Elbegdorj speaks to America's jurists

The following remarks were made at Bellwether Forum's June 5, 2003 Jurist Conference in Houston.

INTRODUCTION BY BELLWETHER FORUM PRESIDENT ROBERT PAINTER:

Until 1989, Mongolia was a communist nation. That year, the transition to democracy occurred after Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj and six other young people led increasingly large peaceful demonstrations against the communist dictatorship.

In 1998, at the age of 35, he was elected prime minister. He played a key role in Mongolia's transformation by signing the new Constitution, guaranteeing human rights, democracy and a free market. After his party was lost power in 2000, Prime Minister Elbegdorj came to America to learn new ideas on how to take Mongolia's nascent democracy to the next level.

PRIME MINISTER TSAKHIAGIIN ELBEGDORJ:

You know, even though Mongolia is 7,000 miles away from here, my country is becoming much closer to this part of world than ever. People ask me these questions about Mongolia and I usually divide my answer into three parts.

First, Mongolia was a great empire during 12th, 13th and 14th centuries. And in terms of law, the Mongolian Empire was one of few empires that ruled under written law, called the Great Yasa, which was created by Genghis Khan and others. There was a big assembly that approved this law. "Yasa" means order or power. The Great Yasa was simple and also very easy to execute. This written law helped to rule this great empire that reached from the Far East to the Euphrates, and from the Indian Ocean to the Baltic Sea.

Second, Mongolia was the second country to become communist in the history of the world, right after Russia. Communism in Mongolia was introduced in 1920s, and Russia it was introduced in 1917. Mongolia remained under Communist Party rule longer than any other country - 75 years. Russia was ruled for 74 years.

In terms of law, I think, communists made the people potential criminals. They prohibited their exercise in free enterprise. They prohibited ownership of private property. If a person had private property or established a company, he would be jailed. They also prohibited freedom of speech and expression. If a person expressed some religious ideas or dissident things, he would be persecuted. Thus, in order to maintain control, these communist dictatorships actually made their people kind of potential criminals.

Over the past decade, Mongolia has been in transition. Since 1998, Mongolia has been the only country in Asia that is pursuing economic and political freedoms and reforms. For many years, there was a common stereotype that economic and political reforms could not be achieved in Asia. Mongolia actually broke that stereotype, showing that if these reforms and freedom could be introduced in Mongolia, they could work anywhere in the world.

Another exceptional characteristic of Mongolia's transition from communism to democracy was that it was peaceful, achieved with no bloodshed. Making this kind of transition, considering Mongolia's location between Russia and China, is a huge and challenging task. If we were located next to America or next to Western Europe, it would be a very different picture.

In 1991, we approved our first new constitution. And by our new constitution, we had an independent judiciary system and the rule of law is the main principle of governance. In 1996, my party came into power for the first time, and we chose a parliamentary type of democracy, which requires more political institutions, more development of the political parties, and more engagement of civil society.

I have lived in America since August 2000. I lived here in good times and also in a difficult time with you. From my observations, I think attorneys and judges make freedom work. Everyone knows in this country that no matter who you are, if you violate the law, you're going to pay. I think if there is a secret to America's success, it is the its rule of law. You are promoting freedom around this country, and I am happy to participate in this ethics seminar today with the lawyers here in Houston.

In Mongolia we have also experienced problems related to ethics and legal issues. You know, after the collapse of communism, people actually lost their orientation. Marxism-Leninism was the main ideology and the main rule of life, and we lost it there. But now Mongolia is getting better, introducing this system of freedom, the rule of law.

My last point is that freedom all over the world depends on a powerful America. Everyone looks to America to succeed in the challenges of this new century. As humanity entered the new century, the gate was on fire -- there are many new challenges facing us in the new century, and the American people are leading the way very successfully.

That's because America has one of the best things to offer the world—freedom. You know, other countries can offer nice champagne, or fine cars, but America can offer freedom to other countries. That's why I get refreshed in America, I get recharged here in America. I am preparing to return to Mongolia in a few months and I am very happy that my friends from Bellwether Forum have invited me to Houston to be with you today.

As part of my trip to Houston, the Bellwether Forum leaders and I met with former Secretary of State James Baker.

Secretary Baker was actually the first person American leader to visit in Mongolia during 1990s, when we were in the midst of a difficult time of national transition. At that time, we had organized big demonstrations against the communist ruling class. He came to Mongolia to share a vision. Mr. Baker said that Mongolia has two big neighbors, Russia and China, but added that America was there to be Mongolia's third strategic neighbor. This was a tremendous encouragement to us, and gave us hope.

That is a great example of the power of ideas and the power of hope. Thank you for your part in promoting both. On behalf of Mongolians, I want to thank you for being our strategic neighbor, as we all work together to promote freedom. God bless you and God bless the world. Thank you very much.

• 
  Bellwether Forum Mongolia faculty members Emily Cummins, Andrew King, Megan Lott (L-R), and Robert Painter (far right) enjoy dinner together with Mongolian President, Elbegdorj Tsakhia and the owner of Marrakesh Restaurant in Washington, DC.
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  Mongolian President, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, and Bellwether Forum board member, Robert Painter, ride camels in the Gobi Desert.
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  Bellwether Forum members eat breakfast with Mongolian President, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, in a Gir on the Mongolian plains.

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