Address
by President of Mongolia H.E. Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at the special session of
the State Great Khural dedicated to the 860th Anniversary of the birth of the Great
Chinggis Khaan.

“My fellow Mongolians – the
guardians of hearth and home of the Great Mongolian State
under the Eternal Blue Sky,

My fellow
countrymen, living all over the world, from where the sun rises to where it
sets,

Esteemed
Speaker of the State Great Hural and Prime Minister,

Honorable
state officials and friends,


Dear guests,

I wish to
extend my greetings to you on the occasion of the 860th Anniversary of the birth
of the Great Chinggis Khaan – the great leader in the history of the humankind,
the founder of the modern world, the Man of the Millennium and the source of
the lasting pride of the Mongolian people.

We, the Mongolians,
are blessed people.

The Eternal Blue
Sky bestowed upon us the Great Chinggis Khaan – the King of Kings of great genius.

Eight
centuries ago the Great Chinggis Khaan was born as Temuujin, the eldest son of
the Mongolian nobleman and warrior Yesukhei, and the wise queen Oelun at the
chest of the sacred mountain Burkhan Khaldun, at the basin of the three rivers
of eternal spring water.

Temuujin
unified the scattered Mongolian tribes and established the Great Mongolian
State, strengthened the golden tether of statehood dating back to the Hun
dynasty, rekindled the hearth of the Mongolian state, and was exalted as the Great
Chinggis Khaan recognized all over the world.

Chinggis Khaan
is the guardian of the independence and the very being and existence of the
Mongolian nation, the source of our people’s pride, and the great emperor of
today and forever.

Consolidating
the traditions of statehood of our forefathers, inheriting the wisdom to govern
the state and the people, winning the hearts of its people and honing their
trust and confidence, aware of the past, sensible of the present and discerning
about the future, this man was a genius who made invaluable contributions to
the shaping of the history of  the world.

The thirty
years of struggle for unity, of quest for peace, of crafting the rule of law,
and of eventually emerging as a Great Khaan of heavenly might from a humble
young man wasn’t easy.


Abandoned by
relatives and kinfolk, knowing the pain of loss at young age, Chinggis Khaan
unified the scattered nomadic tribes and founded the Great Mongol State thanks
to perseverance, courage, fortitude of mind, wisdom and the power of his will.

Chinggis
Khaan’s founding of the Great Mongol State was an event of unprecedented and
unparalleled nature in the world history where the peoples of the world enjoyed
harmony and accord peacefully co-existing under the Eternal Blue Sky.


The Great
Mongolian State, built by Chinggis Khan, marked two centuries in the history of
humankind as “Mongolian centuries”. 


The Great
Mongolian State strengthened its unity, enhanced its statehood, promoted the
rule of law, put an end to wars and conflicts across Asia and Europe,
established peace in the world, and expanded into an empire that was admired by
the world for its greatness.

Encyclopedia
Britannica notes that the territory of the Mongol Empire accounted for 23
million square kilometers from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Persian
Gulf and the Danube River in the west, representing the largest land area in
the history of the world.

Even today,
the world continues to study with interest how the Mongols of Chinggis, numbered
so few, with a nomadic civilization, were able for two centuries to keep the
people unified and govern millions of people of different languages, cultures
and religions, dispersed throughout a vast territory.

We, Mongols,
take profound pride in the fact that the entire humankind, including the global
leaders have constantly studied and learned from the genius, history, ideals
and causes of the Supreme Khaan of the Mongols.

The first
Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, praised Chinggis Khaan as
“undoubtedly a military genius and leader, on par with Alexander of
Macedonia and Julius Caesar in the history of the world”, and as “a man
who valued peace, rather than war, despite his military superiority.”

Indeed, the
empire he established was unparalleled in military science, might and the art
of warfare, yet, it had always sought and honored law, peace and harmony in ruling
its huge empire of a multitude of nations.

In 1995, the
Washington Post named Chinggis Khaan as the “Man of the Millennium”, in
recognition of the contributions Chinggis Khaan and his successors made eight
centuries ago in overcoming political, economic, religious, and civilizational wars
and conflicts and proclaiming the “Pax Mongolica”.

