Strasbourg, 09/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj stressed in his speech to the European Parliament and at his press conference on Tuesday 9 June that his country would be “a strategic anchor for the EU in the East”.
“Mongolia will be a strategic anchor for the EU in the East helping us to share common values and interests for peace and democracy in Asia”, he said in formal sitting, calling on the EU to continue to work with his country.
Highlighting that the values, such as democracy, dignity, human rights, and economic and environmental development, upheld by Mongolia are EU values, European Parliament President Martin Schulz said that it was “quite clear that a country such as this is a privileged partner for the EU in that region”. Schulz noted that Mongolia sits between Russia and China and that it has “a key role as a partner in the region”. “Mongolia provides hope for the whole region”, the Parliament president stated (our translation).
Mongolia will host the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in July 2016. Schulz said that this summit would be essential in terms of building bridges between Europe and Asia and would help us resolve regional and global problems. He hoped that between now and the summit, the partnership and cooperation agreement between the EU and Mongolia will have been signed and ratified by the member states.
During his speech, Elbegdorj stressed the importance of freedom, human rights, including a ban on the death penalty, democracy, education and digital technology. Mongolia, he said, had no intention of handing out lessons on democracy to others “but we have lessons to share”. He laid emphasis on gender equality. Women are the base on which families and nations are built, he said. For society to make progress, he argued before a captivated chamber, more women are needed in public service, from local right up to global level. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)