Mongolia Brief April 11, 2014
Mongolia
to Cooperate with Belarus in Military Technique
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of
Belarus passed bills on the ratification of the agreements on military
technical cooperation with Mongolia on April 10.
The news was
released on belta.by website the same day.
The agreement
is to promote supplies of Belarusian military products to Mongolia. The
document envisages an exchange of technologies, co-developing, aircraft service
and maintenance, air defense armament.
Belarus
Ratifies Visa Abolition Agreement with Mongolia
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Belarusian MPs ratified the Belarus-Mongolia
intergovernmental agreement on abolishing visas on April 10, reported belta.by
website the same day.
The agreement
provides that the citizens of Belarus and Mongolia can enter, leave, pass
through the other country in transit and temporarily stay there without visas
for the period up to 90 days since the first entry.
If Belarusian
and Mongolian nationals want to stay in the other country for a longer period,
they will need to obtain a visa in line with the existing legislation.
Best
Players to Study in Japan
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The best two basketball players (a girl and a boy) at the
ongoing Junior Basketball League Championship among middle school pupils will
be granted scholarship rights to study in a school in Japan.
The above
announcement was made by the Governor of the UB city's Bayanzurkh district
D.Purevdagva, before semifinal matches of boy and girl teams in the middle
schools championship of academic years of 2014-2015 to take place this
Saturday. The two winner teams will go to Poland for a week to have a joint
with the Polish youngsters trainings and friendly matches.
The
championship has been attended by 40 teams of 20 schools.
Mongolian
Receives Rumsfeld Fellowship
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) One of this year’s recipients of the prestigious Rumsfeld
Fellowship is Ms Shijir Ochirbat, a senior strategy and policy analyst at Oyu
Tolgoi LLC, the latter's website published Thursday.
The Rumsfeld
Fellowship is awarded each year to young leaders and experts from Central Asia,
the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Mongolia to participate in a six-week research
programme at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in
Washington, DC.
Ms Shijir leads
a team responsible for strategic analysis and developing corporate strategies
at OT. The fellowship programme provides a unique opportunity to meet in the
USA with colleagues working in related fields.
Ms Shijir will
have the opportunity to meet Ambassador John Bolton, former U.S. Ambassador to
the UN (2005-2006), Dr Zbigniew Brzezinski, a former National Security Adviser
to President Jimmy Carter, and former US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. She
will also meet experts of geopolitics and foreign investments, China-Russia
relationship think-tank, trade, and infrastructure projects.
Ms Shijir is
the second one from OT to receive this fellowship. The first receiver was
Baasantseren Tumurbat, OT Board Secretariat Specialist, in 2010.
The Rumsfeld
Fellowship programme was launched in 2008 by the Rumsfeld Foundation in
partnership with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the School of Advanced
International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. The Rumsfeld Foundation over
the past six years has granted over 160 fellowships for young leaders from
Central Asia as well U.S. graduate students.
Mongolian
Footballer Plays First Match in Thailand
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The first-ever professional footballer of Mongolia A.Moron
made his first appearance in Thailand’s football arena on Wednesday.
Playing for
Krabi FC of Thailand, A.Moron had a successful assist to a goal at Khonkaen FC
vs Krabi FC match which ended with a score of 2:1 in favor of Khonkaen FC. This
was the last match of Krabi FC in the Thailand Football Association Cup. Krabi
FC is currently the 15th in Thailand League Division 1, with one win and two
draws.
Becoming the
first-ever professional footballer of the nation, A.Moron Friday signed two
year’s agreement to play for the Krabi FC in the first division league of
Thailand last December.
Born in
Ulaanbaatar, A.Moron (24) has played college soccer for Hannibal-La Grande
University and the Central Methodist Eagles, located in Fayette, Missouri. He
made his international debut for Mongolia in 2007, and has appeared in FIFA
World Cup qualifying matches.
"Impression"
Exhibition to Open
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Young artists are planning to open a joint exhibition
themed "Impression" at "Glamour" art gallery on April 14.
