Mongolia Brief August 13, 2014 Part I



Meteorology and Hydrology Reports
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) The highest precipitation (161.7 mm) was recorded in Bayan-Uul soum, Dornod aimag in July of 2014, the Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology reports.

The highest air temperature (+41.4°C) was recorded in Khanbogd soum, Omnogobi aimag, whereas Bayankhongor aimag’s Bayanbulag soum had the lowest (-4.4°C) in July. The strongest wind of 32.0 m/sec was observed in Bayan-Olgii aimag’s Olgii soum.
For the acceptable level of air quality standards as of July 2014, daily average concentration of nitrogen dioxide exceeded 24 times around the West crossroad, five times around the 13th micro district, four times around the 32nd Circle, two times around the 1st micro district.
The particulate matter less than 10 micrograms exceeded 17 times around the West crossroad, nine times around the Kharkhorin market, and eight times around the 32nd Circle from the maximum allowable concentration of air quality standard in July.

Second UB Food Festival to Take Place This Weekend
August 13 (infomongolia.com) Welcoming the 375th anniversary of the capital city of Mongolia and in the frameworks of “Friendly Ulaanbaatar” program, the Authority of Culture of Ulaanbaatar City is organizing the UB Food Festival for the consecutive second year at Viva City Residence (on the road to Airport) on August 16-17, 2014.
In this year’s festival over 40 chefs from best restaurants and houses in UB are claimed to participate that aim to introduce and share the culture of domestic and foreign dishes. Also, as customary, taste sales for 1,000-3,000 MNT, cooking performances, bartender’s show, and many more events are awaiting at the 2014 UB Food Festival.
Moreover, 5x1 meter size cake will be shared to festival goers for free taste and Khan Garuda, a symbol of the capital city, will be decorated on this big cake.
Related:
'UB Food Festival' takes placenews.mn, August 13

Nation's largest pharmaceutical chain forced to close temporally
August 13 (news.mn) Sixteen infants who were poisoned by excessive doses of Phenobarbital distributed at a Monos branch in Ulaanbaatar were taken to the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH).
The Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection (AFCCP) forced the Monos pharmaceutical chain to close temporally, as the medicine sold at the branches was not registered in the national drug registry.
All 20 branches of Monos will be closed today according to a decision made by the Authority for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection.
A task force sent by the AFCCP will determine how much Phenobarbital has been sold to customers, and will then remove the medicine from the pharmacies.
Phenobarbital is given for the treatment of infant seizures. Excessive doses can cause serious pneumonia, dangerously high blood pressure, and kidney failure.

Calls for irregular session meeting
August 13 (news.mn) MPs M.Zorigt and S.Demberel have called for an irregular plenary session meeting of parliament today, August 13th.
The parliamentarians stressed in their call that, “The nation slips into a flagging economy and critical living conditions as Mongolia’s tugrik sinks against the dollar and a high inflation rate. During such critical conditions, it is inappropriate for parliament to be on holiday. Mongolia's GDP growth is 5.3 percent according to the statistic indicators in the first half of 2014, showing that it is time for parliament and the Government to work responsibly over the next months. Civilians are waiting for parliament to start the Autumn session as soon as possible to discuss necessary laws and regulations, and to make clear political and economic decisions.”

