Mongolia Brief June 16, 2014
Law on Naadam Amended
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) At a plenary meeting of the parliamentary session on Friday,
a draft amendment was adopted to the law on the National Great Festival–Naadam
at a first discussion.
The amendment,
submitted by R.Gonchigdorj, D.Battsogt and B.Choijilsuren MPs, was passed with
80.7% votes. Accordingly, the state title for national wrestling called “Dalai
Avarga” has been eliminated, updating thus the titles and making the
competitions fairer, they believe.
Law on Index-Based Livestock Insurance Passed
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The parliamentary session passed a bill on index-based
livestock insurance and related to it drafts to laws on Friday.
The same day,
the session adopted a draft resolution of parliament on adopting a middle-term
programme on a green development concept after a final discussion at the
Standing committee on environment, food and agriculture. A presentation of the
draft resolution was made by S.Demberel MP.
Cooperation Might Be Possible with Latvia in Combating Livestock Diseases
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The Republic of Latvia is ready to assist Mongolia in
improving skills of trained staffers to combat highly-infectious diseases of
livestock and to ensure food quality and standards.
The Latvian
Minister of Agriculture Mr Janis Duklavs said it during a meeting with
Ts.Tuvaan, the Vice Minister of Industry and Agriculture on Saturday, within
the official visit of the Latvian President Andris Berzins to Mongolia.
Mr Tuvaan said
Mongolia wants to learn experiences of Latvia in developing intensified farms
for meat and dairy products, and expresses a willingness to have a technical
assistance from Latvia for introducing European standards in order to create a
Mongolian food brand and to export it to Europe, keeping our traditional
methods of animal husbandry. He also emphasized that the two countries can
cooperate in a proper exploitation of forest and in recycling forest waste.
The Latvian
Minister said he is expecting a successful cooperation between the two
countries in the agricultural sector, and invited Mr Tuvaan to his country.
Concession Contract to Be Established with “Fifth Combined Heat & Power Plant” LLC
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) At its meeting on Friday, the cabinet made a decision on
realizing a project on building the 5th thermal power station with 450 Megawatt
to increase the UB city's utilization.
A tender for selecting
an executor to draw up the station's blueprint, to finance, build and run
repair services launched in 2011 through a concession deal. In accordance with
the cabinet decision, the Minister of Economic Development N.Batbayar was
allowed to establish the concession contract with the "Fifth Combined Heat
& Power Plant" LLC with a transferring term.
Following the
decision, obligations were given to A.Gansukh, the Minister of Road and
Transportation; M.Sonompil, the Minister of Energy; S.Oyun, the Minister of
Environment and Green Development; and Ts.Bayarsaikhan, the Minister of
Construction and Urban Development, to grant a permission to relevant subjects
to connect coal and water supply with drainage and electric lines and to
construct railways, roads and buildings. The Mayor of Ulaanbaatar E.Bat-Uul was
ordered to give a land to the concession owner for building the power plant.
The total
investment for the project is USD 1.2 billion, the concession contract term is
25 years, and the construction is projected to be completed in three years.
Some 40 Countries' People to Visit Mongolia without Visas
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The cabinet Friday considered as necessity to allow citizens
of 42 countries with the highest rates of GDP and human development index to
visit Mongolia without visas in the years 2014-2015.
This is one of
the measures for developing the tourism sector.
The list of the
countries includes Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands,
Ireland, Sweden, Iceland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Malt,
Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Portugal,
Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Lichtenstein, Monaco,
Andorra, Gibraltar, Vatican, the Bahamas Iceland, Trinidad and Tobago,
Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, Chile, Grenada, Costa Rica and the Republic of
Seychelles.
As of present,
all kinds of passport holders of the USA, Japan and Germany, and diplomatic
passport holders of the United Kingdom are visiting Mongolia without visas.
In conjunction
with the governmental resolution, obligations were given to L.Bold, the Minister
of Foreign Affairs, and to Ch.Ulaan, the Minister of Finance, to recover the
budget margin of Mongolia’s diplomatic missions abroad.
List of Tax-Free Facilities and Equipment Approved
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) At its regular meeting on Saturday, the cabinet approved a
resolution to update the list of facilities and equipment for small- and
medium-sized productions to be exempted from the customs excise tax and VAT.
