- The United States and Mongolia established diplomatic relations 33 years ago. What is the most important foundation of bilateral relations during this period?
- Yes, it's been 33 years, and the relationship has been strong throughout. The main reason is that we share fundamental values. We are both democracies and we both very much value human rights. Those rights range from the importance of elections, to religious freedom, to freedom of the press, as you as a journalist are representing today, and much more. I am always struck by the importance the Mongolians I meet place in these values. Particularly given these shared values, the U.S. is deeply committed to supporting the sovereignty of your country, particularly in the face of some of the disturbing developments in the region, challenging democracy and religious freedom.
- Which sector of bilateral relations could be expanded and developed further?
- As I said, our relationship has been strong for 33 years, and it has been growing steadily. But in recent years, and particularly given the strategic partnership our two presidents signed a bit over a year ago, those ties have taken a significant step up in all of their aspects.
I consider the economic relationship to be pivotal, and both our countries agree that it should be expanded. The trend line is definitely positive. U.S. exports to Mongolia are up and Mongolia's exports to the United States are also growing. Investment by Americans in Mongolia is also on a positive trend line, which we think is very important. A new U.S. government institution called the Development Finance Corporation offers potential to further boost these ties, doubling the amount available to partner with the private sector to finance development solutions and increasing our ability to do so. DFC leadership is very interested in working in Mongolia, I’m happy to say, and already has a few projects under way, with a lot of ideas for future development.
But there are so many other areas of cooperation. We work very closely on military cooperation, for example. And I think the most significant area in that respect involves our very strong support for Mongolian peacekeepers. I know that's important to Mongolians because they harbor pride not just because your troops are contributing to peace in many of the most difficult parts of the world, but also because of their outstanding reputation in doing so. We're very proud to be able to help your peacekeepers with training, with transport, with equipment, and in many other ways.
I suspect that later we’ll discuss people-to-people ties, in which both our countries are learning from one another and becoming closer. So let me now just stress one more area, which is law enforcement. I'm very proud that we've had both our Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and our Drug Enforcement Agency experts come to Mongolia to work with Mongolian law enforcement, police, and others to help you counter illicit drugs, which is a problem throughout the world. All of that is to say there's a lot that we've been cooperating on, and in all those areas we look forward to expanding that cooperation further.
- A new American cultural center will be a part of Darkhan city. Please share more information about this project. What is the significance of this center in the future?
- American centers exist throughout the world, and wherever they exist they are very much valued by the local community and country because of their vibrant programming and the excellent resources they offer. Here in Mongolia, we have several such centers already and are pleased that we will open a new center in Darkhan city. In a couple of months, our center will officially open, and like all centers, including the one here at the City Library in Ulaanbaatar, it will be a full library with computers, cultural activities, social educational programs, and a venue for all kinds of activities. It will allow us to bring experts to speak at this location from the United States. And Peace Corps volunteers in that part of the country could use it. So, we're really very excited about this. And it is not only for Darkhan itself - it's safe to say that other people from the wider area will be able to take advantage of it. This is yet another example of the strategic partnership that was announced about a year ago. It's another one of those concrete results that we are very pleased about.
- The United States and Mongolia established diplomatic relations 33 years ago. What is the most important foundation of bilateral relations during this period?
- Yes, it's been 33 years, and the relationship has been strong throughout. The main reason is that we share fundamental values. We are both democracies and we both very much value human rights. Those rights range from the importance of elections, to religious freedom, to freedom of the press, as you as a journalist are representing today, and much more. I am always struck by the importance the Mongolians I meet place in these values. Particularly given these shared values, the U.S. is deeply committed to supporting the sovereignty of your country, particularly in the face of some of the disturbing developments in the region, challenging democracy and religious freedom.
- Which sector of bilateral relations could be expanded and developed further?
- As I said, our relationship has been strong for 33 years, and it has been growing steadily. But in recent years, and particularly given the strategic partnership our two presidents signed a bit over a year ago, those ties have taken a significant step up in all of their aspects.
I consider the economic relationship to be pivotal, and both our countries agree that it should be expanded. The trend line is definitely positive. U.S. exports to Mongolia are up and Mongolia's exports to the United States are also growing. Investment by Americans in Mongolia is also on a positive trend line, which we think is very important. A new U.S. government institution called the Development Finance Corporation offers potential to further boost these ties, doubling the amount available to partner with the private sector to finance development solutions and increasing our ability to do so. DFC leadership is very interested in working in Mongolia, I’m happy to say, and already has a few projects under way, with a lot of ideas for future development.
But there are so many other areas of cooperation. We work very closely on military cooperation, for example. And I think the most significant area in that respect involves our very strong support for Mongolian peacekeepers. I know that's important to Mongolians because they harbor pride not just because your troops are contributing to peace in many of the most difficult parts of the world, but also because of their outstanding reputation in doing so. We're very proud to be able to help your peacekeepers with training, with transport, with equipment, and in many other ways.
I suspect that later we’ll discuss people-to-people ties, in which both our countries are learning from one another and becoming closer. So let me now just stress one more area, which is law enforcement. I'm very proud that we've had both our Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and our Drug Enforcement Agency experts come to Mongolia to work with Mongolian law enforcement, police, and others to help you counter illicit drugs, which is a problem throughout the world. All of that is to say there's a lot that we've been cooperating on, and in all those areas we look forward to expanding that cooperation further.
