US Ambassador cuts ribbon at ceremony

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The US Ambassador to Mongolia Ms Piper Anne Wind Campbell attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday for opening a new construction and renovation projects at the "Five Hills" military training center in Ulaanbaatar, the US Embassy’s website published. Apart from the US Ambassador, the ceremony brought together Mr Ts.Tsolmon, Mongolia’s Minister of Defense; Lieutenant-General Byambajav, a head of the General Headquarters of Mongolian Armed Forces, and other officials. The projects are funded by the Global Peace Operations Initiative (GPOI) at the U.S. Department of State. The ceremony on Monday officially turned over a soldier’s barracks, a dining facility, and a shower and laundry facility that have been completely renovated. The remaining projects will be completed by November of 2015 and include a new multipurpose training facility, a new military vehicle garage, a new field latrine, a renovated field dining facility, and several projects to upgrade the electricity and water infrastructure. This construction is a part two of GPOI funding. Part one GPOI construction projects were completed from 2006-2008. This initiative is meant to assist the Mongolian military with improving the training of its soldiers for United Nations peacekeeping missions. Also on hand at the ceremony were Colonel Christopher Lestochi, Mr Randy Bowker and Mr Jathan Garrett from the U.S. Corps of Engineers.