Howell extends welcome to guests from Mongolia
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

LARRY HLAVENKA JR. Mayor Tsgot Batbayar of Ulannbaatar, Mongolia, listens to remarks by Howell officials during his recent visit.

HOWELL - On a day in late Septem-ber, the distance between Ulannbaatar, Mongolia, and Howell became a bit smaller.

Members of the Township Council welcomed representatives from Mon-golia, including Tsgot Batbayar, who is the mayor of the city of Ulannbaatar. Batbayar is also known as the governor of the Capital City.

Ulannbaatar is home to about one million citizens and is on the Tuul River.

Mongolians have a rich history in Howell, with three Buddhist temples serving the large Kalmyk community.

Kalmyks, Oirats, Khalkhas and Buriats are all Mongolian-speaking peoples who share many of the same customs, religion and culture.

In 1979 the 14th Dalai Lama visited Howell and blessed one of the temples.

This time, though, the delegation was governmental instead of religious. After greeting the guests, Mayor Joseph DiBella discussed the magnitude of the visit.

"It is a real pleasure and privilege to have you here in Howell," he said to Bat-bayar. "There is a very special connection with the Kalmyk community and I can imagine how this is a very special tribute for [Kalmyks in Howell] to have here the mayor and his entire team. For them to know the mayor/governor thought enough to come here, it's very special."

In his remarks, DiBella thanked Batbayar for Mongolia's participation in the war on terrorism.

"Mongolia has 120 troops participating in the coalition forces in the most dramatic endeavor of this new century of ours," DiBella said. "We are delighted to have him and his countrymen as allies of ours in that very extraordinary endeavor."

DiBella, along with Councilman Robert Walsh and Deputy Mayor Peter Tobasco, presented Batbayar with a blanket emblazoned with Howell's logo and crest, "that really symbolizes the great rich history of Howell," DiBella said.

Through an interpreter, Batbayar said he was humbled by the experience.

"Thank you very much for your kind words and presentation. I am very happy we have met our Mongolian people here also," he said, referring to local resident and Mongolian Giga Andreyev, who attended the ceremony. "We can keep Howell and Ulannbaatar in a very close relationship and cooperation. Good, good health and good, good luck."

Batbayar in turn presented DiBella with several gifts.

Andreyev also addressed Batbayar and thanked him for coming.

"Howell is a melting pot for many different cultures that have lived side-by-side with Kalmyk community," he said. "We are very honored to have this exchange with you."

Afterward, DiBella described how the event became a reality.

"We were contacted by representatives of the Mongolian government, that they were going to be in New Jersey and they expressed interest in coming to Howell because of the large Mongolian population," the mayor said. "They contacted the township manager's office and put together the arrangements."

From one mayor to another, DiBella called the experience an "extraordinary honor."

As a whole, DiBella said he believes communication between cultures can only better society.

"I think we live in a day and age where tolerance of one another is becoming more important," he said. "With the advent of technology it's becoming a much smaller world. We need to understand and be respectful of other cultures so that we as a society can move forward to developing peaceful relations across the world and by having an understanding of other cultures' ways of life and beliefs."