The
establishment of the “Pax Mongolica”, enabled the people of Eurasia
to focus more on creating, building, construing, developing and studying. Hence,
many areas of science, culture and education were developed, including
mathematics, medicine, philosophy, astronomy, history, geography, literature,
music, visual arts and architecture. In addition, land and water maps were
made, and new advanced methods and technologies of military warfare, animal
husbandry, and agriculture were developed.

Also, the
transportation and communication system of that time got a tremendous boost by
connecting vast areas by Urtoo, the horse relay stations.

Chinggis Khaan
and his successors developed the Silk Road and ensured its security, thus
boosting trade and commerce to flourish in vast areas from the Korean Peninsula
to the Mediterranean Sea, introduced paper money into circulation and made significant
contributions to the development of world economy.

Historians
and researchers view that the Great Mongol State was the political and economic
center of the world at that time. The City of Kharkhorum stands out as a
historical and cultural heritage to testify this assertion. 

In 1220, Chinggis
Khaan issued a decree to establish the city of Kharkhorum and to move the
capital of the Great Mongol State.

Kharkhorum
was the center of many religions and civilizations, where scholars, artists,
artisans, merchants, and envoys of kings and nobles from many countries lived
or sojourned on a visit.


Democratic
ideals and values ​​flourished under the patronage of the Mongol Empire.

When
Eurasian countries came under the rule of the Mongol state in terms of land,
politics, economy and social structure, the walls of civilization and ideology
that divided countries and regions fell down, and it was for the first time
that many peoples and nations experienced comfortable and peaceful co-existance
with each other with mutual respect and understanding.

Although the
Great Mongol State at that time was a monarchy with unlimited power, it embraced
and upheld the principles of democracy.

A clear
example of that was the city of Kharkhorum, the capital city, where 12 temples,
churches and mosques of various religions, including Buddhist, Christian and Muslim,
coexisted and freely functioned, and representatives of various religions met and
debated. That occurred for the first time in world history.

This was
made possible due to the fact that the diversity of worldviews, beliefs, and
religions of various peoples of that time was not banned or infringed upon, but
rather their values ​​were treated with respect, which was preserved in the
history of humankind and passed down as one of fundamental principles of the
modern civilization.

My fellow
Mongolians,

Since the
Great Chinggis Khan was a man of the world who founded the Eurasian Empire, his
biographies have been written and printed in many languages ​​in various
countries since the 13th century.

Therefore,
leaders of many countries, renowned scholars and religious leaders recognize
that the history of Chinggis Khan is not only the history of Mongols, but also
the history of the world.

In the
famous book entitled “Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern
World” written in 2004, Jack Weatherford, renowned American scholar,
emphasized that “Genghis Khan is the great king who laid the groundwork of
the ideals and foundation of the modern world.”

This famous
work attracted the world’s attention and re-acquainted humanity with the great
story of Genghis Khan, and was selected as a bestseller of the New York Times.

Also, Jack
Weatherford wrote, “P. Carpini and V. Rubruk, who visited Mongolia in the
13th century, applauded how the laws, enforced by Chinggis Khaan, were adhered
to, and they wrote on a number of occasions how Mongolians respected and
followed the laws established by Emperor Chinggis Khan.”

J. Chaucer,
an English writer of the 14th century, called Chinggis Khaan the “Great
King” of the law. According to him, Chinggis Khaan was a leader who was
loyal to the law he had sworn to. He wrote that the most extraordinary thing
was the fact that powerful kings of that time put themselves above the law, whereas
Chinggis Khaan obeyed the law equally.

Paul Pelliot,
a French scientist and a well-known Orientalist, concluded the period of Chinggis
Khaan’s conquest as “the unprecedented great miracle.”

