Albright: U.S. admires Mongolia's democratic strides

May 2, 1998
Web posted at: 9:40 p.m. EDT (0140 GMT)

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright paid a brief visit Saturday to the fledgling Asian nation of Mongolia, pledging U.S. support for its rapid transition to democracy and market reforms.

"I am here because we are supporting the democratic evolution and market economy that is developing in this country, and it is an excellent example of how a society that was under communism can effectively transition to democracy," she said.

Mongolia shed communism after the last Soviet troops pulled out in 1990. In 1996, former communists were routed by democrats trying to replace Soviet-style central planning with a free-market economy.

But the country, which in the 13th century had an empire that stretched from Mongolia to Hungary, is finding it hard to change from communism to capitalism. A day before Albright's visit, about 2,000 demonstrators gathered outside government offices to protest unemployment, and shouted for officials to resign.

Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China, and has been dominated by each of its neighbors at one time or the other. Albright said her visit at the end of a weeklong tour of Asia was not intended to send signals to either of the two larger powers.

But Albright, the first U.S. secretary of state to visit Mongolia since 1991, urged the Mongolian government to continue working on developing its democracy. She met with the country's leaders, addressed parliament and talked with nongovernmental groups that work on women's issues.

"In some countries, there are leaders who embrace economic reform but reject political openness. That's not the Mongolian way," she said.

At a news conference with Albright, Prime Minister Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj said some believe that "simultaneous transition in the political and economic fields is not the way for Asian countries."

"We are challenging and breaking this stereotype. I think we are showing by this that twin reforms in politics and the economic field, by cherishing the human rights, is the common value and it's the universal value," he said.

Although economic growth was 3.3 percent last year and rampant inflation has been tamed, many poor Mongolians feel abandoned by the dismantling of state industry and welfare benefits, such as free housing and health care.

Albright stressed that the United States had given Mongolia $85 million in aid over the last five years and would provide about $12 million this year, including $200,000 for women's programs.

U.S. officials are hoping that by paying attention to smaller countries like Mongolia, transitioning from communism to democracy, the United States will reap dividends at the United Nations and via business opportunities for U.S. firms.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

Special coverage:

• Madeleine Albright

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