All the
paintings are unique in terms of expressing the artists' views of trees motion,
of a woman's beauty, of the city in four seasons, and of a horse. The artists
are M.Tsaschikher, E.Togsoo and Sh.Sukhbat.
It will be open
until April 23.
Consultative
meeting between Mongolia and Russia
April 11
(news.mn) A consultative meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministries of
Mongolia and the Russian Federation, where the Deputy Foreign Ministries of the
two countries will meet, is being held in Moscow, Russia on April 10th and
11th.
At the
Consultative meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministries, Deputy Foreign
Minister of Mongolia D.Gankhuyag is having talks with his counterpart Deputy
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov on bilateral political, economic and
humanitarian relations. They are to exchanging views on regional and multiple
cooperation and discussing further measures to be implemented in the
future.
Related:
Mongolia-Russia
Consultative Meeting Runs in Moscow – Montsame,
April 11
MPP
held peaceful demonstration
April 11
(news.mn) The Mongolian People`s Party (MPP) held a peacful demonstration at
Chinggis Square (formerly Sukhbaatar Square) at 10.00 am yesterday, April
10th.
Due to the
opening of the Spring Session meeting of Parliament, the Reform Government is
under severe attack from the opposition party in Parliament, MPP. MPP has
criticized Parliament`s failure to control the government and held a
demonstration protesting MPs from holding the position of cabinet minister at
the same time.
The bill is
expected to be discussed today at the Spring plenary session meeting of
Parliament, therefore the opposition party is urging the Parliament not to the
allow the MPs who hold the position of cabinet minister at the same time to
attend the poll.
The opposition
also claims that the Reform Government is ignoring any suggestions and
initiatives on politics, socio-economic challenging issues made by MPP.
MPP urges the
17 cabinet ministers out of 19 in the Reform Government to reject holding the
double position at the same time.
Remembrance
held for child road traffic victims
April 11
(news.mn) Traffic Police of the General Police Agency Mongolia declared April
10th as the “Day to prevent children from traffic accidents”. Yesterday at
Freedom Square the "Love me" day event was held for the “Day to
Prevent Children from Traffic Accidents”.
As part of the
event, a children`s parade was held to call for attention from drivers and
adults and a lamp lighting ceremony in remembrance of children road traffic
victims was organized at Freedom Square. To show how tragic the traffic
accidents are, 37 empty chairs will be erected as evidence.
It is reported
that 37 children died on the roads due to traffic accidents last year alone.
Traffic Police have called on parents to take children to schools and to ensure
their children know about traffic safety rules on the road.
Mongolia
Learns from Swiss Fiscal Equalization System
April 11
(infomongolia.com) On April 08, 2014, the Office of the President of Mongolia
in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
organized a presentation and discussion entitled "Inter-Governmental
Relations and Fiscal Equalization System" in Ulaanbaatar.
The event was
held in the Citizen Hall of the Government House, where relevant officials from
the Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Development,
Members of Parliament and representatives from academia and civil society have
gathered to learn about the Swiss model of fiscal equalization in comparison
with the current system of inter-governmental fiscal transfers in Mongolia.
In his opening
speech Citizen Participation and Economic Policy Advisor to the President
L.Dashdorj said, “Decentralization, transfer of decision-making powers to the
sub-national level and increased citizen engagement in public affairs were the
key objectives in the policy agenda of the President Ts.Elbegdorj in his first
tenure and in his second tenure, the President is promoting a policy of Smart
Government in line with further decentralization and citizen-centred governance
initiatives”.
SDC’s Deputy
Director of Cooperation, Mr. Diepak Elmer, noted that Switzerland is honoured
to share its experiences in direct democracy and decentralization, and commended
Mongolia for its remarkable advancements in its decentralization reform. “We
expect that this event will kick-start a debate on the kind of
Inter-Governmental Relations and Fiscal Equalization System that Mongolia wants
to have”, he said.
The first presentation
by Associate Prof. L.Ariunaa, Head of the Economics and Finance Department of
the National Academy of Governance, described the current fiscal transfer
system in Mongolia, highlighting the main challenges and proposing potential
remedial actions. Prof. L.Ariunaa holds a PhD from the University of Potsdam
(Germany) and is one of the national scholars who studied the issues of fiscal
transfer system in Mongolia in-depth as the topic of her doctoral dissertation
was “Fiscal federalism and decentralization in Mongolia” (2010).
