US EMBASSY REPORTS

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Staff of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Mongolian partners, and Mongolian counterparts joined Tuesday the US Ambassador to Mongolia Ms Campbell to reflect on and celebrate more than two decades of U.S. assistance to, and partnership with, the Mongolian people. Since 1991, USAID assistance, valued at over USD 230 million, has helped Mongolia through the initial years of its economic independence. USAID launched its first program in Mongolia with a grant to provide emergency assistance to the country's power plants, with other early activities focusing on emergency food supply, economic reform, and advancing civil society. Over time USAID provided further support for infrastructure, economic and judicial reform, public financial management, and development of a market economy. In recent years, USAID assistance has focused on supporting Mongolia's long-term, sustainable development by strengthening governance and building an enabling environment for business and economic growth. U.S. Government assistance has been in near constant transition to meet Mongolia's needs as the country has grown and strengthened as an independent nation. In support of Mongolia's own goals, U.S. assistance objectives in Mongolia remain a strengthened democratic society, a productive market economy, and a government that provides for the welfare of its people. The Embassy, representing several of the varied U.S. Government agencies that provide international assistance, is moving towards a commercial and development partnership, and the Embassy will continue to support activities that contribute to these objectives. At the same time, Mongolia also made significant strides in its democratic development as underscored by transparent and peaceful local and national elections. Over the years, Mongolia has shown strong economic growth and commitment to democracy. Mongolia's success makes it a model to countries in the region that embrace democratic values and are tackling complex social transitions and economic challenges, and this success suggests Mongolia is on the path to move toward graduation as a donor recipient country. In recognition of way that the U.S.-Mongolia relationship is evolving from that of donor/recipient relationship to a commercial and development partner, Ambassador Campbell announced that USAID in Mongolia will make another transition. USAID's presence is being changed from that of the USAID Representative Office to that of a single USAID Development Adviser. This decision is a vote of confidence in Mongolia and an acknowledgement of the tremendous progress it has made. Ambassador Campbell remarked "We are very proud of what the Government of Mongolia has accomplished in partnership with USAID." It is also notable that while the USAID role in Mongolia is transitioning to a smaller presence, other U.S. Government programs are not just remaining, but also growing. As just one example, the U.S. Peace Corps program that provides volunteers in rural areas and in Ulaanbaatar has nearly doubled the number of volunteers in the last two years. U.S. Government resources, including USAID resources, will be focused on facilitating private-sector business incubation, public-private partnerships, and rule-of-law capacity building and institution strengthening. As Mongolia matures, U.S. assistance and partnership will also continue to transition to support our maturing relationship and to promote continued economic engagement. The United States takes it role as Mongolia's "third neighbor" very seriously and that is unchanging.