Mongolia

Mongolia is a landlocked country between China and Russia, with a population of 2.7 million and capital city of Ulan Bator.

The BBC writes, "Mongolia has strong ties with Russia and China and cultivates relations with the US and Japan; Mongolian troops back the US military in Iraq".

Tavan Tolgoi coal mine
In April 2011, it was reported that Mongolia will soon announce results of bidding to develop the Tavan Tolgoi coal mine. ArcelorMittal, Vale and Xstrata were among six bidders short-listed to develop Mongolia's Tavan Tolgoi mine, reportedly the world's largest unmined coking coal deposit. U.S. coal miner Peabody, a consortium of Chinese energy firm Shenhua and Japan's Mitsui & Co, and a separate consortium of Japanese, South Korean and Russian firms were the other bidders.

Media
The BBC says of the country's media:


 * A law passed in 2005 paved the way for the transformation of Mongolia's state-run radio and TV into a public-service broadcaster. Its networks compete with private TV and radio and satellite and cable services. In general the media are free and sometimes outspoken in their criticism of the authorities. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders noted in 2007 that journalists risked imprisonment for defamation and violating "state secrets".

Leaders

 * Nambaryn Enkhbayar, President - The Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party which was in power in Soviet times, returned in 2006.

United States Ambassadors to Mongolia

 * Richard Llewellyn Williams
 * Joseph Edward Lake
 * Donald C. Johnson
 * Llewellyn Hedgbeth
 * Alphonse F. LaPorta
 * John R. Dinger
 * Pamela J. H. Slutz
 * Mark C. Minton
 * Jonathan Addleton - Incumbent

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Coalition of the willing: beginning of the end
 * Globe International (Mongolia)
 * Lotus Children's Centre
 * Mongolia and coal
 * Bill Foerderer Infante
 * Ted Wood
 * John Gorkowski is new Mongolia Desk Officer at US State Department
 * Bold Ravdan

External articles

 * Daniel Griffiths, "Post-communist Mongolia's struggle", BBC, January 11, 2007.

External resources

 * Mongolia, National Geographic, accessed March 2008.
 * Timeline: Mongolia, BBC, accessed March 2008.