The fight against terrorism binds Mongolia and the US
Ulaanbaatar (AsiaNews/Agencies) In a recent meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly, Mongolia's President Natsagiyn Bagabandi said that "a new era" has dawned on US-Mongolian relations. For his part, Mr Kelly expressed gratitude for Mongolia's support in the fight against terrorism and its role in Iraqi peacekeeping and reconstruction.
Mongolia was quick to offer support for President Bush's "war on terror" and since last July, about 200 of its soldiers have been deployed in peacekeeping operations in and around al-Hillah (south-central Iraq) under Polish command. Currently, it is on its third rotation of troops in Iraq and Mongolian officers have been training the new Afghan army.
President Natsagiyn Bagabandi's management of Mongolia's Muslim minority, who live largely in the western part of the country, is becoming a model for those regional states seeking a bridge to Islamic Asia.
Given its strategic location between Russia and China, Mongolia is becoming increasingly important for US foreign policy. The country's two neighbours are also becoming interested in developing its natural resources.
Many political analysts think that, after a decade of transition from a Stalinist regime to democracy, Mongolia is in a position to become an important model for other countries in the Far East, most notably North Korea.
Mongolia is almost as big as Alaska (1.565.000 km2) but has only 2.7 million people, 95 per cent of whom are Buddhist. Muslims represent about 4 per cent of the population; Christians are just 1 per cent.
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21/01/2016 13:36
06/12/2004
