OPENING REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT OF MONGOLIA AT THE NATIONAL NAADAM FESTIVAL
Fellow citizens of Mongolia united in freedom and sovereignty of the nation,
Fellow countrymen living all across the globe,
Distinguished guests visiting our beautiful country – once the center of a Great Empire,
Dear Naadam participants,
On this joyous day of summer, blessed with rain from heavenly sky and graced with delightful blossom, the grand festival of the Mongolian people – the Naadam – is ready to commence.
The one and only Mongol Naadam Festivity, which has no equals in the world, is a celebration of Father Sky, Mother Earth, and precious people, a priceless heritage of Mankind, a memory of Mongolian Statehood, a symbol of unity and independence of the Mongolian nation, a spiritual immunity and a guarantee of our continuance.
I extend my heartfelt greetings to my fellow Mongolians, who are proud of our heritage, our ancestors and our history, to all the participants, who are gathered here to celebrate the Naadam Festivity, on the occasion of the 2232nd anniversary of the establishment of the Mongolian Statehood, the 817th anniversary of the Great Mongol Empire, the 112th anniversary of the Restoration of National Freedom and Independence and the 102nd anniversary of the People’s Revolution of Mongolia.
Our ancestors have an admirable history of establishing their Statehood in the heart of Central Asia two millennia ago, and commemorating its glory throughout world history.
The tremendous deeds of the Great Chinggis Khan, who bore along the proud history and heroic merits of the ancient Hunnu Empire, established the Great Mongol Empire, unified the East and West, created the Pax Mongolica, and left an indelible imprint of the Mongolian people on the history of humankind, are engraved on the hearts of every Mongolian and still shining brightly in the hearth of the Mongol State.
The National Liberation Movement of 1911, the People’s Revolution of 1921, and the Democratic Reforms of the 1990s became the foundation for the great achievements and successes of the 20th century and the development for the new century.
Today, we, Mongolians, must cherish and take pride in the fact that our country’s reputation and position on the international stage have strengthened, gaining momentum and world recognition as a “symbol of peace”.
Great writer and poet Natsagdorj Dashdorj once wrote, “The name Mongol has glory in world history. The heart of mine beats with our homeland Mongolia”.
It is, therefore, necessary for every Mongolian to deeply comprehend that he is guarding the hearth of the Great Mongolian State, respect and follow the teachings, the deeds and the wisdom of the Great Chinggis Khan, inherit the values and heritage of the great state to their descendants, preserve harmony, and devote one’s heart and soul and contribute to the nation’s prosperity.
Let us unite as one and work towards strengthening our economic independence and security, building a “Strong Mongolia” and keeping pace with the development of humankind in this new century.
My fellow Mongolians!
Last year, on the occasion of the 860th birth anniversary of the Great Chinggis Khan, the President of Mongolia issued a decree to revere the portrait of the Great Chinggis Khan, respect and honor his glory and wisdom, and opened the high gate of the Chinggis Khan National Museum of Kings and Nobles.
As a continuation of these deeds, I have issued a decree to rebuild the city of Kharkhorum in the Orkhon Valley, a cultural heritage of humankind, the sacred hearth of ancient kingdoms, a decree similar to that of 800 years ago declared by the Great Chinggis Khan in 1220.
On this festive day, I take pleasure in informing the public of the efforts made by the State Great Khural and the Cabinet to realize this immense and historic project.
May the ancient capital of Kharkhorum, the hearth of the Great Mongolian State, rise again as a symbol of unity and strength of the Mongolian people, and a harbinger of good times, and may the hearth of the Great Mongolian State shine forever in the trinity of past, present, and future. This has been the desire of the Mongolian people for centuries.
Dear Naadam participants!
The one and only Mongol Naadam, a supreme celebration of the Mongolians, who guard the hearth of the great nomads, raise our nation’s Nine White Banners up in the Eternal Blue Sky, admire the sun over the placid world with its long song, gratify Mother Earth with the sound of Morin Khuur, and delight the people, the mountains and the waters, is thus open with pride and vigor.
May the eagle dancing of mighty wrestlers fill the earth, the galloping of fast horses shake the vast plains, and the swift arrows of archer’s whistle in the sky. I wish my fellow Mongolians, wise and fateful, a happy Naadam.
May Mongolia prosper under the might of the Eternal Blue Sky!