The resolution
is adopted in conjunction with passing of the laws on exemption from customs
tax and from VAT at parliament this June 6.
By the altered
resolution, some facilities and tools of IT such as TV set, computer monitors,
printer ink cartridges and Ipads are not included in this list because they are
assembled and sold in Mongolia.
Holiday for Naadam Festival to Be Prolonged
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The cabinet Saturday decided to submit to parliament a draft
amendment to the law on public celebrations and remarkable days.
The draft
amendment reflects a clause on prolonging the Naadam holidays from three to
five days so that people can simultaneously celebrate the anniversaries of the
Great Mongol Empire and People’s Revolution of Mongolia.
Draft Amendments to Some Laws to Be Submitted
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The cabinet meeting on Saturday backed draft amendments to
the laws on social insurance, on pension and allowance, on pension and
allowance payment for people and the disabled with vocationally-caused illness
and accidents, and on allowance for the unemployed, all to be granted from the
social insurance fund.
These draft
amendments will be submitted to parliament, reflecting proposals from the
amendment initiators.
Since its
adoption in 1994, the law on social insurance has been altered ten times, now
it required to be amended again due to out dating.
Cash Prizes for Archers Augmented
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The cabinet meeting on Saturday made a decision to increase
the cash prizes for archers competing in the national great festival--Naadam.
In addition, a
number of prize receiving places doubled, therefore prizes will be given to
first five place holders by amending the governmental resolution. The decision
is made due to some critics that the prize size is relatively lower than that
of prizes in national wrestlers and horse races.
In conjunction
with the decision, the Minister of Finance Ch.Ulaan was allowed to allot MNT 25
million from the governmental reserved fund for the prizes.
Cabinet Meeting in Brief
Ulaanbaatar,
June 15 (MONTSAME) The cabinet meeting on Saturday discussed a performance of
the 2013 master budget and the 2013 financial master report of government.
Then it backed
in principle a parliamentary resolution on approving the 2013 budgetary
performance in accordance with the law on budget, and decided to submit it to
parliament.
- The cabinet
approved directives for the Mongolian delegates to participate in the first
meeting of the Mongolia-Poland intergovernmental commission for the economic
cooperation to run this June 24 in Ulaanbaatar. An order was given to
O.Chuluunbat, the Vice Minister of Economic Development and a chairman of the
Mongolian side of the commission, to adopt a composition of the delegates.
“Gants Khudag” detention center closed down
June 16
(news.mn) Gants Khudag, the sole pretrial criminal detention facility serving
Ulaanbaatar in Gants-Khudag, has been closed down as called for by MP
J.Batzandan.
Gants Khudag
detention facility, established in 1920, has been associated with overcrowding,
low-quality medical care and poor conditions and standards.
Prominent
intellectuals including poets and scholars have been detained at the detention
facility in the past.
The government
confirmed the decision to close down the out-dated detention facility.
This dark and
old building is set to be auctioned and the land will be open to civilians.
New postage stamp released featuring Bogd Khan’s Palace
June 16
(news.mn) Celebrating the 90th anniversary of first postage stamp in
Mongolia, and the 90th anniversary of the foundation of first modern
museum in Mongolia, the state owned “Mongol Post” LLC has released a set of
postage stamp with the design of the Palace of the Bogd Khan. The set of new
stamps will be a limited edition, making them rare and noble commodities
commemorating Mongolia`s Buddhist spiritual and political leader the Bogd Khan.
At the opening
speech for the ceremony of the release of the new postage stamps, the director
of the Bogd Khan Palace Museum O.Mendsaikhan said: “I am thankful for this
classic version of postage stamps featuring the historical precious items of
the Bogd Khan Palace Museum.”
The Executive
Director of state owned Mongol Post LLC, B.Batsaikhan expressed special thanks
to the Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism and the Bogd Khan Palace Museum
and added that the company has prepared to also release a new set of stamps for
the historical anniversary of the victory of the Khalkh gol battle and for the
Dinosaur museum for the 90th anniversary of first postage stamp in
Mongolia.
Mongolia-Japan 7th Meeting on Economic Partnership Agreement Ongoing in Ulaanbaatar
June 16
(infomongolia.com) The 7th phase of negotiation to establish Economic
Partnership Agreement between the Governments of Mongolia and Japan is ongoing
at the Ministry of Economic Development in Ulaanbaatar on June 12-27, 2014.