- A new American cultural center will be a part of Darkhan city. Please share more information about this project. What is the significance of this center in the future?
- American centers exist throughout the world, and wherever they exist they are very much valued by the local community and country because of their vibrant programming and the excellent resources they offer. Here in Mongolia, we have several such centers already and are pleased that we will open a new center in Darkhan city. In a couple of months, our center will officially open, and like all centers, including the one here at the City Library in Ulaanbaatar, it will be a full library with computers, cultural activities, social educational programs, and a venue for all kinds of activities. It will allow us to bring experts to speak at this location from the United States. And Peace Corps volunteers in that part of the country could use it. So, we're really very excited about this. And it is not only for Darkhan itself - it's safe to say that other people from the wider area will be able to take advantage of it. This is yet another example of the strategic partnership that was announced about a year ago. It's another one of those concrete results that we are very pleased about.
- There are so many young Mongolians that want to study in U.S. Foreign students contribute more than $46 billion a year to the American economy. Will the U.S. expand the number of international students? In particular, what opportunities do Mongolian students have?
- Education has absolutely been one of our priorities throughout the 33 years of our diplomatic relationship, in part because the U.S. educational system is so strong. And it's certainly something that's been stepped up recently. We offer a whole range of activities and opportunities for Mongolian students at all levels of education, including academic exchanges and scholarships. Every year, we spend about $2 million on academic and professional exchanges. The Fulbright scholarship program, one of our best known, is very much thriving here in Mongolia. Another is called the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) for Mongolian high school students to spend an entire year in the U. S. The Study of U. S. Institutions (SUSI) program sends Mongolian undergraduate students, scholars, and teachers on month-long leadership and professional development programs in the United States. If I were to list all of our exchange programs, we could be here for many hours. I’d rather refer people who are interested to our embassy’s website and social media pages. We maintain them very actively, and on them, we lay out not only the programs but how to apply.
Another way we are encouraging Mongolian students to study in the United States is through EducationUSA, which helps answer questions about finding the right school in the U.S, about how to apply and how to find financial assistance, and even on student visas. We've long been proud of that program, and I’m happy to say that the Mongolian Association of State Alumni, or MASA, an association that brings together many of our alumni of American programs from the past, is now heading EducationUSA. MASA, by the way, has a reputation in the U.S. government as among our most active alumni programs in the world, and they convene many very distinguished alumni, students, interns, and others.
Then the third category we consider important in this realm is English-language teaching. As I mentioned earlier, I know there's enormous interest among Mongolians to learn and improve their English. We are doing a lot – this is one of our top priorities. The role of the Peace Corps is widely known, I believe, and we very much look forward to having our Peace Corps volunteers back in country as soon as conditions permit. We also have the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, and we have free online classes, notably through Massive Online Open Courses. These MOOCs – an acronym I never forget - are extremely good and cover a whole range of English language subjects. We also focus on giving Mongolian teachers of English greater resources and further developing their methodologies and skills. Last year I was honored to take part in a conference of some 400 Mongolian teachers from throughout the country, gathered here to discuss methodologies and exchange experiences. It has really been tremendously satisfying to meet people who have improved their English because of our programs. And I'll tell you personally, that some of my most satisfying moments come when someone tells me, in terrific English, that they’ve learned my language thanks to a Peace Corps volunteer.
- You have discussed the child protection program with the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, which you implemented successfully in the Philippines. Please give us more information about this program.
- We initiated the child protection program in Mongolia not long ago, and it will come into full operation in a few months. It is a $5 million (15 billion tugrugs) program to help strengthen the efforts of the Mongolian government, law enforcement, judiciary, and prosecutors to protect children. But also, very importantly, civil society will play an active role. This program will work with all those organizations to fight all forms of child trafficking and forced child labor. These phenomena are a challenge throughout the world. I was indeed honored in the Philippines, as here, to sign the documents that initiated both programs.
This program includes assistance to prevent various forms of child abuse. It focuses on investigation, coordination, and prosecution, but no less important is care for victims of child trafficking and other similar phenomenon. Inter-agency cooperation can be a challenge in any country, so we're very pleased that this program involves not just one ministry, but what we in the U.S. call a whole-of-government approach, including the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, the Prosecutor's Office and as I said, civil society. It aims to bring all these institutions and others together, thus also showing how the government as a whole can work together, in coordinated fashion, to tackle a serious problem.
- There are so many young Mongolians that want to study in U.S. Foreign students contribute more than $46 billion a year to the American economy. Will the U.S. expand the number of international students? In particular, what opportunities do Mongolian students have?
- Education has absolutely been one of our priorities throughout the 33 years of our diplomatic relationship, in part because the U.S. educational system is so strong. And it's certainly something that's been stepped up recently. We offer a whole range of activities and opportunities for Mongolian students at all levels of education, including academic exchanges and scholarships. Every year, we spend about $2 million on academic and professional exchanges. The Fulbright scholarship program, one of our best known, is very much thriving here in Mongolia. Another is called the Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) for Mongolian high school students to spend an entire year in the U. S. The Study of U. S. Institutions (SUSI) program sends Mongolian undergraduate students, scholars, and teachers on month-long leadership and professional development programs in the United States. If I were to list all of our exchange programs, we could be here for many hours. I’d rather refer people who are interested to our embassy’s website and social media pages. We maintain them very actively, and on them, we lay out not only the programs but how to apply.