Furthermore,
on the 800th anniversary of founding the Great Mongolian State, the President
of the Republic of Korea and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Kim Dae-jung wrote:
“Chinggis Khaan’s achievements have the following historical significance:
First, he created land and sea routes connecting East and West. Second, he had played
an important role in the spread of Christianity and Islamic religion to the
East. Third, he influenced the spread of geography, astronomy, mathematics, and
mapping technology to the West. Fourth, by intensifying the cultural and
economic exchange between East and West, he changed the future development course
of the world”.

The XIV
Dalai Lama underscored that “The renowned Great Mongol Empire was founded in
1206 after the various Mongolian tribes gathered together and proclaimed
Chinggis Khaan their leader. What he went on to achieve, he did through a
determined exercise of courage and physical strength. Today, it is fitting to
remember with pride what he accomplished for Mongolian independence, unity and
freedom. Taking inspiration from his example, I urge you to apply a similar
determination in extending education in your country, in furthering not only
material progress, but also in fostering the important values of inner
development.”

Pope
Benedict XVI wrote in 2006, “Through his personality Chinggis Khaan made a
marvelous contribution to the recognition by the world of the political, social
and cultural specificities of the Mongolian people. From 1206 to the present,
there have been significant changes in human development, yet it is beyond
doubt that Chinggis Khaan’s contribution to the Great Mongolian State and its
relations with other civilizations will remain significant. It is critical not
only to study this important achievement, but also to duly mingle the rightful
national pride as a model in relations with civilizations of other peoples”.


The
President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, stressed that, “The
Mongolian State, founded by Chinggis Khaan, had a great impact on the course of
the world history.”

Japanese
Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi cited the conclusion of scholar Okada Hidehiro
to the effect that “During the time of the Mongol Empire, which ruled the
lands of Eurasia, a general concept of the “world” had originated leading to
the creation of the world history,” and further stressed that “Also,
considering Chinggis Khaan’s policies such as appointing talented and learned
foreigners to high positions, introducing a common currency, and exercising freedom
of religion, the Mongolian Empire was a pioneer of globalization. Junichiro
Koizumi further concluded that “even from a historical viewpoint, the reality
of Chinggis Khaan, who started a new era in history, would reveal much more
about the world at that time”.

Hosni
Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, mentioned that “The
historical role of this great leader was not confined only to the unification
of Mongol tribes and the establishment of the Great Mongol State, he had a
profound influence on the change of the world map to be redrawn during the late
Middle Ages.

Moreover,
historians unanimously agree that Chinggis Khaan was a great political thinker,
brilliant military leader, and possessed strong leadership skills, which are
all reflected in the advanced civil and military systems he established during
his rule as well as the law and order that continued long after him.

Chinggis
Khan was able to establish the Mongol Empire, one of the greatest empires in
history, within a few years. As his fame spread throughout the world, historians
have included his name in the list of the world’s greatest leaders along with
Ramses II, Thutmose III, Alexander the Great and Caesar. His empire stretched
from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea and from Siberia to the northern border
of Southeast Asia.

Despite the
prevailing perception of Chinggis Khaan and his successors as great leaders in
Egypt and the region, in some parts of Islamic world, he is remembered as a
usurper who overthrew the Khwarazmian Empire and captured Khwarasm, Samarkand,
and Bukhara, as well as occupied Khorasan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and Al
Mashreq.

Nevertheless,
it is more appropriate to assess such a leader not by the prevailing criteria
of today, but of that time.  By the
criteria of his time, Chinggis Khaan was renowned as a great leader and
conqueror.

He unified
his nation, transforming a few scattered tribes into a powerful state and then
a great empire on vast territories. Even after his death, his successors
continued to expand the empire. Their military forces crossed the Danube River
and reached the borders of present-day Germany.”

Recep
Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Turkey, “The Mongol Empire founded in
1206 was the largest contiguous land empire that the world has known, a
well-established fact that will no doubt continue to feature prominently in the
annals of the history of mankind. The great Chinggis Khaan went into history
not only as the leader that founded this vast Empire, but also as the greatest
military mastermind of all time that extended the territories of that State to
infinite greatness.

In 1206
Chinggis Khaan gained the stature of the founder and the sovereign of a
worldwide empire, thus leaving behind the era of tribal chieftainship.

