Mongolia Brief October 15, 2014 Part I



President of Mongolia Starts Official Visit to Austria
October 15 (infomongolia.com) On October 14, 2014, the President of Mongolia Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ and accompanying delegation arrived in Vienna, the Republic of Austria for a two-day official visit.

President Ts.Elbegdorj was officially welcomed by Heinz Fischer, the Federal President of Austria at the Innerer Burghof Square of the Hofburg Palace. Chief of Staff of the Office of the Federal President of Austria Politzer Helmut, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Economy, Science, Family and Youth Reinhold Mitterlehner and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Austria to Mongolia Ms. Irene Giner-Reichl were present at the welcoming ceremony.
After posing for photo, President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj and the Federal President of Austria Heinz Fischer held a bilateral meeting.
During the two-day visit to Austria, President Ts.Elbegdorj is scheduled meet with the President of the National Council of Austria Ms. Doris Bures, visit the United Nations Office in Vienna and open Mongolia-Austria Business Forum.
It is expected that the official visit of the President Elbegdorj will play pivotal role in enhancing bilateral relations between Mongolia and Austria, particularly, in expanding economic, trade, investment cooperation and intensifying mutual partnership within the international organizations.
Related:
President's Visit Starts to AustriaMontsame, October 15

President Elbegdorj Speaks at Mongolia-Austria Business Forum
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) In frames of his official visit to Austria, the leader of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj and his counterpart of Austria Mr Heinz Fischer addressed the Mongolia-Austria business communities at a bilateral business forum on Tuesday in Vienna.
The Austrian leader noted that 51 years since the established of diplomatic relations between Austria and Mongolia, "and in these years we strived to actively develop bilateral relations and cooperation in culture, arts, tourism, and expanded a scope of our relations onto other economic sectors".
"This morning, my honorable guest President Elbegdorj and I exchanged views on an array of other wonderful opportunities to further develop and expand the horizon of our bilateral relations to encompass new and wider frontiers. Austria will support the rapidly growing Mongolian economy with financial assistant, increase our investment in Mongolia, particularly in the small- and medium-sized enterprises development. Both Austria and Mongolia are land-locked countries. Therefore, we shall support each other in our efforts to turn this common geographic feature into our advantage.
"Mongolia is one of the countries with the most influential and active engagement in securing stability and promoting cooperation in North-East Asia and the South-Eastern region of Asia. I am glad that Mongolia will take an active participation in ASEM Summit to take place this week in Milan, Italy.
"Last year, the volume of Austrian investment in Mongolia’s economy accounted for over a million USD. We do have the potentials to increase the size of investments. And the Forum we are holding today, will, I am sure, boost our economic relations and mark a strong impetus to extended economic engagement."
In turn, the President Mr Elbegdorj, at the onset of his remarks, thanked his Austrian counterpart for inviting him to Austria and for warm hospitality and wonderful hosting. He also thanked the leaders and a president of the Austrian Economic Chamber for their active role in expanding economic cooperation between the two countries. "The Austrian Economic Chamber organized a series of business meetings in Ulaanbaatar in the past two years. I share Mr Fischer's confidence that this Forum will elevate the scope and magnitude of our economic cooperation," he said.
"I wish to highlight that our two countries have many similarities and common features. At a time in history Mongols founded a Great Empire, and Austria founded a Great Empire too. Mongolia has created a great cultural heritage, and so did Austria. There are many countries in the world, but not many of them had such destinies. In the 13-14th centuries, Mongols initiated the first free trade route connecting Asia and Europe and established a cross-continent silk road. We established and enforced the fairest and just law.
"Did you know that the grandson of Chinggis Khaan, having established the Golden State, reached Austrian Vienna as near as only 40 kilometers to it? Today, having flown only 8 hours, we reached Vienna and are participating and addressing a business forum. Not many people in Europe know that Mongolia was the first country in Asia to break away from communism in 1990 and ignited democracy in Asia.
"Mongolia, located between Russia and China, is a role-model for a most successful democracy in not only Asia, but the entire world. A liberal system has been established in Mongolia’s politics and economy. I can assure any investor, any businessman that the political system of Mongolia is stable. In terms of its geographic location, Mongolia is a remarkable country. We have a population of 3 million people, a territory of 1.5 million square kilometers, and a 60-million head herd of livestock. It is therefore, the most prominent country for tourism. If you wish to travel in Gobi, Mongolia has Gobi; if you want to see mountains, we have magnificent mountains. If you wish to see unbounded steppe, you can travel in Mongolia’s spacious steppes. In order to promote tourism, we allow for a 30-day visa-free travel to Mongolia for citizens of many European and Asian countries. So do come to Mongolia, I an inviting you, for business, for cooperation, for friendship," Mr Elbegdorj said.

Government Allowed to Sign Mongolia-Russia Intergovernmental Agreements
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) The parliamentary Standing committee on security and foreign policy ran afternoon session on Tuesday and considered draft amendments to two important documents.
They were the Mongolia-Russia intergovernmental agreements on activities of the Mongolia-Russia joint Erdenet Mining Corporation and of the Mongolia-Russian joint "MongolRosTsvetmet" venture, presented by the government.
The draft offer new arrangements such as changes in a shareholder from Russian side, and regulations on accumulating the dividends from the companies' activities. In specific, the amendments, offered to these agreements--international by their character and made in July 1 of 2003 and in April 25 of 2007--say about withdrawing the rights of accumulation of Russia’s share from a Ministry of state property to the Federal Government or accredited by it representative.
The drafts were introduced by the Minister of Industry and Agriculture Sh.Tuvdendorj MP. The gathered asked him some questions and voted by majority for permitting our government to sign and approve these drafts.