Oyu Tolgoi Recorded Net Revenue of 436.0 Million USD in Second Quarter of 2014
August 13 (infomongolia.com) On August 12, 2014, Turquoise Hill Resources announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Oyu Tolgoi had an All Injury Frequency Rate of 0.51 per 200,000 hours worked and no fatalities for the first half of 2014.
- Oyu Tolgoi recorded net revenue of $436.0 million in Q2’14 on sales of approximately 202,500 tonnes of copper-gold concentrate.
- Q2’14 concentrate sales increased approximately 320% over Q1’14 and exceeded production resulting in an inventory drawdown for the quarter.
- In Q2’14, Oyu Tolgoi had its strongest quarterly performance since production began in 2013 with 140,000 tonnes of copper-gold concentrate produced containing 36,200 tonnes of copper.
- Concentrate sales, which are expected to be strong throughout the second half of 2014, are scheduled to exceed production through the end of 2014.
- Sales contracts have been signed for 100% of Oyu Tolgoi’s expected 2014 concentrate production and 92% of 2015 planned production; 84% of concentrate production has been contracted for up to eight years.
- Ore grades are expected to increase as the Oyu Tolgoi open pit deepens into a high-grade zone during the second half of 2014.
- Turquoise Hill continues to expect Oyu Tolgoi to produce between 135,000 – 160,000 tonnes of copper and 600,000 - 700,000 ounces of gold in concentrates for 2014.
- Following receipt of a Tax Act from the Mongolian Tax Authority during Q2’14, all parties continue to work together to resolve these issues.
- The feasibility study for the underground is largely complete subject to confirmation of some estimate assumptions.
- All 15 global banks participating in the Oyu Tolgoi project financing agreed to extend their commitment letters to September 30, 2014.
- All parties remain committed to the underground development of Oyu Tolgoi and are working through the outstanding shareholder issues; underground development is subject to resolution of shareholder issues, the finalization and approval of the feasibility study by all shareholders, the agreement of a comprehensive funding plan including project finance and receipt of all relevant permits.
- On July 29, 2014, Turquoise Hill entered into a share purchase agreement with National United Resources Holdings for the sale of a 29.95% stake in SouthGobi.
- Turquoise Hill’s cash position, on a consolidated basis at June 30, 2014, was $201.2 million.
Related:

First Ever Meeting between State Heads of China, Russia and Mongolia Expects to Be Organized in Ulaanbaatar
August 13 (infomongolia.com) Following the participation at the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Mongolian delegates led by Foreign Minister Luvsanvandan BOLD attended in the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum took place on August 10, 2014.
At this Regional Forum, Foreign Ministers and Vice Ministers from 28 states have participated including representatives of Russia, China, United States, EU, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Mongolia.
At the Forum, Foreign Minister L.Bold delivered a speech introducing Mongolia’s policy being adhered towards provision on regional peace and security. Besides, Minister L.Bold pointed out Mongolian President’s initiation on Ulaanbaatar Dialogue, Mongolia’s activity on not spreading nuclear weapon being carried out at international level, and contribution of Mongolian peacekeepers.
During the Forum, Minister L.Bold held official meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation I.V.Morgulov, where parties exchanged views on bilateral and trilateral cooperation. The main topic of the meeting with Ministers of the two neighbors were focused on providing preparations of the upcoming state visit of President of the PR of China, Xi Jinping and working visit of President of the Russian Federation, V.V.Putin to Mongolia.
Moreover, Foreign Minister L.Bold extended Mongolia’s initiation on organizing first ever meeting between the state heads of the three countries in Ulaanbaatar in September 2014, and underlined that the Government of Mongolia pays high attention to bring the upcoming high-level visits’ significance and results at highest level and to increase the impact of the visits to Mongolia’s development.
Besides, Foreign Minister of Mongolia L.Bold held separate meetings with Foreign Ministers of Australia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore and Thailand, and with representatives of 11 countries headed by their Vice Foreign Ministers.
Also, Minister L.Bold met with United States Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union Catherine Ashton respectively and during the meetings, Foreign Minister L.Bold touched upon issues on Mongolia’s priority goals in foreign policy such as to become ASEAN Dialogue Partner country and to join the APEC as a member-economy.

Programme’s Implementation Summarized
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNICEF Tuesday held a meeting to discuss an implementation course of a cooperation programme.
The programme on the cooperation for 2012-2016 was established between the government of Mongolia and the UNICEF in 2011.
Speeches were given at the meeting by Dr Isiye Ndombi, the UNICEF Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific Representative; Mr Muhammad Fall Malick, the UNICEF Permanent Representative to Mongolia; Ms I.Narantuya, a chair of the National Department for Children (NDC); and by Otgonjargal, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Population Development and Social Welfare.
The participants underlined the UNICEF’s significant contributions to protecting the children’s rights, improving their health and education, upgrading the nutrition, water supply, sanitation and hygiene for children, and realizing social policy on children in several phases. They also considered necessities to take some measures.
This meeting was also attended by experts and officials from the Ministry of Population Development and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Science, the NDC, the administrations of Khovsgol aimag and the UB city's Nalaikh district, other related organizations and NGOs.

Foreign Minister Meets Ambassador of Belarus
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) The Foreign Minister L.Bold Wednesday received Mr Stanislav Chepurnoi, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Mongolia.
The parties exchanged views on enriching the Mongolia-Belarus traditional and friendly relations with economic contents, on seeking opportunities to establish joint factories, on refreshing the cooperation in the education, and on boosting the collaboration in roads, transportation and defense spheres. 

