It is clear that in terms of the factors for the multilateral security environment in the Northeast Asian region, changes occurred there impact directly on security and development of Mongolia. On the other hand, foreign policy and political moves have been undertaken by our country in order to provide its security properly, strengthen its place among the world community, and take the definite position in peace, security, sustainable development and international relations.
As indicated in its foreign policy conception that “…result of the foreign
188-- Baatar Tsend
policy shall be firstly evaluated by how the interest of country’s security and independence is provided for, and its international position is increased,”the Government of Mongolia has carried out active, multi-pillar and open foreign policy making. In so doing it has made positive contributions to providing peace, sustainable development and security, strengthening trust in East Asia and the Northeast Asian sub-region.
Mongolia has considered the issue of her security, above all, in the context of relations established with her two great neighbors, as well as within the wider framework of peace and security in the world. It is evidenced by history that national security and development of Mongolia always depend on two neighbors. Therefore, we place our priority focus on the relations and cooperation supporting them and enriching them with new approaches as new situations emerge. Efforts are made to regularize exchanging high-level delegations with the Russian Federation and the PRC, advance and strengthen the scope and parameters of good neighborly relations in all area including political, socio-economical cooperation, as well as in the field of security and defense policy. Mongolia is in agreement with both neighbors to develop the partnership relations and cooperation as a result of higher-level visits over recent years.
Moreover, long-term agreements on mutual relations and cooperation concluded with the other countries have played a paramount role in political, economic and social development of the country. For instance, Mongolia has concluded a “complete partnership”agreement with Japan,
“mutually supplementary cooperation”agreement with the ROK, and agreement on “friendly relations and cooperation”with the DPRK.
Within the framework of the multi-pillar foreign policy, Mongolia seeks to deepen its bilateral relations and cooperation with the U.S. and ASEAN member countries.
Promoting relations with the US is the second priority for Mongolia’s foreign policy. The President of Mongolia paid an official visit to the U.S.
in June 2004. During the visit, the two sides issued a “Joint Declaration” and agreed to develop the bilateral relations “up to the complete partnership- level based on common strategic interests.” It provides favorable conditions to broaden the relations between the two countries in all sectors of social life.
Mongolia has been included in the list of countries to be involved in the U.S.’s“Millennium Challenge Account.”Mongolia cooperates actively with the UN and other international organizations on a broad range of issues concerning security and development. For example, mongolia has put forward for the 55thsession of UN General Assembly an initiative on creating mechanisms for government-level dialogue on security issues within Northeast Asia and has made efforts to advance this issue.
Mongolia has been taking an active role in the activities of international and regional multi-faceted organizations such as the APEC, PECC, ACD, ASEAN+3, and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), etc. These organizations strive to make a contribution to ensuring regional peace and security, strengthening trust and cooperation, and providing themselves with a favorable external environment to be involved in economic integration and regionalization processes. We consider that joining this process will positively influence our country’s external security.
The country was amongst the first counties that gave consistent support to combating terrorism threatening seriously the worldwide peace and security, joined the international conventions against financing terrorism, and took legal and organizational measures inside of the country in order to close avenues of drug trafficking and dirty money laundering as a source of terrorism financing.
Mongolia has joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. In 1992, Mongolia proclaimed its territory as a nuclear-weapons- free zone.
190-- Baatar Tsend
Moreover, this status has been recognized by all 5 nuclear states. It was confirmed also with the Law of Mongolia on “Being free from nuclear weapon.”It was a specific contribution to strengthening regional peace and security and demonstrated our peaceful foreign policy to the world. As the country with nuclear-free status, Mongolia always promotes every initiative aimed at extending such zones and considers that it is necessary to conclude multilateral agreement so that the nuclear countries may give security guarantees to the countries which have joined the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty.
The relations established with the two Koreas are of equal and great importance for Mongolia. Therefore, our country supports fully their unification. The country has been maintaining traditional and friendly relations with the DPRK already for over 50 years. The summits of the two countries have almost been completely regularized. In the first half of this year President of Mongolia paid an official visit to the DPRK.
During the visit more attention was paid to bilateral economic relations.
For instance, there were such suggestions as creating joint enterprises based on Mongolian rich raw ceramics, implementing joint projects in the sectors of agriculture and infrastructure, planting seeds and fruit with help of Korean experienced farmers to meet the needs of both sides, even more exports to the third countries, and giving the DPRK the chance to participate as a co-contractor in the projects being implemented in Mongolia with aid from international financial organizations.
In addition, the Government of Mongolia has positively resolved an issue on granting specific discount for hiring workers from the DPRK and expressed its interest in hiring the workers from the country for implementing large projects in the sectors of Mongolian agriculture and infrastructure.
Mongolia is not able to exert influence on solving the nuclear matter on
the Korean Peninsula within Northeast Asia. However, if the negotiations of the Six-Parties are expanded to a format of permanent dialogue on issues of regional security as desired the masses, Mongolia shall be very glad to join this process.
On the other side, providing security in Northeast Asia is a pretty important matter. Therefore, focusing efforts only on the North Korean nuclear or missile issues seems too restricted and ineffective. The position of Mongolia’s Government is that security issues are only able to be solved through the multi-faceted dialogue with participation of all concerned parties. Additionally, the country carried out more energetic activities so as to take part in non-official channel for the six-party negotiation on the Korean Peninsula issues. Mongolia believes to join this channel when North Korea comes back to the six-party negotiation.
As for Mongolia, it has no refugee camps in its territory and has not yet joined the international conventions on refugees. The country proved several times to the regional countries that it will never make negligent steps that can lead to regional tension. We believe that Mongolia might be one of the most appropriate countries where official or non-official organizations of regional security and multilateral cooperation can take up quarters. The point is that Mongolia maintains friendly relations with all countries of the region and is the only country which has no matter of dispute with any of them.