Mongolia Brief November 21, 2014
Parliament
Ratifies Nomination for Prime Minister of Mongolia as Chimed Saikhanbileg
November 21 (infomongolia.com)
Despite of unsuccessful negotiation with its opposition political force (MPP),
the Democratic Party continues to promote a winning-candidate Ch.Saikhanbileg
for the Prime Minister of Mongolia.
According to
order of revisions, the nominee’s issue was discussed at the State Structure’s
Standing Committee of the State Great Khural (Parliament) yesterday, where
attended 10 members unanimously agreed to forward for the next level of
discussion.
The next and
final discussion was held at the plenary session of the Parliament today on
November 21, 2014. The session was announced to begin at 09:00 am with
participation of the President of Mongolia, but delayed due to insufficient
number of attendees, where all 26 Parliamentarians representing the MPP
(Mongolian People’s Party) did not participate and finally began at 10:30 am
with 44 members of Parliament out of total 76.
The session
started with Standing Committee’s resolution introduced by its Chairman A.Bakei
followed by answer-question procedures.
Consequently,
42 members out of 44 attended Parliamentarians agreed with 95.5% of votes to
elect Ch.Saikhanbileg as the next 28th Prime Minister of Mongolia succeeding MP
N.Altankhuyag.
Incumbent
Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia, Mr. Chimed
SAIKHANBILEG was born in Sumber Sum of Dornod Aimag in 1969.
Educational
background
1986 -
Secondary school No.45, Ulaanbaatar city
1991 - History
teacher, University of Humanities of Moscow, Russia
1995 - Lawyer,
School of Law, National University of Mongolia
2002 - Master
Degree, George Washington University, USA
Working
experience
1991 - Officer,
Mongolian Youth Federation
1991-1997 -
Secretary, Mongolian Youth Federation, Chair of the Ulaanbaatar city branch
1996-2000 -
Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia
1997-2002 -
President, Mongolian Youth Federation
1998-1999 -
Member of the Cabinet and Minister for Enlightenment
2002-2004 -
Director of E&T Law firm
2004-2008 -
Chief, Information, Communication and Technology Agency
2004 -
Spokesperson, Government of Mongolia
2008-2012 -
Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament) of Mongolia, Chairman of
Democratic Party Group
2012-present -
Member of the State Great Kural (Parliament) of Mongolia
2012-2014 -
Member of Cabinet and Chief of the Cabinet Secretariat
November 21,
2014-present - The 28th Prime Minister of Mongolia
Related:
Ch.Saikhanbileg
Becomes Prime Minister – Montsame,
November 21
Ch.Saikhanbileg becomes PM
– news.mn, November 21
MP
Ch.Saikhanbileg appointed as Prime Minister of Mongolia – business-mongolia.com, November 21
AF
Co-Hosts Second Annual Mongolian National Conference
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) The Office of the President of Mongolia and the Asia
Foundation (AF) have co-hosted the second annual national workshop of the
Fostering Civic Engagement at the Sub-national Level (FOCE) project funded by
the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Held Thursday
in the President’s Citizen Hall at the State House, the workshop brought
together about 90 national and local government actors, civil society
stakeholders, and local citizens from the FOCE pilot sites in 17 soums.
Discussions focused on sharing experiences to increase citizen participation at
the local level.
An advisor to
the President of Mongolia for Economic Policy and Citizens Engagement Mr
Dashdorj Luvsandash noted: “given the passage of the 2015 State Budget by
Parliament last week, this conference is timely to ensure that planning for the
prioritization of local development funds include considerable input from
citizens.”
The goal of the
program is to increase the transparency and accountability of local
governments, and contribute to more responsive local government policy-making
and service provision for citizens, supporting the President’s agenda for
direct democracy and fiscal decentralization. Local governments are being
supported to increase civic participation in decision-making through small
grants and technical assistance. This has helped establish fully-equipped
Citizen Halls in all sites and supported a regular agenda of public
consultations. On the citizen side, training and support has been provided so
that citizens better understand the role and responsibility of local
government, how to advocate for their interests, and how to demand better
services.
The national
workshop will allow stakeholders to share experiences and learning on
participatory practices in the Mongolian context. Representatives from the
pilot sites shared their own experiences on social accountability and the use
of citizens score card measurement processes, how to effectively
disseminate information to citizens living in remote locations, addressing
issues of women’s under representation in local authorities, and strategies to
reach underserved communities including the youth, persons with disabilities
and unemployed.
Newly
Elected Prime Minister of Mongolia Ch.Saikhanbileg Accredited by President
November 21 (infomongolia.com)
On November 21, 2014, the Parliament of Mongolia ratified the 28th Prime
Minister as Chimed SAIKHANBILEG following the two-week absence of Cabinet
leadership used to chair by ousted former Premier N.Altankhuyag.
Accordingly,
the President Ts.Elbegdorj handed over the Government Stamp to newly elected
Prime Minister of Mongolia Ch.Saikhanbileg in the State Ceremonial Ger Palace.