Another way we are encouraging Mongolian students to study in the United States is through EducationUSA, which helps answer questions about finding the right school in the U.S, about how to apply and how to find financial assistance, and even on student visas. We've long been proud of that program, and I’m happy to say that the Mongolian Association of State Alumni, or MASA, an association that brings together many of our alumni of American programs from the past, is now heading EducationUSA. MASA, by the way, has a reputation in the U.S. government as among our most active alumni programs in the world, and they convene many very distinguished alumni, students, interns, and others.
Then the third category we consider important in this realm is English-language teaching. As I mentioned earlier, I know there's enormous interest among Mongolians to learn and improve their English. We are doing a lot – this is one of our top priorities. The role of the Peace Corps is widely known, I believe, and we very much look forward to having our Peace Corps volunteers back in country as soon as conditions permit. We also have the Fulbright English Teaching Assistants, and we have free online classes, notably through Massive Online Open Courses. These MOOCs – an acronym I never forget - are extremely good and cover a whole range of English language subjects. We also focus on giving Mongolian teachers of English greater resources and further developing their methodologies and skills. Last year I was honored to take part in a conference of some 400 Mongolian teachers from throughout the country, gathered here to discuss methodologies and exchange experiences. It has really been tremendously satisfying to meet people who have improved their English because of our programs. And I'll tell you personally, that some of my most satisfying moments come when someone tells me, in terrific English, that they’ve learned my language thanks to a Peace Corps volunteer.
- You have discussed the child protection program with the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, which you implemented successfully in the Philippines. Please give us more information about this program.
- We initiated the child protection program in Mongolia not long ago, and it will come into full operation in a few months. It is a $5 million (15 billion tugrugs) program to help strengthen the efforts of the Mongolian government, law enforcement, judiciary, and prosecutors to protect children. But also, very importantly, civil society will play an active role. This program will work with all those organizations to fight all forms of child trafficking and forced child labor. These phenomena are a challenge throughout the world. I was indeed honored in the Philippines, as here, to sign the documents that initiated both programs.
This program includes assistance to prevent various forms of child abuse. It focuses on investigation, coordination, and prosecution, but no less important is care for victims of child trafficking and other similar phenomenon. Inter-agency cooperation can be a challenge in any country, so we're very pleased that this program involves not just one ministry, but what we in the U.S. call a whole-of-government approach, including the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the Ministry of Labor, the Prosecutor's Office and as I said, civil society. It aims to bring all these institutions and others together, thus also showing how the government as a whole can work together, in coordinated fashion, to tackle a serious problem.
- It has been a year since the establishment of the strategic partnership between our two counties. What are the main projects and developments, ongoing and completed, during this period?
- I was in Washington D.C. one year ago for the official visit of our two presidents when the strategic partnership was signed. In my view, it already has proven a notable success because it has brought real programs, support and funding. Both our countries have shown commitment to its implementation, and both are benefiting tremendously. In that respect, let me again express our gratitude for Mongolia’s donation of $1 million in PPE, which was sent on the first direct flight between our countries, a special diplomatic flight. This PPE has gone to help our Federal Emergency Management Agency and Native American medical professionals prevent and respond to coronavirus.
By the way, this first direct flight between our countries was a historic moment. The U.S. government approved this diplomatic flight at the request of the Mongolian government. We would welcome further direct flights, and if Mongolia would like to start direct commercial flights, we are ready to work with Mongolia’s Civil Aviation Authority to help them obtain the necessary safety certification. To qualify for this certification, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors would evaluate Mongolia’s aviation safety program and recommend any needed changes. Given the strong cooperation between our governments, we are confident Mongolia can obtain the green light to open regular commercial flights to the United States.
As regards the results of the strategic partnership, let me also talk about the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is the primary U. S. development assistance program. Whereas our embassy’s USAID office did not have American staff in recent years, this will change: as soon as it is safe during the coronavirus pandemic, we'll be bringing in USAID American staffers. But even before their return, USAID already has been very active over the past year. One example is a $3 million program that provides important voter information in the run up to your elections and encourages women and young people to participate in electoral and political process. Another, which we had developed even before COVID-19, involved supporting small and medium enterprises. Another USAID program we are obviously very proud of is our donation of $1.5 million in COVID-19 assistance to Mongolia. It is a donation of both financial assistance and protective equipment. We're also developing a $2.5 million program to help Mongolia with its energy markets.
One of the things that gives us in the embassy a great deal of satisfaction is a program called LEAD, for Mongolia’s future leaders. It's been a terrific program, and we've been proud to continue it in this first year of the strategic partnership. Every time I meet a LEAD alumnus, I see how effective it is, how much young people have learned from it, and how much we've learned from it as well.
