III

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 172

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 13, 1997

Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress in support of efforts to

foster friendship and cooperation between the United

States and Mongolia, and for other purposes.

Whereas in 1990, Mongolia renounced the Communist form

of government and peacefully adopted a series of changes

that linked economic development with democratic political reforms;

Whereas the Mongolian people have held 2 presidential elections and 3 parliamentary elections since 1990, all fea-
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turing vigorous campaigns by candidates from multiple

political parties;

Whereas these elections have been free from violence, voter

intimidation, and ballot irregularities, and the peaceful

transfer of power from one Mongolian government to another has been successfully completed, demonstrating

Mongolia’s commitment to peace, stability, and the rule

of law;

Whereas every Mongolian government since the end of communism has dedicated itself to promoting and protecting

individual freedoms, the rule of law, respect for human

rights, freedom of the press, and the principle of self-government, demonstrating that Mongolia is consolidating

democratic gains and moving to institutionalize democratic processes;

Whereas Mongolia stands apart as one of the few countries

in Asia that is truly a fully functioning democracy; its efforts to promote economic development through free market economic policies, while also promoting human rights

and individual liberties, building democratic institutions,

and protecting the environment, serve as a beacon to

freethinking people throughout the region and the world;

Whereas Mongolia’s commitment to democracy makes it a

critical element in efforts to foster and maintain regional

stability throughout central Asia;

Whereas Mongolia has some of the most pristine environments in the world, which provide habitats to plant and

animal species that have been lost elsewhere, and has

shown a strong desire to protect its environment through

the Biodiversity Conservation Action Plan while moving

forward with economic development, thus serving as a
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model for developing nations in the region and throughout the world;

Whereas Mongolia has established civilian control of the military—a hallmark of democratic nations—and is now

working with the Mongolian parliamentary and military

leaders, through the United States International Military

Education and Training program, to further develop

oversight of the military;

Whereas Mongolia is seeking to develop political and military

relationships with neighboring countries as a means of

enhancing regional stability; and

Whereas Mongolia has demonstrated a strong commitment to

the same ideals that the United States stands for as a

nation, and has indicated a strong desire to deepen and

strengthen its relationship with the United States: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the Congress—

4 (A) supports the efforts of the Mongolian

5 parliament to establish ‘‘United States-Mongo6 lian Friendship Day’’;

7 (B) strongly supports efforts by the United

8 States and Mongolia to use the resources of

9 their respective countries to strengthen political,

10 economic, educational, and cultural ties between

11 the 2 countries;
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1 (C) confirms the support of the United

2 States for an independent, sovereign, secure,

3 and democratic Mongolia;

4 (D) applauds and encourages Mongolia’s

5 simultaneous efforts to develop its democratic

6 and free market institutions;

7 (E) commends Mongolia for its foresight in

8 environmental protection through the Biodiver9 sity Conservation Action Plan and encourages

10 Mongolia to obtain the goals illustrated in this

11 plan;

12 (F) encourages Mongolia’s efforts toward

13 economic development that is compatible with

14 environmental protection and supports an ex15 change of ideas and information between Mon16 golian and United States scientists;

17 (G) commends Mongolia’s efforts to

18 strengthen civilian control, through parliamen19 tary oversight, over the military; and

20 (H) supports future contacts between the

21 United States and Mongolia in such a manner

22 as will benefit the parliamentary, judicial, and

23 political institutions of Mongolia, particularly

24 through the creation of an interparliamentary
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1 exchange between the Congress of the United

2 States and the Mongolian parliament; and

3 (2) it is the sense of the Congress that the

4 President—

5 (A) should, both through the vote of the

6 United States in international financial institu7 tions and in the administration of the bilateral

8 assistance programs of the United States, such

9 as the Central Asian Enterprise Fund, support

10 Mongolia in its efforts to expand economic op11 portunity through free market structures and

12 policies;

13 (B) should assist Mongolia in its efforts to

14 integrate itself into international economic

15 structures, such as the World Trade Organiza16 tion; and

17 (C) should promote efforts to increase

18 commercial investment in Mongolia by United

19 States businesses and should promote policies

20 which will increase economic cooperation and

21 development between the United States and

22 Mongolia.

Passed the House of Representatives November 13,

1997.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.