Президент Джордж Буш и кочевники Центральной Азии

BAWIR$AQ · 23 ноября, 2005

George W. Bush is the first U.S. president to visit Mongolia

Bush Cheers Mongolia for Pushing Democracy

President Bush, buffeted by unrelenting criticism at home over Iraq, on Monday saluted Mongolia's "fearless warriors" for helping his embattled effort to establish democracy in the heart of the Middle East.

"Mongolia and the United States are standing together as brothers in the cause of freedom," Bush told Mongolian troops and lawmakers in a speech at the Government House.

After two days in China partly aimed at nudging that communist country toward greater freedoms, Bush's stop here — the first by a U.S. president — was meant to showcase the first communist country in Asia to turn toward democracy. Mongolia discarded communism 15 years ago; it holds democratic elections and allows Western-style freedoms.

"You are an example of success for the region and for the world," Bush said. "As you build a free society in the heart of Central Asia, the American people stand with you."

Bush spent about four hours in this land of vast deserts, plains and mountains on the last leg of an eight-day, four-country swing through Asia that included stops in Japan, South Korea and China. After the 13-minute speech, Bush ventured just outside the capital to sip fermented mare's milk and listen to the traditional Central Asian art of throat singing.

"Really special," he commented.

Bush played to Mongolia's pride in its military by publicly recognizing two soldiers who gunned down a suicide truck bomber before he could strike a mess tent in Iraq. Mongolia's force of about 160 in Iraq makes it, with its population of just 2.8 million, the third-largest contributor per capita to the coalition.

"U.S. armed forces are proud to serve beside such fearless warriors," Bush said.

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press

Mon Nov 21

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051121/ap_on_re_as/bush_asia

Photos

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) shakes hands with Mongolia's President Nambariin Enkhbayar in front of a statue of Ghengis Khan in a ceremonial Ger (tent), November 21, 2005

U.S. President George W. Bush (2nd L) and first lady Laura Bush (L) sit with Mongolian President Nambariin Enkhbayar and first lady Tsolmon Onon ® in a Ger, a felt tent, while visiting Ikh Tenger in Ulan Bator

Mongolian horsemen run with the motocade carrying President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush to a cultural event in Ikh Tenger, Mongolia