For a few years now we've been working on implementing the Transparency Agreement, which our two countries committed to in 2013. It would ensure that the Mongolian public and international stakeholders can comment on draft legislation and regulations concerning economic issues before they go into law. The U.S. just contributed another $500 thousand to implement this agreement fully.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $350 million program began before the strategic partnership but has advanced well in the past year. As many people in Ulaanbaatar know, it's a program to tackle the upcoming water challenges of this capital city of ours. It will increase Ulaanbaatar’s water supply by some 80 percent. I think perhaps some people don't realize the water supply challenges ahead and the fact that if they are not tackled, they will become a serious problem.
My point here is that the strategic partnership has not only continued the momentum of our relationship but really stepped it up. We are looking forward to that continuing and even increasing further.
- What is the current state of the law on duty-free export of Mongolian wool and cashmere products to the U.S. market (TNTA)?
- Let me begin with a bit of context. Our overall goal in the economic role, as in others, is to strengthen Mongolia’s sovereignty. That means supporting the Mongolian government’s efforts to lessen their reliance for processing raw materials, so that more of the economic value stays at home. That applies to the agricultural sector, of which cashmere is one part.
The third neighbor trade act is before the U.S. Congress. While this is in the hands of the legislative branch of the U.S., we in the executive branch are also to help the cashmere sector, and I'm very pleased to say that we have found other ways to be supportive. We know how tremendously important it is to the rural community in Mongolia and to women throughout Mongolia, and we want to be as helpful as we can. One of the things that we've done is to bring in a branding and marketing expert, working virtually due to the pandemic, to develop a specific Mongolia brand, and we are helping develop ideas for how to brand Mongolian cashmere so that it, and thus also Mongolia, are more broadly recognized throughout the world.
In another example of our support, the Development Finance Corporation, which I mentioned earlier, has lent $5 million to a woman-owned Mongolian cashmere producer to build a new factory and buy more equipment. I offer that as an example to say that that the DFC, like other parts of the U. S. government, is looking for more ways to help the agricultural sector, including cashmere.
- It has been a year since the establishment of the strategic partnership between our two counties. What are the main projects and developments, ongoing and completed, during this period?
- I was in Washington D.C. one year ago for the official visit of our two presidents when the strategic partnership was signed. In my view, it already has proven a notable success because it has brought real programs, support and funding. Both our countries have shown commitment to its implementation, and both are benefiting tremendously. In that respect, let me again express our gratitude for Mongolia’s donation of $1 million in PPE, which was sent on the first direct flight between our countries, a special diplomatic flight. This PPE has gone to help our Federal Emergency Management Agency and Native American medical professionals prevent and respond to coronavirus.
By the way, this first direct flight between our countries was a historic moment. The U.S. government approved this diplomatic flight at the request of the Mongolian government. We would welcome further direct flights, and if Mongolia would like to start direct commercial flights, we are ready to work with Mongolia’s Civil Aviation Authority to help them obtain the necessary safety certification. To qualify for this certification, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors would evaluate Mongolia’s aviation safety program and recommend any needed changes. Given the strong cooperation between our governments, we are confident Mongolia can obtain the green light to open regular commercial flights to the United States.
As regards the results of the strategic partnership, let me also talk about the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is the primary U. S. development assistance program. Whereas our embassy’s USAID office did not have American staff in recent years, this will change: as soon as it is safe during the coronavirus pandemic, we'll be bringing in USAID American staffers. But even before their return, USAID already has been very active over the past year. One example is a $3 million program that provides important voter information in the run up to your elections and encourages women and young people to participate in electoral and political process. Another, which we had developed even before COVID-19, involved supporting small and medium enterprises. Another USAID program we are obviously very proud of is our donation of $1.5 million in COVID-19 assistance to Mongolia. It is a donation of both financial assistance and protective equipment. We're also developing a $2.5 million program to help Mongolia with its energy markets.
One of the things that gives us in the embassy a great deal of satisfaction is a program called LEAD, for Mongolia’s future leaders. It's been a terrific program, and we've been proud to continue it in this first year of the strategic partnership. Every time I meet a LEAD alumnus, I see how effective it is, how much young people have learned from it, and how much we've learned from it as well.
For a few years now we've been working on implementing the Transparency Agreement, which our two countries committed to in 2013. It would ensure that the Mongolian public and international stakeholders can comment on draft legislation and regulations concerning economic issues before they go into law. The U.S. just contributed another $500 thousand to implement this agreement fully.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation’s $350 million program began before the strategic partnership but has advanced well in the past year. As many people in Ulaanbaatar know, it's a program to tackle the upcoming water challenges of this capital city of ours. It will increase Ulaanbaatar’s water supply by some 80 percent. I think perhaps some people don't realize the water supply challenges ahead and the fact that if they are not tackled, they will become a serious problem.
My point here is that the strategic partnership has not only continued the momentum of our relationship but really stepped it up. We are looking forward to that continuing and even increasing further.
- What is the current state of the law on duty-free export of Mongolian wool and cashmere products to the U.S. market (TNTA)?
- Let me begin with a bit of context. Our overall goal in the economic role, as in others, is to strengthen Mongolia’s sovereignty. That means supporting the Mongolian government’s efforts to lessen their reliance for processing raw materials, so that more of the economic value stays at home. That applies to the agricultural sector, of which cashmere is one part.
