Key Points From Ambassador Minton’s January 26, 2007 Speechat the Mongolian Mintestry of Foregn Affairs Conference Celebration the 20th Anniversary of U.S.-Mongolia Diplomatic Relations

• If this were just 21 years ago, we would not have been able to talk with each other like this.  But today our friendship and cooperation is growing at a rapid rate.  The comprehensive partnership between Mongolia and the United States is strong.
• President Bush’s November 2005 visit, the first visit by an American president, demonstrated how close we have become in just two decades.  We are working together to promote economic prosperity in Mongolia and democracy and peace internationally.
• With U.S. support, Mongolia began to participate in the Community of Democracies as a Convening Group member in the last year, and is responsible for helping to steer this group of democratic states.  In September, at President Bush’s invitation, Prime Minister Enkhbold participated in the President’s roundtable discussion in New York among democratic states.
• Today Peace Corps Mongolia is at an all time high for Volunteers with 104 Volunteers working in one of four projects in 17 of Mongolia’s 21 aimags.  Volunteers serve in English Education, Community Health, Youth Development and Economic Development.
• In 2006, more than 1,400 Mongolian students or exchange visitors received visas for programs in the U.S.  In the past decade, from 1996 to 2006: over 37,000 visas issued, and 11,000 were student or exchange visitor visas.
• In recent years, Mongolian and American soldiers have worked together in Iraq and Afghanistan to advance our shared interest in counter terrorism.  We are proud and grateful to stand with you.
• USAID’s programs continue to expand economic growth and increase the effectiveness and transparency of governance.
• I hope Mongolia’s business climate will continue to foster a free enterprise system and transparency because American companies are interested in investing in Mongolia and doing business here.
• The United States has a national interest in Mongolia’s development as a secure, democratic, and prosperous country.