democracy 
     education, a life model for challenges and opportunities of 
     freedom'';
       Whereas Mongolia is committed to freedom of expression and 
     other basic human rights, becoming the first country in Asia 
     to chair the Freedom Online Coalition and hosting the annual 
     Freedom Online conference in Ulaanbaatar in May 2015;
       Whereas Mongolia will host the 11th Asia-Europe Meeting 
     (ASEM) Summit in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, which will bring 
     together European and Asian countries in an informal dialogue 
     to address political, economic, social, cultural, and 
     educational issues, with the objective of strengthening the 
     relationship between the two regions in a spirit of mutual 
     respect and equal partnership;

[[Page 7944]]

       Whereas the Government of Mongolia established an 
     International Cooperation Fund to share experiences and to 
     support the advance of democracy and democratic values in 
     other emerging nations, including Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, 
     and Burma; and
       Whereas the United States Government has a longstanding 
     commitment, because of the interests and values of the United 
     States, to encourage economic and political reforms in 
     Mongolia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the people and the Government of Mongolia 
     on the 25th anniversary of the first democratic elections in 
     Mongolia, which will be celebrated on July 29, 2015;
       (2) commends Mongolia for a peaceful and successful 
     democratic transition;
       (3) expresses support for the continued efforts of the 
     Government of Mongolia to promote democracy, transparency, 
     rule of law, and other shared values between Mongolia and the 
     United States;
       (4) acknowledges the shared interest of the United States 
     Government and the Government of Mongolia in promoting peace 
     and stability in Northeast and Central Asia;
       (5) recognizes the role of Mongolia as a global leader for 
     emerging democracies;
       (6) recognizes that the United States should continue to 
     support actions taken by the Government of Mongolia to--
       (A) further develop democratic institutions; and
       (B) promote transparency, accountability, and community 
     engagement; and
       (7) recommends that the United States Government expand 
     academic, cultural, and other people-to-people partnerships 
     between Mongolia and the United States.

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