The third neighbor trade act is before the U.S. Congress. While this is in the hands of the legislative branch of the U.S., we in the executive branch are also to help the cashmere sector, and I'm very pleased to say that we have found other ways to be supportive. We know how tremendously important it is to the rural community in Mongolia and to women throughout Mongolia, and we want to be as helpful as we can. One of the things that we've done is to bring in a branding and marketing expert, working virtually due to the pandemic, to develop a specific Mongolia brand, and we are helping develop ideas for how to brand Mongolian cashmere so that it, and thus also Mongolia, are more broadly recognized throughout the world.
In another example of our support, the Development Finance Corporation, which I mentioned earlier, has lent $5 million to a woman-owned Mongolian cashmere producer to build a new factory and buy more equipment. I offer that as an example to say that that the DFC, like other parts of the U. S. government, is looking for more ways to help the agricultural sector, including cashmere.
- Our (Mongolian) banks cannot directly correspondence with the U.S. banks. So, we have to cooperate with foreign banks as a mediator with U.S. banks, and most likely it is because we are on the grey list. Will this change in the future, as we have created the conditions to get off this list, and when we do get off it?
- We are aware of how important getting off the grey list designation is to your country. It is not in our interests for Mongolia to be on the grey list. But it's important to understand the grey list as a technical process. In other words, it's a process to ensure, for instance, that terrorists cannot use Mongolia or other countries to launder money. I don't think anybody wants Mongolia to be a place where money laundering of that kind can take place. The grey list decision, in other words, is technical not political. We are doing our best to help Mongolia address those grey list technical requirements that will, when you fulfill them, get you off the grey list. We've been very impressed with how much progress Mongolia has made. We’ve been very proud that we've been able to help, and we've worked closely with Mongolian officials to that end. In practical terms, this has meant that a U.S. Treasury Department expert on grey listing is advising Mongolia. He is an expert on how to meet those technical requirements, and by all accounts he has contributed significantly to Mongolia’s efforts. Mongolia deserves a great deal of credit for the progress it has made, and we're happy to have been able to help.
- How does COVID-19 affect the U.S. economy and unemployment rate? What are the measures being taken by the States to support its economy?
- COVID-19 has been a tremendously painful phenomenon for the entire world, of course, and that includes the U.S. My government already has done a tremendous amount to bolster our economy, providing stimulus checks and unemployment benefits to Americans, among many other things. My country also is a leader in medical and scientific research, and I’m always struck by how this pandemic challenge has unleashed a new wave of such research and development.
It is important to stress that during this period of COVID-19, the importance of democratic institutions and government openness and transparency become glaringly obvious. Speaking openly about one’s challenges is one of the strengths of a democracy and allows the community and the entire country to address it collectively. Unfortunately, not all countries allow for such democratic expression, and this has proven tragic.
- How is the temporary working H2 visa program implemented in the U.S.? How many Mongolian people have gone to U.S. through the program since it began?
- The H2 program is tremendously important to the United States, and I understand it is important to Mongolia as well. Hundreds of Mongolians have received H2 work visas since the program began a couple years ago. Mongolia has many reputable H2 recruiters, and I think the key word here is reputable because it's important that people get advice from reputable expert recruiters, or directly from the embassy. Potential H2 workers can also find jobs independently by visiting our U.S. Department of Labor website, which has a great deal of information. Those receiving H2 visas can work in the U.S. for a certain period, and then must return to Mongolia. While in my country, they are paid fair wages according to U.S. laws, and I think it's a tribute to the program that people who have gone to the U.S. with H2 visas and returned to Mongolia have successfully applied again to work in the U.S. That’s a sign that the program is good both for Mongolians and of course for the United States.
- You told the General Election Commission that you were interested in participating in the recent parliamentary elections as an observer. Did you participate in the election as an observer?
- Several members of the embassy did participate in the election as observers, having registered with the General Election Commission. We appreciated that they were able to do that. It is important to note that they were totally impartial, taking no sides in the elections, not supporting any candidate or party or coalition. From our perspective, what was important was to encourage as free and fair an election as possible.
Also important in elections is participation. For that reason, I'm also pleased about the USAID program, which I mentioned earlier, to encourage young people and women to participate more actively in their democracy. This is a $3 million USAID program that will run for three years. I think it is fair to say that it already positively affected your most recent election.
- Our (Mongolian) banks cannot directly correspondence with the U.S. banks. So, we have to cooperate with foreign banks as a mediator with U.S. banks, and most likely it is because we are on the grey list. Will this change in the future, as we have created the conditions to get off this list, and when we do get off it?
- We are aware of how important getting off the grey list designation is to your country. It is not in our interests for Mongolia to be on the grey list. But it's important to understand the grey list as a technical process. In other words, it's a process to ensure, for instance, that terrorists cannot use Mongolia or other countries to launder money. I don't think anybody wants Mongolia to be a place where money laundering of that kind can take place. The grey list decision, in other words, is technical not political. We are doing our best to help Mongolia address those grey list technical requirements that will, when you fulfill them, get you off the grey list. We've been very impressed with how much progress Mongolia has made. We’ve been very proud that we've been able to help, and we've worked closely with Mongolian officials to that end. In practical terms, this has meant that a U.S. Treasury Department expert on grey listing is advising Mongolia. He is an expert on how to meet those technical requirements, and by all accounts he has contributed significantly to Mongolia’s efforts. Mongolia deserves a great deal of credit for the progress it has made, and we're happy to have been able to help.
