[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 47 (Monday, November 28, 2005)]
[Pages 1759-1761]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

November 21, 2005

    Amar bain uu? Thanks for the warm welcome. And Mr. President, thank 
you for your hospitality. I thank you, the Prime Minister, and the 
Government for such gracious hospitality. I want to thank the First Lady 
for being so kind to Laura. It is really, really an honor to be here in 
your great country. And we bring with us the good wishes of the American 
people.
    I'm here on an important international mission. Secretary Rumsfeld 
asked me to check on his horse. [Laughter] I feel very much at home here 
in your country. This is a beautiful land with huge skies and vast 
horizons, kind of like Texas. I thank you for the invitation. I'm 
honored to be the first sitting American President to visit Mongolia, 
and America is proud to call you the third neighbor.
    Fifteen years ago, Mongolians gathered outside this great hall by 
the thousands, braving subzero temperatures and defying a repressive 
regime to demand their liberty. The protesters included students and 
workers and monks and a group of young democrats on a hunger strike. By 
the force of their convictions, they drove the communist leadership from 
power. Within months, free elections were held, and a free Mongolia was 
born. And today, one of the young hunger strikers who stood vigil 
outside the building now serves as the Prime Minister of your great 
nation.
    Mongolia has made the transition from communism to freedom, and in 
just 15 years, you've established a vibrant democracy and opened up your 
economy. You're an example of success for this region and for the world. 
I know the transition to liberty has not always been easy, and Americans 
admire your patience and your determination. By your daily efforts, 
you're building a better life for your children and your grandchildren. 
And I've come to tell you, as you build a free society in the heart of 
Central Asia, the American people stand with you.
    Earlier this year, when a terrible hurricane struck my Nation's gulf 
coast, the Mongolian people stood with us. Even before the flood waters 
had fully receded, your Government pledged aid, and a group of business 
leaders in Mongolia raised additional money. These funds are helping to 
rebuild shattered lives in my country. In a time of tragedy for America, 
Mongolia showed her compassionate heart, and my country thanks you for 
your support and friendship.
    Americans and Mongolians have much in common. Both our nations were 
settled by pioneers on horseback who tamed the rugged plains. Both our 
nations shook the yoke of colonial rule and built successful free 
societies. And both our nations know that our responsibilities in 
freedom's cause do not end at our borders and that survival of liberty 
in our own lands increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other 
lands.
    This conviction has inspired the Mongolian people to share the hope 
of freedom with