Chinggis Khaan
left a vast State stretching from the Black Sea to the Pacific Ocean as legacy
when he died in 1227.

The Mongol
Empire thus owed a lot to its founder, the great Chinggis Khan, who made
inroads in histories of many nations, be it a friend or foe, with his
reputation of being a great commander who could project force to wherever he
pleased.

Modern
Mongolia is destined to prosper as an active member of the contemporary world,
given its vast territory of more than 1.5 million sq. km., its young and
dynamic population, and its rapidly evolving reform process launched in 1990s.

Mongolia has
managed to preserve its distinctive place in world history and world cultural
heritage.”

Bill
Clinton, Former President of the United States, also noted that “Since the
unification of the Mongol State by Chinggis Khaan in 1206, Mongolians have
always deeply cherished their independence and freedom.”

Jacques
Chirac, President of France, describing Chinggis Khaan and his deeds, said, “I
have not yet fully explored and learned about the great conqueror, who shook
the world, a highly cultured visionary and a shaper of his society.”

Chinggis Khaan
dismantled the tribal system, created national unity, and laid the foundations
of the Mongolian nation that will last for generations.

He
established peace, ensured the security of the Silk Road, and provided an
opportunity to develop trade as well as intellectual and cultural exchanges.

According to
historians, one of Chinggis Khaan’s important legacies, the Pax Mongolica,
allowed relations between Europe and Asia to flourish for centuries.

It was
concluded that “Chinggis Khaan has become a modern legendary hero, and his
power and legacy continue to be immortalized in a combination of fear and
admiration from generation to generation.”

In 2005, on
the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the establishment of the Great Mongol
Empire, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution urging
its member countries to celebrate the contribution of Mongolians to the history
of mankind.

In this
resolution, the General Assembly recognized that “The Great Mongol State
influenced, inter alia, societies across Asia and Europe and, in turn, absorbed
influences from both East and West in a true interchange of human values;
played important role in the development of extensive trade networks and the
creation of large administrative, cultural, religious and commercial centers;
and promoted dialogue and interaction among all forms of civilization.” It also
emphasized “the ever-increasing significance and relevance of a culture of
living in harmony with nature, which is inherent in nomadic civilization, in
today’s world.”

It is
evident from the speeches, researches and literature written by these
well-known individuals that Chinggis Khaan and his successors deeply valued
peace, ensured harmony under the rule of law, spread democratic ideals that
fostered religion and equality, promoted development in many fields, including
trade, communications, culture and science, and created the initial concept of
diplomatic service and exchange of envoys. They laid the foundation for the
values and ideals that we uphold today and have planted the root for modern-day
globalization.

The Great
Chinggis Khaan always kept the history and legacy of his ancestors in his
heart, when he led his country. He was a visionary emperor and a father who
shared his wisdom with his children and people.

Penelope
Aubin, a famous English writer and interpreter of the 18th century, translated
a book about Chinggis Khaan and presented it to the Prince of Wales, where she
described Chinggis Khaan “not only as a pious, just and humble king, but also a
wonderful husband, a good father, a loyal friend, a kind lord, and a wise
general”.

He was a
great man and emperor who treated his fellow people like his own children,
respected the soldiers and scholars as brothers, and provided shelters to
orphans and the poor. He was generous and distributed his wealth, placed his
people, the state, and mothers above all, and deeply valued honesty.

The Great
Chinggis Khaan taught us not to entrust state affairs to anyone who does not
admit what he said, a shameless person who can’t control himself, let alone
others, and a sly, cruel, dishonest person with greed for wealth and power.

These
teachings should continue to be the basic principle and practice of public
service.

Honorable
citizens, descendants of our Great Emperor,

The Great Khaan
ignited our national pride, that has the ability to unite all the hearts that
beat for Mongolia, with his power and glory.

The admirable
merits and proud deeds of the emperor in the history of Mongolia is
immeasurable, and it is a value that strengthens the intellectual immunity of
the Mongolian people and unites the Mongolian nation.