Mongolian side
is chaired the intergovernmental meeting by Deputy Minister of Economic
Development O.Chuluunbat and the Japanese Government by Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs Seiji Kihara.
At the opening
of the 7th negotiation, leaders of the two parties exchanged views on topics to
discuss and this time meeting is focused on market access, trade in goods,
trade in services, rules of origin, customs procedures, investment,
intellectual property and cooperation in trade, technical barriers and to
discuss issues of quarantine measures.
Mongolia to Extend Its Public Holiday Celebration, National Naadam Festival, from Three to Five Days Nationwide
June 16
(infomongolia.com) The regular Cabinet meeting of the Government was held on
Saturday, June 14, and it was resolved to make some amendments and settlements
in the law of public holidays and commemorative days, and to submit to the
State Great Khural (Parliament) for approval.
Accordingly,
amendments would be made on the biggest national holiday of Naadam Festival to
celebrate five days, where since its settlement and up to date, the Festival is
celebrated three days nationwide.
National Naadam
Festival is a traditional great holiday to commemorate Mongolia’s independence
and sovereignty, composed of festivals being celebrated throughout the country
in each Aimag, Sum and Capital City, and the Naadam Festival is organized in
three games aka the Three Games of Men.
Nation’s
biggest celebration the State Naadam Festival, where strongest men in
traditional wrestling, fastest horses and wisest shooters from all over
destinations of the country are gather to compete in the Mongolian capital
Ulaanbaatar from July 11 to 13 annually.
The Three Games
of Men are:
- Mongolian
traditional wrestling mostly holds among 512 wrestlers in a single-elimination
tournament that lasts nine rounds. If some big occasion coincides in a year,
the traditional wrestling tournament brings 1,024 wrestlers to compete in 10
rounds.
- Cross-country
horse racing in 6-ages categories that traditionally starts with Khyazaalan
(four-year old) horse racing category followed by Shudlen (three-year old),
Azarga or Stallion, Ikh Nas (horses over 5-years old), Soyolon (horses 5-year
old) and Daaga (Colt or horses 2-year old) horse races.
- Archery Tournament
that has been spread widely throughout the nation as involving women’s
participation and nowadays the State Archery Tournament is being held
officially in both Men’s and Women’s categories. Traditionally, the archery
competition in Mongolia is being organized in Uriankhai, Buriad and Khalkh
ethnic groups, but the State Archery Tournament is conducted under Khalkh
category.
Also, each year
anniversaries of founding of the Mongol Empire and the People's Revolution are
celebrated along with the Naadam Festival.
President of Mongolia Attends State Worshipping Ceremony for Suvraga Khairkhan Mountain in Arkhangai Aimag
June 16
(infomongolia.com) The state worshipping ceremony for Suvraga Khairkhan
(Suvraga sacred mountain) which lies in the territory of Tsenkher Sum of
Arkhangai Aimag was held on June 13, 2014.
The state
ceremony was attended by the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj, Head of the
Office of the President P.Tsagaan, Advisor to the President R.Bold, Advisor the
Speaker of Parliament S.Lambaa, Chief of the General Staff of Mongolian Armed
Forces, Lieutenant General Ts.Byambajav, Chairman of Arkhangai Aimag Citizens
Representative Khural Ch.Munkhbat, Governor of Arkhangai Aimag D.Bat-Erdene,
Head of the Mongolian Buddhist Center and Gandantegchinlen Monastery, Khamba
Lama D.Choijamts and other dignitaries born from Arkhangai Aimag.
At the ceremony
President Ts.Elbegdorj noted, “Mongolians believe and deem if we worship mountains
and rivers, it grants us a healthy long life, plenty of food and drink, and
helpful to our endeavors. The tradition to hallow the sky of the mountain is a
way to love our nature, to honor the state, and to esteem the religion and
culture that has been inherited by our predecessors since thousand years. This
year we anticipate a pleasant summering in our khangai region thanks to early
and plenty precipitation fell. For the sake of wellness of Khangai region
residents, I wish the best in their future deeds and assure you all from the
Suvraga sacred mountain under the eternal blue sky”.
