    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book II)]
    [October 22, 2007]
    [Pages 1364-1366]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks in a Meeting With President Nambaryn Enkhbayar of Mongolia
    October 22, 2007

        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much. Welcome. Thank
    you.
        Mr. President, thank you very much for joining us. Today we're going
    to sign an important agreement between the United States and our friend
    Mongolia. Before we sign the agreement, which is to codify a Millennium
    Challenge compact, I do want to say a couple of things.
        First, Laura and I loved our trip to your
    country. It was most interesting. I still vividly remember the fierce-
    looking warrior on horseback. And I was reminded of how thankful I am
    I've never met him on a battlefield. [Laughter] I remember the skill of
    the horsemen. I remember the warm hospitality. I remember the yak's
    milk. [Laughter] And I remember your gracious and kind words there. And
    I want to thank you again, sir, and the people of your wonderful country
    for such warm hospitality for Laura and me.
        I also want to thank you very much for your strong support in the
    war against radicals and extremists. After our Nation was attacked on
    September the 11th by coldblooded murderers, you and your country stood
    in solidarity with the American people. And since then, you have been a
    stalwart in helping defeat extremists by helping young democracies
    survive and thrive. And I want to thank you and the Mongolian people for
    supporting the young democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's been hard
    work, but we're making progress. And I know it's been hard for some in
    your society to see the benefits of free societies emerging, but I
    appreciate your vision, and I want to thank your troops. The Mongolian
    troops are well-trained, well-disciplined, and are a great credit to
    your country.
        The Millennium Challenge Account is an important part of our foreign
    policy. It's an opportunity for the United States and our taxpayers to
    help countries that fight corruption, that support market-based
    economies, and that invest in the health and education of their people.
        The Millennium Challenge compact encourages countries to make a firm
    commitment to basic principles, principles that mean the government will
    listen to their people and respond to the needs of the people. And
    today, Mr. President, we honor the success of your country and the
    commitment of your Government to basic principles. That's what we're
    doing. We hope that the $285 million will help you modernize your
    railroad and infrastructures, all aiming to make sure that the market
    economy you put in place inures to the benefit of your people.
        Congress must understand how important this program is for U.S.
    foreign policy. The Millennium Challenge Account has been effective.
    It's been effective across the world. It will be effective in Mongolia.
    And when the United States Congress considers full funding for the
    Millennium Challenge Account, they must think about countries

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    such as Mongolia and the long-term benefits that this program will mean
    for a solid friend.
        And so, Mr. President, I welcome you to the mike. I want to thank
    you for coming, and then I look forward to signing the document.
        President Enkhbayar. Mr. President, it's indeed a great pleasure to
    be here in Washington, DC, today, attending the ceremony which lays down
    the beginning of a new and important partnership between Mongolia and
    the United States. I am proud that our joint efforts, which started with
    the qualification of Mongolia in May 2004 into the list of the countries
    eligibly for the Millennium Challenge Account have brought us to this
    very important stage.
        On behalf of the entire nation, its Government, and the people of
    Mongolia, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to President Bush for
    his initiative, to the Government, and the people of the United States
    for their confidence and support rendered to Mongolia. Thank you.
        President Bush. Thanks very much.
        President Enkhbayar. The idea of rewarding the successful
    democracies through supporting their goals inspired the Mongolians from
    the beginning of this initiative. We welcome the concept for--we sense
    that the initiative will eventually contribute to the betterment of the
    life of ordinary people. Mongolia also appreciates and upholds the
    principle of aid with accountability and ownership advocated by the
    Government of the United States. Indeed, the whole process through we
    have arrived at the signing of this compact today is a testimony to our
    shared commitment to ensuring the country ownership, good governance,
    and accountability to our citizens.
        We have to always remember--and I know that those are the people who
    elect us and sometimes criticize us and say whatever they think about
    us.
        President Bush. So it happens there as well? [Laughter]
        President Enkhbayar. As a partner country of the MCC program,
    Mongolia has been truly in the driver's seat at every stage of
    identifying its own development priorities and investment needs and
    policy directions. This new approach to--of cooperation is the key to
    ensuring efficiency and effectiveness of the program. The compact
    prepared through the broad consultative approach in Mongolia will
    support our efforts to broaden and deepen the country's economic
    development, focusing on four key areas.
        These areas are in the line with Mongolia's national development
    strategy, the draft of which was submitted to the parliament for their
    consultation and approval. The strategy sets out the vision of a
    democratic society centered on developing a healthy and educated citizen
    and a prosperous private sector-led economy, a society of true
    partnership and Mongol stakeholders, including the civil society.
        I am confident that the compact program will have a truly
    transformational impact on Mongolia's poverty reduction efforts through
    investment in our human capital, rehabilitation of vital transportation
    infrastructure, and strengthening the institutional capacity of the
    public service agencies.
        It should be noted that the compact is about opportunity and access.
    We want our people to seize this opportunity to improve their livelihood
    with training and employment, to participate and benefit from the
    country's economic growth, to have access to high-quality service and
    education.
        ``Hand-in-hand action has to have the trophy,'' says a Mongolian
    proverb. I'm certain that this compact will inspire long-lasting,
    fruitful, and mutually beneficial cooperation between the United States
    of America and Mongolia. Now we will embark upon the task of
    successfully transforming our people's ideas and expectations into
    reality. Your support has been indispensable in reaching this point, and
    we

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    trust in your continued partnership in the future.
        Mr. President, friends, and colleagues, thank you again for this
    memorable occasion. And I would like to again invite President Bush to
    visit Mongolia after he goes to Beijing Olympics. President Bush knows
    that it's not very far away from Beijing.
        President Bush. That's right. [Laughter]
        President Enkhbayar. And I hope that he will again enjoy the
    hospitality of the Mongolian people.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Good job.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:53 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House.