We,
Mongolians, are aware of our responsible and sacred duty in guarding the
birthplace of our Great Chinggis Khaan and the hearth of all Mongolians around
the world, and shall remember and pass on to the future generations that we
must spare no effort in preserving, studying, researching and spreading the
great heritage of our Great Khaan.

Therefore,
the President of Mongolia issued a decree, urging every Mongolian to be aware
that they are the guardians of the Great Mongol Empire’s hearth and home, and
for Mongolian government, every household and organizations to honor the
Chinggis Khaan’s portrait, to honor and follow Chinggis Khan’s teachings,
deeds, and wisdom, to pass on the state’s values and heritage to his
successors, to maintain harmony, and to contribute to the prosperity of the
country.

Chinggis Khaan
accomplished more than thousands of leaders could ever accomplish in a lifetime
and he left behind a vast and rich heritage for mankind.

 

It is a
pleasure to note and celebrate on this historic day, today, the strides and
achievements made by the government, heads of state, presidents, scholars,
citizens, and relevant organizations in terms of promoting, disseminating, and
reporting on the legacy and deeds of Great Chinggis Khaan abroad and
domestically.

 

This year,
on the occasion of the 860th anniversary of the birth of our Great Khaan, we,
Mongolians, have successfully built and opened the Chinggis Khaan Museum &
Cultural Center, which showcases history of Great Chinggis Khaan, his ancestors
and successors, despite the difficult times of the pandemic.

 

Also, the
international scientific conference entitled “The World of Chinggis Khaan and
Mongolian Studies” was organized in Ulaanbaatar and the International
Association of Chinggis Khaan Studies was established this year.

This
international association and the Chinggis Khaan museum aim to scientifically
study, disseminate and publicize the great Khaan’s contribution to the
development of humanity, his state ethics, historical and cultural heritage,
expand the scope of Chinggis Khaan studies, activate the cooperation of
scientists from many countries of the world and implement joint projects and
programs.

Mongolia
should lead the world in Chinggis Khaan studies.

World
renowned individuals, intellectuals, scholars, and writers have spent several
centuries learning and studying all the great deeds and accomplishments
achieved by the Great Khaan since his birth.

Therefore,
it is important to train and prepare specialized research scholars who will
work on the study of Chinggis Khaan and the Mongol Empire at the international
level through government policy.

As Chinggis
Khaan studies develop, scholars and scribes of many countries will recognize,
appreciate and acknowledge the great contribution of the Great Khaan to the
development of mankind and the history of the world, and the true story about
the Emperor and the Mongols will spread to the world.

The more we
aspire to build a strong and developed country, the more we should strive to
learn from our history, the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors, and
strengthen the golden bond of the past, present, and future.

The future
generations of Mongolia should never forget that our independent country,
freedom, vast territory, people, pride, history and culture are inextricably
linked with the glory of the Great Khaan, honor and follow the teachings of our
Emperor.

 

The Great
Chinggis Khaan was able to establish the Great Mongol Empire and brought world
peace. He made history by following his teachings to “Aim for the high
mountains, cross the wide ocean, do not despair because it is far, you will
reach it, do not get discouraged because it is big, you can cross it, do not be
scared because it is heavy, you can lift it.”

Today,
Mongolians can author great deeds and build a strong nation, if we cherish and
strictly follow this wisdom of our Supreme Khaan, work hard for our country and
become the masters of our destiny.

I encourage
every Mongolian to respect and worship our great Khaan, to protect, from the
bottom of our hearts, our freedom, independence and unity – the apple of our
eyes, and remember every morning, strive every day, and contemplate every night
that we are the continuation of the Great Khaan’s great legacy.

On behalf of
the people of Mongolia, the descendants of the Great Khaan, we would like to
extend our greetings to the world on the anniversary of the birth of Chinggis
Khaan, the Man of the Millennium, one of the founders of modern world, and the King
of Kings.

May the
power and glory of the Great Emperor bless us, Mongolians, forever under the
power of the eternal sky!”