The sacred
mountain Suvraga Khairkhan of Mongolia has an elevation of 3,117 m (10,226 ft)
and a mountain of the Khangai Mountains range. The mountain feed the rivers Orkhon,
Tamir and Tsetserleg.
In 2007, the
Suvraga Khairkhan was first worshipped with a state ceremony under Presidential
Decree and according to records, warriors of Chinggis Khaan erected an Ovoo
(mount) on the Mountain namely Jaran Tsunkhlug before to head warring, which
lies on the eastern part of Suvraga Khairkhan sub-ranges.
“11 11 Center” Reports
Ulaanbaatar,
June 16 (MONTSAME) The “11 11” center, established under the Cabinet, was
accessed 1,027 times the last week.
Nearly a half
of the complaints and requests were about matters relating to the capital city.
People advised that road paving companies install visible signs at construction
sites in order to give beforehand warning to drivers.
Responding to
those asking about tax returns, the Taxation General Authority said they are
some 2,800 requests of tax returns pending, for which refunds will be granted
within this month, with some remaining to be allotted after the budged amendments
planned.
Others asked
whether it is possible to receive a low-interest mortgage for buying apartments
with more than 80m2. Since offers to make this low-interest housing
program open to bigger apartments have not been supported by relevant authorities,
only the 80 m2 threshold is effective, said an officer at the Construction and
Urban Development Ministry.
Mongolian Naadam” Complex to Be Built by July 5
Ulaanbaatar,
June 16 (MONTSAME) Ulaanbaatar Mayor E.Bat-Uul visited last Sunday the Khui
Doloon Khudag (Naadam festival horse-race area) to see an ongoing construction.
This year,
construction jobs including road paving of 2.7km of auto road, 0.8km of
sidewalk and building of parking areas for 500 cars will be done, ahead of the
Naadam Festival (July 11), said the contractor.
During this
year’s festival, rail buses will be on route to the horse-racing area to have a
last station in 2.3km distance from it, which will be paved with a temporary
macadam road of broken stones. Five so-called "City Cars",
Mongolia-made eco buses will serve festival goers, accompanying the rail buses
in public transport.
The Naadam
complex will be used not only for the festival, but also for winter sport
events.
Annexe of Third Thermal Power Station Put into Use
Ulaanbaatar,
June 16 (MONTSAME) The Prime Minister N.Altankhuyag attended Monday an opening
ceremony of the annexe of the city’s Third Thermal Power Station, while running
a weekly "Hours of great construction" meeting.
The annexe with
its 50 Megawatt is the largest work been done in the last 25 years in the
country’s energy sector. It has been erected by China’s “Human Industrial
Equipment Installation” company under 35 million US dollars from the
"Chingis" bonds revenue, he noted and thanked the company’s officials
and workers for the work.
Setting up the
Ministry of Energy at the cabinet for reforms "gave a big impetus to
raising big investments and to starting the great construction in the
energy sphere, which had been unsuccessful many years, the Minister of Energy
M.Sonompil stressed.
An annexe of
the fourth thermal power station with 120 Megawatt is expected to be put into
use in October this year, the "Amgalan" thermal power station of 300
Megawatt will open this November, Mr Sonompil went on. A construction of the
fifth power station will launch soon, after signing a related deal this month,
moreover, the biggest projects are being realized to erect power stations
in Omnogobi aimag and on the Eg river, he said.
Mongolia to Cooperate with Argentina in Agriculture
Ulaanbaatar,
June 16 (MONTSAME) A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on agricultural
cooperation between Mongolia and Argentina was signed in the Embassy of
Mongolia in Beijing on June 16.
Representing
the governments, Mongolia’s Deputy Minister for Industry and Agriculture
Ts.Tuvaan and Secretary of Political and Institutional Coordination and
Agricultural Emergency of Argentina Javier Leonel Rodriguez inked the document
that aims at joint researches, increased yield of animal products and quality
of exports, introduction of a cattle feeding technology, promoting public and
private partnership in meat cattle farming, and vaccine production.
The MoU was
agreed upon during a visit of a Mongolian working group led by a head of the
Standing Committee on budget Ts.Davaasuren MP to Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay
this March.
Ts.Tuvaan is
attending these days the 20th World Meat Congress, biennial event hosted in
Beijing by the International Meat Secretariat.
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