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others who have not known it. Mongolian officers have served in missions 
to keep the peace in Western Sahara and the Congo. Your forces are 
serving alongside U.S. and coalition forces helping to train the armed 
forces of a free Afghanistan. And in September, Mongolia sent its fifth 
rotation of forces to Iraq, and Mongolian soldiers are serving in that 
country with courage and great distinction.
    Two Mongolian soldiers named Sergeants Azzaya and Sambuu-Yondon are 
here with us today. In Iraq, they risked their lives to stop a suicide 
bomber who was trying to drive a truck full of explosives into a 
coalition mess tent. As the truck hurtled towards them, they opened 
fire, killing the terrorist and saving countless lives. As Commander in 
Chief of the United States Armed Forces, I thank these brave Mongolian 
soldiers and all who have served on the frontlines of the war on terror. 
The Mongolian Armed Forces are serving the cause of freedom, and the 
United States Armed Forces are proud to serve beside such fearless 
warriors.
    In Iraq, Mongolian forces have helped make possible a stunning 
transformation. Earlier this year, Iraqis went to the polls and chose 
their leaders in free elections. Last month, they returned to the polls 
and approved a democratic constitution for a free Iraq. And in a few 
weeks time, Iraqis will vote once again to choose a fully constitutional 
government to lead them for the next 4 years. With their ballots, the 
Iraqi people are sending a clear message: There will be no return to the 
days of tyranny and terror; the future of Iraq belongs to freedom.
    Many of you can still recall the exhilaration of voting freely for 
the first time after decades of tyranny. You know the satisfaction of 
seeing leaders you chose take office and of seeing them leave office if 
you decide to replace them. You know the feeling of living under a 
constitution that guarantees personal liberties like free speech, free 
assembly, and equality before the law. And now, because of the courage 
of Mongolian and coalition forces, the people of Iraq know this feeling 
as well.
    In Iraq, the advance of freedom is opposed by determined 
adversaries, the followers of a murderous ideology, who exploit the 
religion of Islam to serve a violent political vision. They kill the 
innocent in pursuit of a totalitarian empire that denies all political 
and religious freedom. Like the ideology of communism, the ideology of 
Islamic radicalism is led by a self-appointed vanguard that presumes to 
speak for the masses. Like the ideology of communism, Islamic radicalism 
teaches the innocent can be murdered to serve their brutal aims. Like 
the ideology of communism, Islamic radicalism is dismissive of free 
peoples, claiming that men and women who live in liberty are weak and 
decadent. And like the ideology of communism, the ideology of Islamic 
radicalism is destined to fall because the will to power is no match for 
the universal desire to live in liberty.
    Free people did not falter in the cold war, and free people will not 
falter in the war on terror. We see the determination to live in freedom 
in the courage of Iraqi and Afghan citizens who defied the terrorists to 
cast their ballots. We see it in the bravery of ordinary Lebanese who 
waved cedar flags and drove an occupying power from their borders. And 
we've seen it in the daily courage of the Mongolian people who claimed 
their freedom 15 years ago and are now standing with others across the 
world to help them do the same.
    As you help others secure the blessings of liberty, you continue the 
work of building a free society here at home, and as you travel this 
path, the United States walks with you. Earlier this year, I announced a 
new Solidarity Initiative to provide financial assistance to nations 
like Mongolia that are standing with America in the war on terror. 
Mongolia will receive $11 million under this initiative, critical funds 
to help you improve your military forces so we can continue working 
together for the cause of peace and freedom.
    Mongolia has undertaken political and economic reforms. You have now 
held numerous free elections and two peaceful transitions of power from 
one party to another, which is a sign of a successful democracy. This 
year, Mongolia ratified the United Nations Convention against 
Corruption, and I urge your Parliament to pass the anti-corruption 
legislation needed to implement that treaty. After decades of 
centralization, you

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privatized more than 80 percent of Mongolia's state enterprises, and the 
Mongolian economy grew at a rate of more than 10 percent last year.
    In recognition of your progress, Mongolia has been named a country 
eligible for assistance under the Millennium Challenge Account, a new 
program the United States has established to assist countries that 
govern justly, invest in their people, and promote economic freedom. My 
administration is committed to working with your country to complete a 
Millennium Challenge compact as soon as possible and to help the 
Mongolian people continue on the path of reform.
    Next year, your country will celebrate the 800th anniversary of the 
founding of Mongolia. There's a legend of a Mongolian woman who gave 
each of her five sons an arrow. She told each to break the arrow in his 
hand, which they did. She then tied the five arrows together, and told 
each to try and break the bundle. None could do it. And she told them, 
brothers who stand alone like single arrow shafts can be broken by 
anyone, but brothers who stand together like a bundle of arrows cannot 
be broken. Today, Mongolia and the United States are standing together 
as brothers in the cause of freedom. And if free nations remain united, 
no force of tyranny or terror will break us.
    I've come here to thank you for your contributions to freedom's 
cause and to tell you that the American people appreciate your courage 
and value your friendship. And on behalf of all Americans, ikh 
bayarlalaa. And may God bless your wonderful country. Thank you very 
much.

Note: The President spoke at 2:13 p.m. in the Conference Hall at the 
Government House. In his remarks, he referred to President Nambaryn 
Enkhbayar and his wife, Onongiin Tsolmon, and Prime Minister Tsakhia 
Elbegdorj of Mongolia.