First Deputy Speaker of Austrian Parliament Call on Mongolian President
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) The leader of Mongolia on Wednesday received Karlheinz Kopf, the First Deputy Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, National Council of Austria.
Mr Kopf noted that Mongolia and Austria share many commonalities, and that ten years have passed since the head of state of Mongolia had paid a state visit to Austria, and said Mongolia has been developing rapidly for the last 25 years, "and Austria is very interested in Mongolia’s peaceful democratic transition with Your participation, after 70 years of communist regime".
In response, the Mongolian President noted that parliamentary groups play an important role in bilateral relations and cooperation, "a Mongolia-Austria parliamentary group has been formed, which has been very active, and I hope that the National Council of Austria will also establish a parliamentary group to advance our cooperation".
He went on that the two parliamentary groups would be able to exchange information, administer state visits and engage in important platforms of extended bilateral relations. "There is a great potential to further boost the Mongolia-Austria’s cooperation in trade and economic sectors," he stressed. 

Draft Resolution Submitted on Discharging and Appointing Ministers
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) Head of the Cabinet Secretariat for Government Ch.Saikhanbileg Wednesday submitted to the Speaker Z.Enkhbold a draft resolution of parliament on discharging and appointing members of the cabinet.
By the resolution, D.Zorigt MP has been suggested as the Minister of Finance; L.Purevsuren--as the Minister of Foreign Relations and Economic Cooperation; and R.Jigjid--as the Minister of Mining and Energy. In view of this, the resolution proposes free Ch.Ulaan from the post of Minister of Finance; L.Bold--of Minister of Foreign Affairs; Ts.Bayarsaikhan--of Minister of Construction and Urban Development; A.Gansukh--of Minister of Road and Transportation; D.Gankhuyag--of Minister of Mining; N.Batbayar--of Minister of Economic Development; and M.Sonompil--of Minister of Energy.

Government Rep Addresses Empowerment of Women
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) The Government representative to the 69th session of the UNGA and a consultant at the Department for Internetional Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia O.Enkhtsetseg addressed the advancement and empowerment of women at the Third Committee 10th meeting on October 14.
She emphasized an importance of reflecting gender-sensitive objectives into the development goals beyond 2015. She also stressed that it is still necessary to make more efforts, although the employments of global women and their involvement in decision-making has been improving for the twenty years after adopting the Beijing Declaration on Empowering Women and Gender Equality, and its plan of action.
The Government representative presented an introduction of the “The National Programme on Gender Equality” adopted by the Government of Mongolia in order to protect women rights, eliminate violence against girls and women, and to increase a number of women in decision-making positions. She also stressed the decrease in the infant mortality thanks to the implementations of state policies on Human Development, the National Programme on Reproductive Health III, and of the Programme on mother and children mortality decrease. 

Speaker Meets JCI Delegation
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) The Speaker of parliament Z.Enkhbold Wednesday received a delegation headed by Mr Shine Bhaskaran, a president of the Junior Chamber International (JCI).
A JCI president for Mongolia S.Sainbat thanked the Speaker for the audience and said the JCI Asia-Pacific regional meeting has been planned in 2017 in Ulaanbaatar and that the JCI wants to get a support from the top legislator.
In response, the Speaker Enkhbold wished the JCI successes ans said state organizations are ready to help the JCI branch in Mongolia in organizing the above meeting. He also noted that three MPs, who are serving as the JCI senators, may back this meeting too, and requested Mr Bhaskaran to pay more attention to the organization of this meeting. To this Mr Bhaskaran thanked for receiving and spoke about the JCI. Founded in 1944 in Mexico, the JCI is a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young people of 18-40 years. It has members in 80 countries. It has consultative status with the Council of Europe, with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and with UNESCO. It encourages young people to become responsible citizens and to participate in efforts towards social and economic development, and international co-operation, good-will and understanding. The NGO publishes JCI World, a quarterly magazine, in six languages. It holds an annual conference, the JCI World Congress, in November of each year, and regional annual meetings, the JCI Area Conferences.
The JCI opened its branch in Mongolia in 1992, Mongolia became an official member of the JCI during the 1995 JCI Congress in Glasgow, the United Kingdom. The JCI Mongolia has 12 branches, 600 members and 120 senators.  

Minister Attends WHO Regional Committee Meeting
By B. Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar, October 15 (MONTSAME) Mongolia's delegation is at the 65th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Western Pacific.
It began October 13 in Manila, the Philippines. The delegation, led by the Minister of health N.Udval, is expressing Mongolia's positions.
The session was addressed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines Benigno Aquino III and executive director of Director-General’s Office of the WHO Dr. Ian Smith. The Regional director of the WHO for Western Pacific Dr. Shin Yoong Soo reminded in his opening speech that the region is rich with experiences on successful responsive and preventive measures against the epidemic diseases as SARS, and on earlier diagnosis of those viruses as it has always been an active zone of outbreaks of such diseases, however, the persistent spread of Ebola virus has put expedience of more alert and readiness before the member countries of this regional committee.
On the first day of the meeting, N.Udval held meetings with Doctors Shin Yoong Soo and Ian Smith and informed them about the Government's programs and measures aimed at solving social problems such as alcoholism, and about the upcoming Conference on hazardous use of Alcohol in Ulaanbaatar in June of 2015. She also invited the WHO Director-General Dr.Margaret Chan, Regional director Dr. Shin Yoong Soo, and other experts and scholars to this event.
The Minister also gave speech on October 14 at a debate of the report on Program realization,  and expressed her appreciation for the Regional Committee for the distribution of fundings based on the needs and observance of the objectives in frames of programs.
She has also expressed a willingness to cooperate with the Committee on strengthening a capacity of the “Immediate administration center” established in support of the WHO, and on realizing Mongolia’s “scarlet-fever-less” status in the future, and requested support from the WHO on these actions.

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