The
international expert in Fiscal Federalism, Public Management & Finance,
Professor Dr. Stefan Pfaeffli from the School of Business of the Lucerne
University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Switzerland), presented the benefits
and challenges of fiscal equalization in general and explained the
specificities of the Swiss model of inter-governmental relations.
Following the
presentations, the participants expressed their opinions regarding the
challenges of the current system of fiscal relations in Mongolia and asked
further questions about the Swiss tax system, distribution of functions between
the confederation, cantons and municipalities, and about the Swiss experience
of inter-cantonal collaboration.
Concluding the
event, Advisor L.Dashdorj conveyed the President’s appreciation to the Swiss
Government for continued and highly efficient support in implementation of
decentralization reform in Mongolia.
Mongolia
and United States Sign Joint Statement on Security Issues
April 11
(infomongolia.com) A four-hour official visit of the U.S. Department of Defense
delegation to Mongolia led by Secretary of Defense Charles Timothy Hagel was
held in Ulaanbaatar on April 10, 2014.
The visit to
the Asia-Pacific region took over 10 days and concluded with a short stop in
Mongolia, but considered as historical importance in friendly partnership
relations particularly in the defense sector between the two countries.
Defense
Minister of Mongolia D.Bat-Erdene welcomed the delegates at the airport and
after meeting with Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag in the Government House, two
Ministers held official talks in the Ministry of Defense, where parties
exchanged views on bilateral relations focusing on partnership in defense
sector and its further cooperation tendencies. During the talks parties
expressed their satisfaction that defense sector partnership is growing in the
form of new content enriched and progressively forwarding in harmony with the
common interests of the two countries to deepen friendly ties based on the
basic principles of protection peace and global stability.
Following the
official talks, Minister D.Bat-Erdene and Secretary Chuck Hagel signed on joint
statement of security issues between Mongolia and the United States and hosted
a press conference.
At the press
conference Minister D.Bat-Erdene noted, “The Defense Secretary of the United
States Chuck Hagel is visiting Mongolia. The defense collaboration between our
two countries have been started since 1991 and the cooperation successfully
being developed as a result of the armed forces of both nations have been
participating in peacekeeping operations and training of military
professionals. Mongolia’s priority policy to adhere is an active position in
regional as well as global stability.
We deem your
visit to our country would bring important impetus between the two countries
especially in the relationship between the defense sectors and opened a new
page in the history of two countries’ partnership. I would like to extend my
appreciation for your visit again and wish all the best in your work”.
In his speech
Secretary Chuck Hagel said, “I was very glad to receive the invitation to visit
Mongolia. Ulaanbaatar is the last destination after visiting Asia-Pacific
region. Mongolia is a valuable partner for the United States and considered one
of the countries with rapidly growing economies in the world. In this regard,
Mongolia is a valuable contributor to ensure security and stability in the
region. Based on the common interests, the economy, security and diplomatic
ties between the two countries have been expanding. Mongolian armed forces
militants are involved in international peacekeeping operations with UN Mandates,
moreover serving with U.S. soldiers side by side in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today
the “Mongolia and U.S. Joint Statement on Security Issues” was signed, where
detailed information is included. In the frames of Mongolian armed forces
active reform, the joint military training between defense sectors will be
growing that would enable of open participation in international events,
trainings and operations. I have exchanged my opinions with Minister
D.Bat-Erdene regarding results of my last 10-day visit and during this period I
met 13 Defense Ministers of Asia-Pacific region. These meetings were common to
work together in the development of the regional countries and common to
resolve the contentious issues facing in peaceful manners".
Following the
press conference, Secretary Chuck Hagel met 25 Mongolian militants served in
Iraq, Afghanistan and other UN peacekeeping operations and appreciated them for
successful mission. After which, Minister D.Bat-Erdene presented the
distinguished guest a thoroughbred racehorse.