- How does COVID-19 affect the U.S. economy and unemployment rate? What are the measures being taken by the States to support its economy?
- COVID-19 has been a tremendously painful phenomenon for the entire world, of course, and that includes the U.S. My government already has done a tremendous amount to bolster our economy, providing stimulus checks and unemployment benefits to Americans, among many other things. My country also is a leader in medical and scientific research, and I’m always struck by how this pandemic challenge has unleashed a new wave of such research and development.
It is important to stress that during this period of COVID-19, the importance of democratic institutions and government openness and transparency become glaringly obvious. Speaking openly about one’s challenges is one of the strengths of a democracy and allows the community and the entire country to address it collectively. Unfortunately, not all countries allow for such democratic expression, and this has proven tragic.
- How is the temporary working H2 visa program implemented in the U.S.? How many Mongolian people have gone to U.S. through the program since it began?
- The H2 program is tremendously important to the United States, and I understand it is important to Mongolia as well. Hundreds of Mongolians have received H2 work visas since the program began a couple years ago. Mongolia has many reputable H2 recruiters, and I think the key word here is reputable because it's important that people get advice from reputable expert recruiters, or directly from the embassy. Potential H2 workers can also find jobs independently by visiting our U.S. Department of Labor website, which has a great deal of information. Those receiving H2 visas can work in the U.S. for a certain period, and then must return to Mongolia. While in my country, they are paid fair wages according to U.S. laws, and I think it's a tribute to the program that people who have gone to the U.S. with H2 visas and returned to Mongolia have successfully applied again to work in the U.S. That’s a sign that the program is good both for Mongolians and of course for the United States.
- You told the General Election Commission that you were interested in participating in the recent parliamentary elections as an observer. Did you participate in the election as an observer?
- Several members of the embassy did participate in the election as observers, having registered with the General Election Commission. We appreciated that they were able to do that. It is important to note that they were totally impartial, taking no sides in the elections, not supporting any candidate or party or coalition. From our perspective, what was important was to encourage as free and fair an election as possible.
Also important in elections is participation. For that reason, I'm also pleased about the USAID program, which I mentioned earlier, to encourage young people and women to participate more actively in their democracy. This is a $3 million USAID program that will run for three years. I think it is fair to say that it already positively affected your most recent election.
- I think that you are a very active ambassador, because I often see in the news that you are attending many events or meeting with authorities to discuss important issues.
- Thank you. My U.S. embassy colleagues and I definitely try to be as active as we can. One reason is that our bilateral relationship is very strong and growing stronger. When you have the possibility of improving different aspects of your relationship, it’s important to speak not only with government officials but with civil society, merchants, teachers, police officers, taxi drivers, students - the range of Mongolian society - and find out what their needs are, and how we can help address those needs.
But another reason we are active is that Mongolia is so friendly and interesting. For my part, I walk around the city at every opportunity and always see interesting new things. Just as an example, every time I go to the Gandan Monastery, and I’ve been there countless times, I discover something new. Of course it’s not always something huge, but I always seem to find a new temple I hadn’t noticed before, or the beautiful displays inside Gandan’s newly opened building. So I will admit that while part of why we try to be active is that it is important for us professionally to know as much as we can about this country, it's also important for us personally - it is fun, and a really good experience.
- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What is your Embassy planning to do in Mongolia during this anniversary?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was really a landmark piece of legislation that echoed throughout the world. We think it is very important to share our experiences in enacting implementing the ADA. We want people with disabilities to be able to participate actively in their community and economy.
Our embassy has a long and proud tradition of working to improve the quality of life for Mongolia’s communities of disabled people, and we are highlighting our work with Mongolian authorities and civil society to commemorate this 30th anniversary. To give you a few examples of the range of our programs, we hosted training sessions on independent living for the disabled community at our American Culture in Information Center in July. In recent years, we sent two groups of young disabled Mongolian athletes to the U.S. for Paralympics training and programs. We sent a special delegation of disabled community leaders to learn about the ADA in the United States, and I am proud to say that alumni of this trip helped successfully advocate for disabled rights legislation in Mongolia. We sponsored an American Fulbright specialist to develop autism care education in Mongolia. I could go on for a long time talking about our programs, but I would simply say that we're doing a lot to share our experiences in improving the quality of life of our disability communities with our Mongolian partners. And, whenever Mongolians come to the U.S., we also learn a great deal about Mongolia, such as how you are addressing these challenges. I always say that exchanges are a two-way street.
- The U.S. presidential election will be held in November this year. If Donald Trump will be re-elected, or if Joe Biden becomes president, how will their policies affect our country? For example, will there be changes in immigration policy or student exchanges etc.?