Student Soldiers Sworn in
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj addressed a swearing-in ceremony of student-soldiers Wednesday on the Chingis Khaan’s Square.
A "Student-soldier" program launched in April this by a decree of the President and the 40th governmental resolution. More than 400 students from 42 universities and institutes were involved in the first group of the programme, learning military lessons of 96 hours or two credit hours, doing physical exercises, studying nine subjects for 560 hours on the field in the #119 military unit.
The student soldiers were addressed by the President. After him speeches were given by D.Bat-Erdene MP and the Minister of Defense, and a representative of the students soldiers Ch.Bayarbileg, a first grade student of the Mongolian University of Science and Technology.
Present at the ceremony were also P.Tsagaan, the head of the Presidential Office; a Major-General Z.Boldbaatar, the State Secretary of the Defense Ministry; Lieutenant-General Ts.Byambajav, a head of the General Headquarters of Mongolian Armed Forces (GHMAF); Kh.Batsaikhan, a president of the Union of Mongolian Students; authorities of the Ministry and the GHMAF; and family members of the students.

Nat’l Gross Domestic Product Rises
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) The National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by production approach reached MNT 9,856.9 billion at the current price, and MNT 6,634.8 billion at the 2010 constant price in the first half of this year.
It shows an increase of 14.6% at the current price, or 5.3% at the constant price against the previous year.
The GDP by expenditure approach reached MNT 9,429.7 billion at the current price, and MNT 6,730.7 billion at the 2010 constant price in the first half of 2014. It reflects an increase of 11.1% at the current price and of 5.1% at the constant price against 2013. 

Disasters and Accidents
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) In the first seven months of this year, two thous.787 disasters and accidents occurred. They claimed lives of more than 100 people and 13 thous.390 heads of livestock and animals, and 3,454 heads of livestock died due to foot-and-mouth disease.
Of these disasters/accidents, 2,441 were construction fires, 107--forest fires, 106--cases of rabies of domestic animals, 29--floods and river and lake accidents, 24--earthquakes of 3.5-magnitude, and 23-- floods.
An estimated damage caused by the construction fires amounted to 7.4 billion Togrog, by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome--1.5 billion, by heavy rains and floods--755.4 million, by severe storms--135.0 million Togrog. Some 448.2 million was spent for eliminating consequences of these disasters/accidents.
Some 40 people died at the construction fires, 89--by drowning in rivers and lakes, in artisanal mining and rock falls.
The number of the natural disasters/accidents declined by 109 cases against the previous year.

Crimes in Statistics
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, August 13 (MONTSAME) At the national level, 15 thousand 628 crimes were reported in the first seven months of this year, reflecting an increase of 812 crimes or 5.5% against the previous year.
This increase was largely attributable to the rises in crimes such as against the right of ownership (445) and infliction of a bodily injury (474) against the previous year.
Due to these crimes, 5,993 people were injured, 623 died. The number of the injured increased 795 or 15.3%, the number of the killed went up by nine people or 1.5% against the previous year.

The most beautiful word is 'Mother'
August 13 (news.mn) The Linguistic Fun Facebook page conducted a poll among its group members to choose “The most beautiful word in the Mongolian language.”  The result was amazing. The poll was shared and viewed hundreds of times.
The Linguistic Fun Facebook page administrators considered the meaning the of the most beautiful word, not just the way it is spoken or how it sounds. They specified it should not be a proper noun.
After 290 members and Facebook users voted, 403 words were nominated for the most beautiful word in the Mongolian language. The Linguistic Fun Facebook page shared the top 25 most beautiful words in the Mongolian language. The full list is posted on the Linguistic Fun Facebook page.  According to the results of the poll among Mongolian speakers, family members names like "mother", "father", "descendant", "spouse", and "wife" in their respective ways of being spoken were named in the top 70 places. Most Mongolian speakers also chose the word "motherland" and "home country" as the most beautiful words.
Here are the top 25 most beautiful words in the Mongolian language.
Mother, mom, mummy
Love
Father, dad
Sky
Family
Motherland
World
Home country
Beauty
Lullaby
Descendant
Universe
Space
Spouse
Melody
Mom
Divine
Glow
Holiness
Wife
Faith
Spirit
Beautiful
Distinct
My
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