Related:
Mongolia and US sign
statement on security – news.mn,
April 11
GHMAF
Head Meets Ambassador of Turkey
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Head of the General Headquarters of Mongolian Armed Forces
(GHMAF) Lieutenant-General Ts.Byambajav Thursday received Mr Murat Karagoz, the
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Mongolia, in the
Defense Ministry.
Expressing
thanks to the Ambassador for calling on him, the GHMAF head noted that the
Mongolia-Turkey cooperation in the defense sector has been successfully
developing through co-organizing mutual visits, holding consultative meetings,
training staffers, in frames of the intergovernmental agreement on military
cooperation established in 1999.
In turn, Mr
Karagoz said he will do all his best to forward the bilateral cooperation in
the social-economy, culture, education and defense spheres. Mr Karagoz also
said he will actively work on sending Mongolian servicemen for studies in
Turkey and on having them participate in trainings organized by the NATO.
Mr Byambajav
asked the Ambassador to study an opportunity to have the Turkish troops
participate in the "Khaan Quest" international military exercises,
hoping they will take part in them.
Mr Karagoz
expressed a confidence that the Armed Forces of the two countries will
collaborate not only in the exercises but also in other matters.
It
Might Be Interesting
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The United States Ambassador to Mongolia Ms Piper Campbell
released on April 10 a statement, on the eve of the US Defence Ministry's
visit. Ms Ambassador calls for "staying united for Ukraine".
Following is the statement unabridged:
"Since
last November, the people of Ukraine have been striving to define their own
future. In the process, they have become a symbol of courage and peaceful
change for the whole world. The international community remains united for
Ukraine, respecting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and giving
its citizens the space and the support to help them determine how their country
will be run and what their choices will be.
“Last November
in Kyiv, a small group gathered to tell their President that they wanted their
voices heard. He had made a political decision not to sign an Association
Agreement with the European Union. They disagreed, and they told him so
publicly. That public protest swelled to the tens of thousands.
Their voices rose up to protest more than a political decision. Through
the cold winter, citizens from the entire country stood together on the Maidan
to urge an end to corruption in their country, more economic participation by
hard-working citizens instead of shadowy secret business dealings, and true
constitutional protections.
“This is not
just about Ukraine. It is about basic principles that govern relations
among nations in the 21st century. As President Obama stated in Belgium
on March 26, this is a “moment of testing for Europe and the United States, and
for the international order that we have worked for generations to build.”
This order is based on a set of core principles that include respect for
sovereignty and territorial integrity. Just because Russia has a deep
history with Ukraine does not mean it should be able to dictate Ukraine’s
future. On March 27, one hundred countries aligned in the U.N. General
Assembly in support of the fundamental principles of the U.N. Charter, in
support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and against
Russia’s illegal actions.
“Another
important point: Political activism in Ukraine today, as on the Maidan through
the winter, includes all nationalities and all religions that make up
multi-ethnic Ukraine. The people of Ukraine—Ukrainian, Russian, and Tatar
speakers alike—have the right to determine their future as a sovereign and
democratic nation.
“Social media
gives us access to understand these opinions firsthand. We need only to
watch their videos, view their photographs or read their blogs, circulating the
globe via a vibrant and open social media. A free and unfettered Internet
has given these Ukrainian voices a global reach, so that even here in Mongolia
we can see and hear and read for ourselves what the citizens of Ukraine have
been striving to achieve.
“The President,
against whom the first small protest was organized, disappeared for seven days
and eventually left his country. The democratically-elected
representatives of the people of Ukraine responded to fill the leadership
vacuum created by Yanukovich’s cowardice, organizing a temporary, technocratic interim
government and early, responsibly-organized elections. In April
that interim government will propose economic and political reforms that ensure
a voice to each citizen of Ukraine. In May, the population of Ukraine
will elect a new president with a mandate to build the future Ukraine that all
of its people want.