- First of all, I should say as a diplomat, an ambassador, and an employee of the U.S. federal government I obviously can't comment in favor of one party or another, one candidate or another. But I think it's repeat what I said earlier, that the relationship between our two countries is rooted in values that are shared throughout the United States. So we expect that the relationship will continue to grow. We have a tradition and a history of good relations between our two countries, and both sides have benefitted. And when you have a country like Mongolia that continues to demonstrate democracy, freedom, and human rights, it creates the conditions for a good relationship regardless of who is in the White House or in Congress.
- I noticed that you are very interested in ancient places such as monuments and temples. There are so many photos and posts on your Twitter account about your visits to museums and historical sites. What ancient historical places have you visited during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, I do celebrate my fascination with Mongolia and its history and traditions on social media. I really have fun learning about Mongolia, seeing the beauty of Mongolian religious places and other sites. I love to learn about Mongolian history by reading and exploring. By the way, there are many more books being written about Mongolia in the United States, so the knowledge base is really growing.
We're happy to say that one of the tools that we have as an embassy for supporting historical and cultural entities is something called Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. And we are very pleased that it's had some real impact. We've supported some of the most important cultural places in Mongolia, such as the fantastic Amarbayasgalant Monastery which I visited this summer. At the National Museum of Mongolia, we've provided assistance to bar code and archive its collection. And the most recent project, something that I'm really excited about, is textile preservation. When I go to the National Museum, I’m always struck by the exhibitions of ancient textiles, which fascinate me. The fact that the United States can support improving and coordinating and cooperating on textile preservation is something that means a lot to me.
About half a year ago we unveiled, at the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the leopard skin ger which was renovated with our support. This is an extraordinary ger, it looks like nothing else I think any of us have ever seen. I hope Gogo.mn’s readers have seen it.
- Once I saw you jogging in the National Park. So how do you spend your leisure time here?
- Especially now that my wife is not here because of pandemic restrictions, I spend a lot of my leisure time walking, and sometimes jogging, around the city. But what may look like jogging to you is my version of walking, because some New Yorkers walk pretty fast and I suppose I’m one of them. I walk around the city a lot, as I said. I've discovered things that that were real surprises for me. I like your museums a lot and visit them at every opportunity. I'm so glad that the museums have reopened now.
Recently I went to the Gandan Monastery and a small temple nearby, on what I consider a uniquely fascinating street, Zanabazar Street. I also went to the new 2020 art fair of mostly young artists and was lucky to be there for the opening ceremony. It was inspiring to see so many young Mongolian artists doing cool things. All over the city you see young creative people doing great work and it tremendously excites me.
- I saw a photo with you in a band with another ambassadors working in Mongolia. When was the band created?
- This was something we did to celebrate the second anniversary celebration of the Fat Cat jazz club. The ambassadors used to meet at the Fat Cat jazz club. Recently we couldn’t go because of coronavirus health guidelines, so it was nice to be able to go there again. ‘Funny you should ask about that.
- You have been in Mongolia a year and a half. Have you travelled in Mongolia, and how did you spend the summer?
- This summer was a little more complicated for obvious reasons. I've traveled around many parts of Mongolia in a year and half. I’ve been out to the far west, the Gobi region, and the north. This summer I was lucky because we announced the opening of the American Corner in Darkhan, so I went up to Darkhan, Erdenet, Orkhon, and Selenge aimags. It was a part of the country I hadn't been too familiar with before and it was a fantastic experience.
I'm not saying this to flatter you or your readers, but your country is truly extraordinary. It has just so much variety, and is so beautiful. That part of the north definitely differs from other parts of the country, as you well know. I’m also being candid not diplomatic when I say that Mongolians are very, very friendly, they're very open and warm to us when we visit. Last summer we had more American visitors and tourists visit Mongolia than in previous years - the numbers have been growing steadily. Obviously, this year that didn't happen, but we we're really looking forward and hoping that next summer a lot of Americans will come to Mongolia. Also, it's encouraging that so many Mongolians go to see the United States, another of those many reasons that we’ve been discussing today for our broadening relationship.
- Thank you for the interview.
- I think that you are a very active ambassador, because I often see in the news that you are attending many events or meeting with authorities to discuss important issues.
- Thank you. My U.S. embassy colleagues and I definitely try to be as active as we can. One reason is that our bilateral relationship is very strong and growing stronger. When you have the possibility of improving different aspects of your relationship, it’s important to speak not only with government officials but with civil society, merchants, teachers, police officers, taxi drivers, students - the range of Mongolian society - and find out what their needs are, and how we can help address those needs.
But another reason we are active is that Mongolia is so friendly and interesting. For my part, I walk around the city at every opportunity and always see interesting new things. Just as an example, every time I go to the Gandan Monastery, and I’ve been there countless times, I discover something new. Of course it’s not always something huge, but I always seem to find a new temple I hadn’t noticed before, or the beautiful displays inside Gandan’s newly opened building. So I will admit that while part of why we try to be active is that it is important for us professionally to know as much as we can about this country, it's also important for us personally - it is fun, and a really good experience.
- This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What is your Embassy planning to do in Mongolia during this anniversary?
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was really a landmark piece of legislation that echoed throughout the world. We think it is very important to share our experiences in enacting implementing the ADA. We want people with disabilities to be able to participate actively in their community and economy.