President
Ts.Elbegdorj congratulated the newly accredited Prime Minister and noted, “I
wish you the newly elected Prime Minister of Mongolia Ch.Saikhanbileg success
in your further works. I believe that you will intensively work in harmony with
others to address the most pressing issues of the country, respecting the rule
of law, accountability and ethics. Good luck”.
At the
ceremony, Speaker of the State Great Khural (Parliament) Z.Enkhbold, Deputy
Prime Minister D.Terbishdagva and some Members of Parliament were also present
and extended their congratulations to the 28th Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg.
During the ratification
at the plenary session of Parliament held today, the opposition force
(Mongolian People’s Party) did not attend the meeting and following the
approval, they made an official statement citing that if the elected Premier
Ch.Saikhanbileg adheres a correct policy, the MPP would support him, otherwise
to raise an issue of responsibility. Moreover, MPP claimed not to join the
newly to form Cabinet.
According to
law, the newly elected Prime Minister shall to form his Cabinet within 14 days.
Related:
Ch.Saikhanbileg
Receives PM’s Seal – Montsame,
November 21
World
Champion B.Ariun-Erdene Nominated for Athlete’s Commission
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) A world champion for sambo wrestling B.Ariun-Erdene was
nominated for a membership of the Athlete’s Commission of the International
Sambo Federation (FIAS) at the 26th FIAS Congress ran Thursday in Narita,
Japan.
Together with
him, people from Venezuela, Tunisia, France, Serbia and Slovakia were nominated
for the commission’s membership.
The FIAS
Congress brought together representatives of 72 countries, and Mongolia was
represented at the event by a delegation led by D.Gerel, the president of the
Mongolia’s Sambo Wrestling Federation (MSWF). The participants heard a report
on the FIAS works done in 2014 and discussed some alterations of the rules of
sambo. Moreover, a decision was made to organize the 2015 Sambo World
Championships in Morocco.
Second
Bronze Medal Won at Qingdao Grand Prix
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) The Mongolian judoka won a bronze medal in men’s 81 kg
category at Qingdao Grand Prix on November 20, a day two of this grand judo
tournament.
O.Uuganbaatar
satisfied this medal claiming a clear victory over the bout with his Mongolian
rival N.Dagvasuren. The same day, another two Mongolians competed in the
category of men 73 kg. B.Khishigbayar was left to be challenged for medals.
However, he was defeated in the bout for bronze medal by the Chinese opponent
Song Xu Ai.
By the third
day of the Grand Prix, our national team has two bronze medals. Mongolians will
be competing in bouts of weight categories 90kg; -100kg; +100kg and -78kg on
November 21.
“Golden
Voices Of Mongolia” Gala Concert Successfully Staged in Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow
November 21
(infomongolia.com) On November 20, 2014, a troupe of Mongolian State Academic
Theatre of Opera and Ballet (SATOB) performed a "Golden Voices of
Mongolia" gala concert on the stage of Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, the
Russian Federation.
Mongolian
soloists comprised of Merit Artists E.Amartuvshin (baritone), B.Erdenetuya (soprano)
and U.Uyanga (soprano), Frontier Cultural Servants E.Ankhbayar (baritone) and
R.Dorjkhorloo (mezzo-soprano), and singers B.Gombo-Ochir (tenor), J.Byambajav
(bass) and B.Batjargal (tenor) have performed the best of classical pieces such
as “The Queen of Spades” opera by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, "La Traviata", "Rigoletto"
and "The Troubadour" operas by Giuseppe Verdi, and the "The
Magic Flute" opera by Amadeus Mozart.
The concert was
opened by Chief of Staff of the President of Mongolia P.Tsagaan and in his
remarks noted, “I would like to extend my profound gratitude to the Ministry of
Culture, Sports and Tourism of Mongolia, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian
Federation, the Bolshoi Theatre as well as the SATOB for initiating and
organizing the ‘Golden Voices of Mongolia’ concert. In order to acquire the
European new classical art into Mongolia, I have to recall then Soviet Union’s
contribution was great, because legendary artists and great educators like
Sergei Yakovlevich Lemeshev, Ye.I.Sheveleva and L.E.Krasnopolskaya were the
first opera teachers in Mongolia. It is my pleasure to underline that the
entire generation of Mongolian music composers, artists, play composers,
classical dance choreographers, musicians, and dancers of theater and ballet
were trained by Russian art masters”.
Related:
Chief
of President’s Office Addresses "Golden Voices of Mongolia" – Montsame, November 21
Ch.Saikhanbileg
receives 100 percent of the vote
November 21
(news.mn) Thursday's Standing Committee meeting on State Structure accepted the
nomination of Ch.Saikhanbileg for PM and with 100 percent of the vote and will
submit their approval to Parliament.
The plenary
session meeting of parliament is now reviewing whether or not to accept
candidate Ch.Saikhanbileg for the 28th PM of Mongolia. President of
Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj, who supported the DP nomination for PM, is now
attending the plenary session meeting of parliament and presenting a brief
introduction of the candidate to Members of Parliament.
Baganuur
District's city status considered
November 21
(news.mn) Developing Baganuur District, located 135 km from Ulaanbaatar, as a
satellite city of the capital was proposed for Ulaanbaatar's image development
plan through 2020 and the general plan for development of Ulaanbaatar through
2030.