“Meanwhile, in
Crimea, Russia has torn down and discarded the international legal order and
thrown away the very notion of the rule of law. A forced, rushed, and
illegal “referendum,” against the backdrop of a foreign military intervention,
was used to justify a blatant land grab by a neighboring country. That
precedent cannot stand. Crimea is Ukraine. The border recognized in
the Ukrainian constitution is the border of sovereign Ukraine. The world
has not been fooled into belief that a referendum engineered by Russia somehow
justifies what is simply a land grab by force. We do so not to keep
Russia down, but because the principles that have meant so much to Europe and
the world must be lifted up. The United States, Mongolia, and the world,
have an interest in a strong and responsible Russia, not a weak one.
“In the coming
weeks and months, from Kyiv to Washington to Ulaanbaatar, the world must
continue to stand up for the rights of brave people everywhere who stand up to
a corrupt and authoritarian leader. The citizens of Ukraine have asked
for our support as they come together to define their reforms and run their
elections. For the sake of a Europe whole, free and at peace, we all need
to stand together, united for Ukraine.”
Vietnam
Expresses Its Willingness to Boost Collaboration with Ulaanbaatar
April 11
(infomongolia.com) On April 11, 2014, Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of
Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul received in his office the newly appointed Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam to
Mongolia Mr. Fang Dang Duong.
Ambassador Fang
Dang Duong has been starting his mission in Ulaanbaatar since March 21, 2014
and during the meeting with Mayor expressed his initiation on further
cooperation between the two municipalities in the scope of celebration the 60th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two
nations marking in 2014.
In response,
Mayor E.Bat-Uul noted, “I wish success in your 3-year mission to Mongolia and
we are ready to collaborate in any sector proposed. Mongolia and the Socialist
Republic of Viet Nam have established the diplomatic relations on November 17,
1954 and as of today, over 700 citizens of Vietnam are residing in Mongolia”.
Related:
Ulaanbaatar
to Cooperate with Vietnam – Montsame,
April 11
Mongolia
to Conduct Population Census in 2015
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The National Statistical Office of Mongolia has decided to
run a population census nationwide in 2015.
This will be
the first-ever intermediate census, as the nation conducts the national census
every decade, he last one took place in 2010.
The census not
only develops a detailed population estimate, but also updates statistics of
education, literacy, religion, economic activities, employment, household
composition and living conditions.
According to
the 2010 census, a total population of Mongolia was 2 million 754 thousand and
685. One of the main features of this census was e-enumeration for Mongolians
living abroad. According to the main findings, Mongolia had 107 410 citizens
living abroad for more than six months, 16 428 foreign citizens and stateless
people living for more than six months in Mongolia.
Amendment
to Law on Labour Safety and Hygiene Discussed
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The Civil Hall at the President of Mongolia hosted Friday
an open discussion for a draft amendment to the law on labor safety and
hygiene.
It was
co-organized by the Presidential Office, Mongolia’s Trade Unions (MTU) and
United Association of Employers (UAE).
The MTU’s
secretary-general G.Adya made the opening remarks, a head of the department of
labor relations and policy regulation at the Ministry of Labor B.Alimaa spoke
about a work on the draft.
The current law
on labor safety, passed in 2008, should be conceptually altered, B.Alimaa
emphasized. The draft amendment’s concept has been co-adopted by the Ministers
of Labor and of Justice, it has also proposals from other Ministers, she added.
The bill has new clauses that determines a general subscriber of works, labour
safety for the executors and assistant executors, their hygiene standards,
rules and expenses, and also clarifies the labor safety in enterprisers and
duties of hygiene workers, she explained.
Mongolia
and Kazakhstan Discuss Transportation Issues
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Mongolia and Kazakhstan discussed their cooperation in the
auto road transportation at a meeting of the bilateral working group for the
transportation collaboration held April 7-8 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The meeting was
co-headed by Kh.Yerjan, Mongolia’s Deputy Minister of Road and Transportation,
and by Azat Bektusov, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transportation and
Communication.
Within the
action, Mr Yerjan met with Jenis M.Kasymbek, the Kazakh Minister of Road and
Communication, to share views on a present situation of transportation and road
relations in both countries. Mr Kasymbek expressed a willingness to cooperate
with Mongolia in all directions of the road and transportation spheres, and
confirmed that Kazakhstan invited the Mongolian Minister of Road and
Transportation A.Gansukh to a conference on international transit
transportation which will run this May in Astana.
