Mongolia border crossings

by S.Batbayar

Mongolia border crossings

Ulaanbaatar, /MONTSAME/ Mongolia and the United States last week commissioned radiation detection equipment at five Mongolian border posts.
The installation of the radiation scanners was part of U.S. Second Line of Defense program, which has installed similar equipment at more than 160 global sites.

"Mongolia and the United States are working closely together to stop the smuggling of nuclear and radiological materials. This partnership plays a critical role in the global fight against illicit trafficking and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," said U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration Assistant Deputy Administrator David Huizenga at the commissioning ceremony program of radiation detection equipment at the Chinggiss Khaan International airport in Ulaanbaatar November 14.
US Charge D' Affaires to Mongolia Nicholas M.Hill, a Deputy Prime Minister M.Enkhbold, Mongolian MPs, D.Huizenga and other guests were present at the ceremony.

In his remark, on November 14, Mr. Hill said,"The formal commissioning of the equipment that we just viewed is yet another example of the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Mongolia relationship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries in 1987, we have covered a lot of ground together--working on everything from military assistance to commercial promotion to environment, sciences, technology, and health issues".

"We are proud formally to celebrate yet another connection between our two countries and to welcome and thank our visitors from the U.S. Department of Energy for focusing on the critical issues of safety, security, and border controls," he underlined.

"The project that led to today's commissioning was started by a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Mongolia in October 2007, and one short year later we are already concluding the first phase of the effort. The equipment here at Chinggis Khaan airport, along with similar facilities in Sukhbaatar, Altanbulag, and Zamiin Uud, is now operational and contributing to Mongolia's security. We look forward to the expansion of this project in the coming years to additional sites," he said.