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Skriven 2005-11-21 23:33:12 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0511211) for Mon, 2005 Nov 21
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Joint Statement Between Mongolia and the United States of America
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 21, 2005

Joint Statement Between Mongolia and the United States of America



President George W. Bush and President Nambaryn Enkhbayar today reaffirmed
the longstanding friendship between the United States of America and
Mongolia and committed to defining guiding principles and expanding the
framework of the comprehensive partnership between their two democratic
countries based on shared values and common strategic interests, as
declared in the Joint Presidential Statement of July 15, 2004.

On behalf of the American people, President Bush expressed his appreciation
for the outpouring of sympathy and generous financial assistance from the
government and people of Mongolia for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
President Bush welcomed Mongolia's progress toward becoming a mature and
stable democracy, which observes human rights and civil liberties, and a
private sector-led free market economy.

He congratulated the people of Mongolia, on behalf of the American people,
for qualifying for eligibility for the Millennium Challenge Account, and
looked forward to the successful conclusion of a Compact that will reduce
poverty through economic growth and reflect the Government of Mongolia's
commitment to continued political and economic reform. Mindful of the role
that rule of law, good governance, transparency, and public sector
accountability play in building democracy and prosperity, the two
presidents welcomed Mongolia's recent ratification of the UN Convention
Against Corruption.

The two presidents agreed to work together to facilitate Mongolia's
participation in regional and international political, economic and
financial structures. They also agreed to enhance their cooperation against
all forms of organized, transnational crime, to include trafficking in
people, counterfeiting, money-laundering, and terrorist financing.
President Bush welcomed Mongolia's support for the Proliferation Security
Initiative to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and for
its commitment to sign and ratify the UN Convention against Transnational
Organized Crime.

The two presidents reviewed the work being conducted under the Trade and
Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to promote bilateral trade and
investment, and expressed the hope that this will lead to a closer
bilateral economic and trade relationship.

Recognizing the potential threat to human health posed by avian and other
forms of influenza, the two presidents agreed on the importance of
bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the International Partnership on
Avian and Pandemic Influenza.

President Bush and President Enkhbayar underscored their strong commitment
to fight terrorism, which undermines international peace and security.
President Bush applauded Mongolia's participation in the stabilization and
reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq, including its peacekeeping
commitment to the Multinational Force in Iraq. The United States and
Mongolia agreed to continue working to advance Mongolia's contribution to
international peace support efforts.

They also agreed that the establishment of a free, democratic Iraq is
important to democracy, peace and stability in the Middle East and the
United Nations should play a leading role in the process. The two leaders
underlined the importance of multilateral cooperation and, in this context,
agreed on the need to pursue reform of the United Nations as a means to
improving its effectiveness. President Bush and President Enkhbayar also
emphasized the importance of implementing the September 2005 Joint
Statement on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, issued by the
members of the Six Party Talks.

The two presidents affirmed the value of educational and cultural exchanges
to enhance understanding between the citizens of the two countries and
agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges and educational cooperation.
President Bush also expressed appreciation for the ratification of the
bilateral International School of Ulaanbaatar Agreement which will help to
ensure the availability of high quality, U.S.-accredited education for its
students. The presidents noted the successful and positive contribution of
the Peace Corps program in Mongolia.

The two presidents stated their expectations for the continued and steady
growth of the U.S.- Mongolia relationship, based on mutual respect and
equitable partnership, and reaffirmed that such growth will be in the
national interest of both countries. # # #

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