The office of the President of Mongolia, Public Relations & Communications Division

www.president.mn

2011-08-22

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden: “The Whole World Should Know That the Way Mongolia Established Democracy Was Spectacular”

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden called on Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia today. In the beginning of the meeting, Vice President Biden conveyed the sincere greetings of U.S. President Barack Obama to President Elbegdorj, and mentioned that he highly reminds the recent official visit of the President of Mongolia to the U.S.A.

“We concluded that your visit to the U.S.A. was a historic one. I am delighted that the issues discussed during the visit have been successfully realized. I was very much impressed by you Mr. President’s paying respect to the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery, visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center and meeting wounded U.S. soldiers those participated in peacekeeping operations. These are your sincere respect to Americans. I would like to express my appreciation to you,” Vice President Biden said.

Vice President Biden highlighted that the transition of Mongolia to democracy and a market economy in a peaceful way was “marvelous.” “The democracy of Mongolia has become an example not only in your region but also globally. In addition, President Elbegdorj is working with considerable results and initiatives to strengthening democracy and respecting human rights in Mongolia as well as on international level,” Vice President Biden acclaimed.

President Elbegdorj wished success to Vice President Biden’s visit to Mongolia and said that Mongolia will strive to implement the respectable duty to chair the Community of Democracies with reputation and accountability. “I informed Lee Myung-Bak, President of the Republic of Korea during our today’s meeting that I am initiating Asian Partnership Initiative for Democracy and we accorded to cooperate within this framework. We appreciate the United States for its constant support for our efforts to strengthening democracy and we believe that the USA will continue its support and cooperation on this matter further,” President Elbegdorj underlined.

“Mongolian history is well-known around the world. The whole world knows the Great Mongolian State and Chinggis Khaan’s history. Nonetheless, Mongolia’s history of modern time and the progress of transition to democracy are not well-known. To change this situation, we would like to cooperate with the United States to introduce Mongolia’s modern history to the world,” President Elbegdorj suggested. Vice President Biden received this proposal with appreciation and pointed out: “It is possible to collaborate together to insert changes in the academic programs of primary, medium and high schools of the U.SA.,” Vice President Biden highlighted: “The whole world should know that the way Mongolia established democracy in Mongolia was spectacular.”


Vice President Biden expressed his support for President Elbegdorj’s persistent fight against corruption and his policy on this matter and expressed his views on fight against corruption. “The United States of America will continue its support for any fight to reduce corruption which is the only enemy of democracy, and strengthening open and transparent governance.

President Elbegdorj quoted well-known scholar Larry Diamond who proved that the “only thing that can “erase” democracy is corruption” and briefly talked about his own activities to set up justice in Mongolia.

During the meeting, the President of Mongolia and the Vice President of the U.S.A. exchanged views on other matters of bilateral cooperation.

Vice President Biden said: “Ensuring economic stability - one of the important indices of democracy - is energy supply. Particularly we have possibilities to cooperate in the usage of renewable energy which is not hazardous to nature. Mongolia has resources of renewable energy while the United States has technology and good experience. Our investors are interested in this field.”

President Elbegdorj said: “We will pay attention to developing cooperation in this field.”

The meeting took place in a warm, friendly atmosphere.