Mongolia marked the 20th anniversary of the democracy movement on December 10.

The President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj signed in decree to award Hero of Mongolia to MP E.Bat-Uul for his valuable contribution to the democratic movement.

In 1988, Bat-Uul formed a political group, the first that articulated dissent with the ruling Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP) in December 1989. Shortly afterwards, all members of the group were arrested, but freed again on lack of evidence.

Bat-Uul was one of the leaders of Mongolia’s democratic revolution that started with hunger strikes to overthrow the Politburo of the ruling communist party MPRP. It ended with the communist government resigning without gunshot and bloodshed.

He served as chairman of the Democratic Party from 1990 to 1992, and as the party’s general secretary from 1992 to 1996. He was elected into the People’s Great Khural in 1990, and into the State Great Khural in 1996, 2004 and 2008.

President Elbegdorj also awarded other politicians including R.Amarjargal, S.Oyun, and R.Gonchigdorj as well as Ts.Gombosuren with Order of Sukhbaatar, one of highest state prize.

State Great Khural (Parliament) has called a special session to honor the day, in which the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj made a speech. “The great history of Mongolia, our freedom and democracy have heroes. These heroes are the Mongolian people. From this high rostrum, from the bottom of my heart, I congratulate my people, the heroes for your rise for freedom and democracy in the vast Mongol steppes at the time when half of the world was red. I earnestly thank you for safeguarding and strengthening the accomplishments of our hard-won democracy,” said President Elbegdorj.

“Mongols are upbeat and visionary people. We did achieve a lot in the past 20 years. We will achieve a lot in the coming 20 years too. We can do it. We must further robustly aspire progress. Mongols have to grow many. Mongols have to live a decent life, a beautiful life.”

Sourcing from a survey conducted by Sant Maral Foundation last October, President Elbegdorj said that 84 percent of respondents of the nation-wide survey responded that they were optimistic about their near future.

“The current State Great Khural does have a chance to become the midwife of historic decisions to empower the economy and reinforce the meaning of the goals to consolidate democracy and justice. Perhaps we may name two events, which took place in little over a year term and which would be clearly marked in the history of the incumbent Parliament – the Oyu Tolgoi Agreement, and a recently organized by the Subcommittee on Human Rights Public Hearing. If the momentum is maintained and laws are refined, these two events would constructively contribute to consolidating the new choice of the Mongolian people, and would enhance confidence in the choice we’ve made.” Elbegdorj said.

“We will encounter new geopolitical issues, which for 20 years or even longer, have been evading us. We are likely to make fortunes never heard of in the past. The fortunes to trail interests. Conflict of interests would increase. It would become increasingly difficult to resolve the issue. These difficulties will challenge both the state and the people.”

“Mongolia could enter the global game field with our mineral assets. With our agricultural products. In 70s of the 20th century Yavuukhulan wrote “I aspire a global arena”. A global arena is needed for Mongolians’ intellectual capacities. A global arena is needed for Mongolian copper, coal, uranium and cashmere. If we see the globe as our arena, a Mongol will be a friend to a Mongol. If we remain under the cauldron upside down, we will come to blows with each other, exhaust ourselves, and drain each others down.”

“The complex and difficult challenges of 1989-1990, the solutions and keys to them were not easy indeed. The participants in the events of those years, every one of them was a revolutionary, fighter, educator, critic, discussant and a leader. I wish to name two of the vivid representatives of the events of those years, who are watching us today from the heaven. Jambyn Batmunkh, the then the party and state leader. And Sanjaasuren Zorig, the leader of the democratic movement.

The role and activities of these two men are indispensably associated with the events, which shook the old society, and which later would be called a Revolution, they were the guarantors of the conditions to ensure that the evolution and solutions of the Revolution would come to be peaceful, and continuation – democratic. With people like J. Batmunkh and S. Zorig, the achievements of the democratic revolution of that Year of White Horse were made complete. Made complete, the revolution yielded fruits, accessible equally to all, legitimate and recognized as the core value of our society to be inherited as a supreme pride of our current and future generations. I am especially touched and delighted to state that this was possible because trust and respect, faith and conviction, after all, the strength of will and strength of mind for Mongolia prevailed in those who participated in the historic decision-making that winter.”

“Any nation, any country has an auspicious date, a historic event which the whole nation celebrates proudly. For Mongolians, this history of fame is longer than twenty centuries. We are the masters of numerous achievements and records which date back centuries and millennia ago. Yet, historic events do not occur every year. It may occur once in one generation’s lifetime. Or it may not occur at all. Through the tests of time, some historic events are highlighted, whereas some wither and fade away. At times, historic events fuse into each other. Yet the past 20th century has seen a number of historic, revolutionary and progressive events take place in Mongolia. The first half of the century witnessed a national independence movement, people’s revolution, recognition of sovereignty and establishment of diplomatic relations with neighbors. Sufficient would be to name Mongolia’s membership in the United Nations, and the Democratic Revolution, for the second half of the century.”