Our embassy has a long and proud tradition of working to improve the quality of life for Mongolia’s communities of disabled people, and we are highlighting our work with Mongolian authorities and civil society to commemorate this 30th anniversary. To give you a few examples of the range of our programs, we hosted training sessions on independent living for the disabled community at our American Culture in Information Center in July. In recent years, we sent two groups of young disabled Mongolian athletes to the U.S. for Paralympics training and programs. We sent a special delegation of disabled community leaders to learn about the ADA in the United States, and I am proud to say that alumni of this trip helped successfully advocate for disabled rights legislation in Mongolia. We sponsored an American Fulbright specialist to develop autism care education in Mongolia. I could go on for a long time talking about our programs, but I would simply say that we're doing a lot to share our experiences in improving the quality of life of our disability communities with our Mongolian partners. And, whenever Mongolians come to the U.S., we also learn a great deal about Mongolia, such as how you are addressing these challenges. I always say that exchanges are a two-way street.
- The U.S. presidential election will be held in November this year. If Donald Trump will be re-elected, or if Joe Biden becomes president, how will their policies affect our country? For example, will there be changes in immigration policy or student exchanges etc.?
- First of all, I should say as a diplomat, an ambassador, and an employee of the U.S. federal government I obviously can't comment in favor of one party or another, one candidate or another. But I think it's repeat what I said earlier, that the relationship between our two countries is rooted in values that are shared throughout the United States. So we expect that the relationship will continue to grow. We have a tradition and a history of good relations between our two countries, and both sides have benefitted. And when you have a country like Mongolia that continues to demonstrate democracy, freedom, and human rights, it creates the conditions for a good relationship regardless of who is in the White House or in Congress.
- I noticed that you are very interested in ancient places such as monuments and temples. There are so many photos and posts on your Twitter account about your visits to museums and historical sites. What ancient historical places have you visited during your stay in Mongolia?
- Yes, I do celebrate my fascination with Mongolia and its history and traditions on social media. I really have fun learning about Mongolia, seeing the beauty of Mongolian religious places and other sites. I love to learn about Mongolian history by reading and exploring. By the way, there are many more books being written about Mongolia in the United States, so the knowledge base is really growing.
We're happy to say that one of the tools that we have as an embassy for supporting historical and cultural entities is something called Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. And we are very pleased that it's had some real impact. We've supported some of the most important cultural places in Mongolia, such as the fantastic Amarbayasgalant Monastery which I visited this summer. At the National Museum of Mongolia, we've provided assistance to bar code and archive its collection. And the most recent project, something that I'm really excited about, is textile preservation. When I go to the National Museum, I’m always struck by the exhibitions of ancient textiles, which fascinate me. The fact that the United States can support improving and coordinating and cooperating on textile preservation is something that means a lot to me.
About half a year ago we unveiled, at the Bogd Khan Palace Museum, the leopard skin ger which was renovated with our support. This is an extraordinary ger, it looks like nothing else I think any of us have ever seen. I hope Gogo.mn’s readers have seen it.
- Once I saw you jogging in the National Park. So how do you spend your leisure time here?
- Especially now that my wife is not here because of pandemic restrictions, I spend a lot of my leisure time walking, and sometimes jogging, around the city. But what may look like jogging to you is my version of walking, because some New Yorkers walk pretty fast and I suppose I’m one of them. I walk around the city a lot, as I said. I've discovered things that that were real surprises for me. I like your museums a lot and visit them at every opportunity. I'm so glad that the museums have reopened now.
Recently I went to the Gandan Monastery and a small temple nearby, on what I consider a uniquely fascinating street, Zanabazar Street. I also went to the new 2020 art fair of mostly young artists and was lucky to be there for the opening ceremony. It was inspiring to see so many young Mongolian artists doing cool things. All over the city you see young creative people doing great work and it tremendously excites me.
- I saw a photo with you in a band with another ambassadors working in Mongolia. When was the band created?
- This was something we did to celebrate the second anniversary celebration of the Fat Cat jazz club. The ambassadors used to meet at the Fat Cat jazz club. Recently we couldn’t go because of coronavirus health guidelines, so it was nice to be able to go there again. ‘Funny you should ask about that.
- You have been in Mongolia a year and a half. Have you travelled in Mongolia, and how did you spend the summer?
- This summer was a little more complicated for obvious reasons. I've traveled around many parts of Mongolia in a year and half. I’ve been out to the far west, the Gobi region, and the north. This summer I was lucky because we announced the opening of the American Corner in Darkhan, so I went up to Darkhan, Erdenet, Orkhon, and Selenge aimags. It was a part of the country I hadn't been too familiar with before and it was a fantastic experience.
I'm not saying this to flatter you or your readers, but your country is truly extraordinary. It has just so much variety, and is so beautiful. That part of the north definitely differs from other parts of the country, as you well know. I’m also being candid not diplomatic when I say that Mongolians are very, very friendly, they're very open and warm to us when we visit. Last summer we had more American visitors and tourists visit Mongolia than in previous years - the numbers have been growing steadily. Obviously, this year that didn't happen, but we we're really looking forward and hoping that next summer a lot of Americans will come to Mongolia. Also, it's encouraging that so many Mongolians go to see the United States, another of those many reasons that we’ve been discussing today for our broadening relationship.
- Thank you for the interview.