Mongolian US relations diversify
The Mongolian Parliament will carry out an exchange program with the US House Democracy Assistance Commission(HDAC). The Commission’s mission is to strengthen democratic institutions by assisting parliaments in emerging democracies. Central to the Commission’s work is the provision of technical expertise enhancing accountability, transparency, legislative independence, and government oversight in foreign parliaments.
In 2005, the Commission was established by the House to work with parliaments of selected countries that have established, or are developing democratic parliaments which would benefit from the Commission’s assistance: to enable Members, officers,, and staff of the House of Representatives and Congressional support agencies to provide expert advice to members and staff of the parliaments of such countries, including visits to the House and support agencies to observe their operations first¬hand; Make recommendations to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) regarding the provision of needed material assistance to such parliaments to improve the efficiency and transparency of their work.
The Commission enables Members of Congress and congressional staff to directly assist their counterparts in the parliaments of newly democratic countries. The Commission has 20 Members — eleven Democrats and nine Republicans – once appointed by the Speaker and Minority Leader. Twelve parliaments have been selected for partnerships. Programs in Afghanistan, East Timor, Georgia, Indonesia, Kenya, Lebanon and Macedonia began in 2006. Programs in Colombia, Haiti, Liberia, Mongolia and Ukraine begin in 2007.
HDAC provides technical assistance to the parliaments of newly democratic countries on a peer-to-peer basis, with Members of Congress working with Members of Parliament and congressional staff working with their parliamentary counterparts.
Six members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Representative, Donald Payne visited Mongolia from July 1 to 4, 2007 to inaugurate an exchange program between the House Democracy Assistance Commission and the Mongolian parliament. The inauguration, held in State House was attended by Mongolian parliamentarians: D. Lundeejantsan, D. Idevkhten, Ts. Damiran, Ts. Jargal, B. Erdenesuren, J. Batkhuyag, R. Raash, Ts. Monkh-Orgil, R. Amarjargal. S. Bayartsogt, R. Gonchigdorj and D. Dondog.
In the framework of the programme, the HDAC will render technical and methodological assistance including advice on bill drafting and parliamentary procedure and open discussion; improving capacity of legislatures to scrutinize the government’s budget and amend it to reflect the priorities of the legislature and responding to constituent inquiries and concerns and handling casework. The US delegation comprised of Donald Payne, David Dreier, Jeff Miller, Mazie K. Hirono and Jim Moran.On July 3, the US delegation met with President of Mongolia, N. Enkhhayar, Prime Minister M. Enkhbold and Parliamentary Speaker D. Lundeejantsan.
At the meeting, the President said that a 2005 visit of the U.S. President George Bush to Mongolia was a historical event in bilateral relations. During his visit, President Bush called Mongolia his third neighbor. “I will be happy to sign a contract with the Millennium Challenge Account while visiting the United States at the end of this year,” The President said.
Mongolia is interested in training its youth in developed countries. The Mongolian President requested the U.S simplify the visa regime for Mongolian students. Expressing a satisfaction with the bilateral cooperation in the defense sector, the President mentioned that the 8th rotation of Mongolian military contingent had left for Iraq. An international ‘Khan Quest’ field exercises would be hosted in Mongolia soon. In addition, the president noted that Mongolia supported export of national products to American and European countries, as well as its two immediate neighbors. The US congressmen expressed gratitude to Mongolia for sending peacekeepers to Iraq. Representative Donald Payne said Mongolia was one of important partners of US and Mongolia and was one of 12 countries for HDAC partnership in 2007. He expressed hope that Mongolia would sign a contract with the Millennium Challenge Account during the forthcoming visit by the president of Mongolia to the US. The Prime Minister of Mongolia, M. Enkhbold received the US delegation on July 3. The Prime Minster stressed the importance of legislature organizations’ relation between the two countries. He said he had confidence that both countries would sign a comprehensive partnership and assistance contract with the Millennium Challenge Account during the Mongolian President’s visit, scheduled for autumn. He also talked about visa issues for Mongolian citizens to the United States. Mr Payne said the US would look into above proposals and informed him that the US was paying special attention to Mongolian students to enroll them scholarships.
Mongol messenger 29, 30 (835, 836)
