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Khaan Quest 2010, this year’s annual international
peacekeeping training exercise, was held in the Tavan Tolgoi training area on
8-20 August. Organized jointly by the US
Pacific Military Command and the Peacekeeping Foundation of UN Mongolia, the
aim of the training was to improve the skills of soldiers who participate in
international peace keeping operations. This year’s participants included 204
military personnel from Mongolia, and 125 from nine other countries including the
USA, Germany, France, India, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Canada.
Our journalist talked to Defense Minister
L.Bold about the significance of the event.
What
was special about Khaan Quest 2010?
This year’s training covered more advanced level courses related to
peacekeeping operations.
Does this operation improve military
skills?
Of course. It is of great benefit to the Mongolian side to be able to join so
many countries in technical training and in exchanging ideas.
UN peacekeeping work may be reduced but some
have said this will not affect the number of Mongolian personnel in such duty. Does
it mean the UN gives special value to the contribution of Mongolia so far?
It is indeed true that the performance of Mongolian troops has earned them a
high reputation. Peacekeeping work in Chad and in Sierra Leone will end soon
but I hope our soldiers will continue to be needed in larger numbers in Lebanon
and Afghanistan.
What was the visit by Chinese defense
officials about?
Mongolia has good neighborly relations and strong bilateral ties with both China
and Russia. Military cooperation is an important way of expressing mutual
trust. Chinese defense officials first came in 2007 and have been coming since.
