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Mongolia Matters
Real estate news By Mongolia Web News
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Mongolia has emerged in less than two decades as a vibrant, if not complicated, democracy, and stands worthy of enhanced United States and international attention, investment, and support. With its rich cultural and historical legacies, small population, large land mass, and abundant natural resources, Mongolia last year achieved an 8.6 percent annual growth rate. And though it faces a widening gap between a small, wealthy elite and poor masses, it has privatized four-fifths of its economy from a Stalinist-era legacy, and in that regard stands as a model to North Korea to the east and the autocratic Stans to the west. Finally, Mongolia is wedged strategically between a resurgent Russia and a rising China, and from a wider perspective it borders a burgeoning Northeast Asia, a global economic powerhouse, and an economically expanding and – in the post 9-11 era – strategically viable, if not vital, Central Asia.
In its own right, Mongolia offers the international community a view of how a successful young democracy might appear – critical, as the tragic events in Myanmar/Burma remind us. Relative to many other nations, Mongolia has progressed remarkably well. Yet, its fragility in consolidation, highlighted by a weak judiciary, accusations of corruption, and need for public service and media professionalizaton, reminds us of the responsibility of the United States and international community to better assist Mongolia and advance it on a path it deserves high praise for pursuing. Mongolia also is an outstanding global citizen. It led the newly emerging and restored democracies effort early in the decade, hosted United Nations efforts aimed at better addressing human security, advanced itself as a nuclear weapons-free zone, supported international peacekeeping efforts and sited a major regional peacekeeping initiative, and – most recently – has offered itself as a site for dialogue on easing tensions on the Korean pen nsula, notable given its good relations with both North and South Korea.
Mongolia's President N. Enkhbayar this month visits the United States, receiving recognition for peacekeeping support in Iraq and Afghanistan and finally realizing the U.S.-delayed compact on the Millennium Challenge Account. This agreement represents the Bush administration's recognition of Mongolia, the only Asian continental recipient, for its political and economic progress. The Mongolian president also hopes to garner support and insight on issues of global warming – acutely felt in this stunningly beautiful nation as rivers run dry, forest fires consume huge swaths, and desertification ravages the expanse. One need only drive over Peace Bridge in central Ulaanbaatar and see the dry riverbed beneath to be reminded of global warming's devastating impact. The Mongolian President's plans to visit Alaska and Wyoming are intended to increase support for ecological preservation and gain insights on clean-burning coal technology and more viable extractive industries. Stops in Washington and Chicago are designed to enhance investment, other economic support – notably a free trade agreement – and political accords.
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