The Deputy
Minister Yerjan said Mongolia wants to have its experts get au fait with
transportation sector’s factories and entities, including locomotive factory in
Kazakhstan, and to have them visit Khorgos and Dostuk border checkpoints.
The
Kazakhstan’s side accepted the requests.
Kazakhstan,
Mongolia to Open Direct Air Communication
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Kazakhstan and Mongolia have initialed a memorandum on the
implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on air communication within
the framework of the 1st session of the Kazakhstan-Mongolia working group for
cooperation.
This news was
published on Kazinform International News Agency website on April 11.
The memo is set
to be signed at the VI session of the Kazakh-Mongolian Intergovernmental
Commission for Commercial and Economic, Scientific and Technical and Cultural
Cooperation that will take place in the capital of Mongolia this May.
Based on the
document, the two countries will be able to open direct air communication
between Astana and Ulaanbaatar.
In addition,
the sides agreed to speed up the signing of the Agreement between the two
governments on cooperation in the sphere of air rescue and recovery.
Asphalt
and Concrete Factory Opens in Aimag
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The Orkhon aimag's "Olziikhutagiin naran" company
has opened an asphalt and concrete factory in the province.
Some 2.1
billion togrog has been spent for its erection. The equipped with the latest
advanced hi tech object with a capacity of producing 70 thousand ton of asphalt
a year will employ some 40 people.
Best
Players to Study in Japan
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The best two basketball players (a girl and a boy) at the
ongoing Junior Basketball League Championship among middle school pupils will
be granted scholarship rights to study in a school in Japan.
The above
announcement was made by the Governor of the UB city's Bayanzurkh district
D.Purevdagva, before semifinal matches of boy and girl teams in the middle
schools championship of academic years of 2014-2015 to take place this
Saturday. The two winner teams will go to Poland for a week to have a joint
with the Polish youngsters trainings and friendly matches.
The
championship has been attended by 40 teams of 20 schools.
Province
Erects Development Center in Its Remote Baga
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Khovsgol province has erected a “Development Center of
Baga" /baga--the smallest administrative unit in the countryside/” in its
remote baga.
Some 180
million togrog was spent for this construction from the locality's Development
Fund.
The local
inhabitants will now get services of library, fitness center and state services
from this center.
Here
Comes Third Drift Show
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The first drift show of 2014 will be organized in Sky
Resort on April 19.
The first-ever
Mongolian drift show was organized in 2012. Since then, organizers have earned
quite good experiences in running such kinds of event. The opening of drift
show of 2014 will be held in high level of security and under a permission of
the Traffic Police Department, the organizers promise.
The show
program includes air acrobatic and circus performances, motorsports
demonstrations and a remote control car competition.
Music bands
including Ice Top, Four Directions and Kadr will entertain the gathered with
their songs during the show. There will be also a VIP show after party in
Metropolis Night Club.
Drifting is a
driving technique where the driver intentionally or unintentionally oversteers,
causing loss of traction in the rear wheels or all tires, while maintaining
control from entry to exit of a corner. As a motorsport discipline,
professional drifting competitions are held worldwide and are judged according
to the speed, angle, showmanship and line taken through a corner or set of
corners.
Labor
Fair to Run
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) A “Tourism and Employment” labor fair is to run at the UB
Business Development Center on April 17.
The event is to
be co-organized by the Departments of the City Tourism and of Labor. It intends
to connect part or full time jobseekers to employers, particularly in tourism
sphere.
Youth
Federation Cooperates with Red Cross in Humanitarian Acts
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The Mongolian Youth Federation and Mongolian Red Cross
Society have recently signed a cooperation memorandum.
This memorandum
confirms already traditional relationship of the two organizations and follows
the intended cooperation direction of the Mongolian Youth Federation to work
together with similarly purposed governmental and non-governmental
organizations.
The sides
agreed to further develop voluntary service and youth participation at all
levels of society in framework of the memorandum, as well as to jointly develop
local youth programs.
"Impression"
Exhibition to Open
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) Young artists are planning to open a joint exhibition
themed "Impression" at "Glamour" art gallery on April 14.
