U.S Ambassador greets Mongolians

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the USA to Mongolia Mr. Jonathan Addleton has greeted the Mongolians on the New Year. In the beginning of his message he is greeting us in Mongolian language--Shine Jiliin Mend Hurgye (Happy New Year)!

"Thank you for the opportunity to pass on Season's Greetings and Best Wishes for 2011.

This Holiday Season also marks the completion of my first year as U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia. Whether visiting Khentii or Khovd, Arkhanghai or Bayan-Ulgii, it has been my privilege and pleasure to see many parts of this wonderful country; Mongolia indeed has much to be proud of.

Looking back, it is especially gratifying to recall a number of important events that further strengthen the bilateral relationship between our two countries:

- Visits to Mongolia by senior American officials, including the Deputy Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of Energy

- Launch of the construction of the 176 kilometer Choir-Sainshand road under the Millennium Challenge Compact. MCC also remains heavily involved in a number of other areas, including health, technical training, rangeland management, land titling and the environment

- A series of cultural visits, including musicians, dancers and film makers such as Ozomatli from Los Angeles and the Marine Band from Hawaii

- A grant from the U.S. Government of $575,000 toward the protection of Amarbayasgalant Monastery

- The departure of a Mongolian military medical contingent to Darfur, adding Sudan to the list of countries where Mongolian peacekeepers are serving with honor and distinction

- The voluntary spirit shown by colleagues at our Embassy, Mongolian and American like. This year, our U.S. Embassy staff planted trees, helped build houses for poor Mongolians under Habit for Humanity's Blue Sky Build and, most recently, donated blood to help replenish Mongolia's blood bank supplies," Mr. Addleton has stressed.

The Ambassasor has said that looking ahead to 2011, the USA looks forward to a further expansion in "our already positive bilateral relationship".

Next year, Peace Corps will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Mongolia. With nearly 140 volunteers in place, the Peace Corps program already ranks proportionately as one of the largest Peace Corps programs in the world.

Next year, USAID celebrates its 20th anniversary in Mongolia. Total program levels for USAID thus far exceed $200 million, all of it in grant form.

Military cooperation will continue, "in part through our participation in Mongolia's ongoing Gobi Wolf and Khaan Quests exercises, and the initiation of the Pacific Angel exchange in July that will focus on civilian medical capabilities, beginning in Khentii".

"We anticipate further examples of U.S.-Mongolian cooperation in the commercial and economic sectors, highlighted by the fact that the United States emerged last quarter as the single largest foreign investor in Mongolia".

As Mongolia assumes its chairmanship of the Community of Democracies, "our own parliamentary exchange program will gain new momentum, in part through a planned visit involving senior Congressional leaders from Washington".

"On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, let me once again express my thanks and appreciation for the friendship and goodwill regularly extended by the people of Mongolia -- and wish every Mongolian every blessing during this Holiday season and during the entire New Year yet to come," Mr. Addleton has said.

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