Senior Officials Discuss Shared Security Interests

Ambassador Lawrence Butler, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, and Mr. Peter McVety, Director of Coalition Affairs for Iraq and Afghanistan, Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense visited Mongolia July 22-24, 2007.  They, together with Ambassador Minton, met with President Enkhbayar, Foreign Minister Enkhbold, and Chief of General Staff Togoo to discuss the strong cooperation of Mongolian, American, and Coalition soldiers working together for the future of Iraq and Afghanistan and to advance our shared interest in counter-terrorism.  In addition, Ambassador Butler and Mr. McVety met with members of the State Great Hural.  Ambassador Butler praised Mongolia’s support for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan in their time of need.  America and Mongolia have shared national interests in counter-terrorism, and seek to join with other democracies to preserve peace.  The United States is proud and grateful to stand with the Mongolian military, and appreciates Mongolia's long-term commitment to international peacekeeping.  Mongolia will host, with U.S. military support, the Khaan Quest 2007 multinational peacekeeping exercises in August.  The U.S. military cooperates with the Mongolian Armed Forces on defense modernization, and engages in humanitarian assistance missions in Mongolia. (Biography)