All the
paintings are unique in terms of expressing the artists' views of trees motion,
of a woman's beauty, of the city in four seasons, and of a horse. The artists
are M.Tsaschikher, E.Togsoo and Sh.Sukhbat.
It will be open
until April 23.
Mongolian
Hip-Hop Band to Tour S.Korea
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) "Ice Top" band has fixed a tour program to South
Korea to perform for Mongolians living in that country in early May.
Accordingly,
the band will play in Uijeongbu on May 2, in Gwangju May 3, in Seoul May 4, in
Suwon and Joenju May 5 and in Busan May 10.
Respected
hip-hop band, the "Ice Top" had earlier announced they would not
perform any more after the last concert of “the Bests of Ice Top” at UB Palace
on February 1 of 2014. Ice Top’s spokesperson then said they were performing
together for the last time as the members wanted to focus on education and
different careers.
Ice Top has
more than 250 songs in their discography.
Blackbox
Theater Releases April Program
Ulaanbaatar,
April 11 (MONTSAME) The Blackbox Theater has released their April program.
The program
opens with ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’, one-act play, by Samuel Beckett on April 12.
With a cast of one man, it was written for Northern Irish actor Patrick Magee
and first titled "Magee monologue". It was inspired by Beckett's
experience of listening to Magee reading extracts from Molloy and From an
Abandoned Work on the in December 1957.
‘Krapp’s Last
Tape’ will be followed by ‘People’s Love’ play by Dmitry Bogoslovky. ‘People’s
Love’ was shortlisted in the Depute Prize contest for young authors by the
Pokolenie Foundation in 2012. The last play to be staged by the Theater in
April is ‘The Lady Aoi” by Yukio Mishima, which will be performed on April 26.
Oyu
Tolgoi Project Issues Revised at Parliament of Mongolia
April 11
(infomongolia.com) At the morning Plenary Session of the State Great Khural
(Parliament) held on April 11, 2014, it was planned to hear MP D.Ganbat's
request regarding current investment issues on Oyu Tolgoi project, where Mining
Minister D.Gankhuyag gave the following answers.
In his remarks,
Minister D.Gankhuyag noted, “Parties (Government and Investors) can amend the
Oyu Tolgoi (OT) Investment Agreement following a written request, after which
Mongolia’s Ministry of Mining sent a letter in October 2012 to continue
negotiations and in order to resolve shortly by appointing workshop members
from both parties.
Accordingly,
under the ordinance of the Prime Minister, Mongolian side comprised of
Ministers from Mining, Nature, Environment and Green Development, Finance, and
Economic Development have been conducting a shareholders’ meeting with
investors several times under formal and informal levels since February 2013.
At the sixth
shareholders’ meeting, Mongolian Government forwarded 22 requests in 2 sets to
resolve problems within the framework of the project activities. The key issues
to resolve were cost overruns and incremental royalty that caused after
annulling the tax commission on unexpected profit (68%).
Currently,
negotiations are ongoing to resolve disputes regarding OT first phase project,
but investors requesting additional funding on the second phase for underground
development that opposed to the problem, and dialogues in this sphere are also
ongoing.
As of the
additional funding for underground, Mongolian Government requests as much as possible
not to change the initial negotiations for benefit ratio. The Mining Ministry
has repeatedly urged Oyu Tolgoi LLC to send the final official version of the
Feasibility Study, but no replies yet to date.
The investors
sent its request to the Government of Mongolia that need to borrow 4 billion
USD from 15 bank institutions such as the World Bank and International Finance
Corporation. According to the Law on Companies of Mongolia, this issue shall be
decided at the OT Board of Directors and the shareholders' meeting”.
Afterwards,
questioner MP D.Ganbat commented, "The OT project should be a leading
foreign investment in our country. If successfully to implement this important
project, it would compose incentive conditions for investment. However, almost
a year passed since its operational of the first phase of the project, but
benefits are detectable for the people. Therefore, civilians have the right to
know when such important project for the development of the country would work
efficiently and productivity. Thus, all aspects of the project under
consideration will be asking for confirmation in future”.
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