The Capital
City Mayor's Office formulated the project proposal “Key Regulations for the
City” for Baganuur, to help it gain city status, and decided to discuss it with
the involvement of voter approval.
A public forum
on the Key Regulations for the City” was organized in Baganuur District to hear
public opinion on the proposals.
The public
forum was attended by Governor of the Capital City and Mayor of Ulaanbaatar
E.Bat-Uul, Chair of the Governor's Office Yo.Gerelchuluun, Governor of Baganuur
District B.Byambadorj, and citizen representatives introducing the plan for
public consideration.
Mayor E.Bat-Uul
noted during the forum, “As the plan is passed, it will help relieve population
pressure in the capital, to ease independent development through and
through."
He appealed to
Baganuur District residents, "You have a great opportunity. In order
to gain city status and development into a city, the district should have its
key regulations for a city first.”
Related:
Baganuur to become an independent
city – UB Post, November 23
Mongolia's
average annual alcohol consumption at 50 liter per person
November 21
(news.mn) Excessive consumption of alcohol is a common risk factor in the
rising death toll among men between the ages of 15 to 59 worldwide.
Worldwide, 3.3
million deaths are linked to alcohol per year. Nearly 7.6 percent of men, and 4
percent of women die from alcohol related causes.
According to a
report by the national Alcohol-Free Mongolia network, 39.7 percent of men
and 15.15 percent of women in Mongolia have excessive drinking habits.
There are 106
business that have been granted permission to manufacture alcoholic beverages
in Mongolia, including 11 companies producing alcohol, 66 companies
specializing in vodka, 10 making wine, and 19 companies producing beer.
The number of
the nation's alcoholic beverage manufacturers is three times less than the
number of manufacturers in 2004. But the volume of alcoholic beverages produced
is still excessive. In the past five years, Mongolia has imported 75.6
million liters of alcoholic beverages from foreign countries for the domestic
market.
There is boom
in alcohol sale aside from alcoholic beverage manufacturing and import.
In Ulaanbaatar
alone, it is estimated that there are 4,034 restaurants, 579 cafes, 568 karaoke
venues, and 941 pubs with permits to sell alcoholic beverages. The average
Mongolian consumption of "pure alcohol" is 50 liters per person each
year, while the city has 6,000 places serving alcoholic beverages.
Worldwide,
adults consume an annual average of 10 liters of alcohol from beer, wine
and spirits.
Opposition
refuses to work with the new government
November 21
(news.mn) The opposition MPP caucus members failed to attend today's plenary
session meeting of Parliament voting on the nomination of Ch.Saikhanbileg for
PM.
The MPP previously
announced that the MPP would not support Ch.Saikhanbileg for PM, as he worked
towards the ousting of the reform government as head of the Cabinet Secretariat
for Government, and would not attend the plenary session meeting.
MPP caucus head
S.Byambatsogt held a press conference after Ch.Saikhanbileg was approved as
28th PM of Mongolia by parliament.
S.Byambatsogt
said, “The DP should take responsibility, as it nominated the Head of the
Cabinet Secretariat for Government under the former government for PM.”
The MPP caucus
head also noted that the MPP would not work with the new government.
He added, “If
Ch.Saikhanbileg carries proper policy, we will support him. If not, we will
call the government to accountability.”
The MPP caucus
head emphasized at the end of the press conference, “The DP accepted that the
country is facing a real economic downturn, as the MPP warned of numerous
times.”
National
Pride Day Mongolia celebrations this weekend
November 21
(news.mn) This year, Chinggis Khaan's 852nd birthday, also known as
National Pride Day Mongolia, occurs on November 23rd, day 1 of the first month
of winter.
On the occasion
of National Pride Day, researchers and scholars will be giving lectures on “Key
to the Success of Mongols in the Middle Ages” at the National University of
Mongolia at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, November 21st.
Ceremonies will
be held for the raising of the national flag at Chinggis Khaan Square at 10:00
a.m. and the raising of the White State Banner, the traditional symbol of the
Mongolian State, at 10:40 a.m. on November 23rd.
On Sunday there
will also be a ceremony to present the State's Highest Prize, the Order of
Chinggis Khaan, to world famous scholar and academic Kh.Namsrai, in accordance
with a decree by the President of Mongolia at the Government House, at 11:40
a.m.
Government
officials and the public then will pay respect to the Great Chinggis Khaan`s
monument at Chinggis Khaan Square at 1:00 p.m. that day.
A wrestling
tournament of 128 of the strongest national wrestlers will be held at the
Wrestling Palace on the occasion of National Pride Day at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
Hunnu
Air Returns Two Airbus A319-100s to Lessor
November 21
(infomongolia.com) It was earlier announced that Mongolia’s Hunnu Air suspended
its Ulaanbaatar - Hong Kong flights for an uncertain period; the carrier in
last summer was forced to cancel flights to Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok
with its two Airbus A319-100s due to lack of demand.
So today on
November 21, 2014, CH-Aviation GmbH, Swiss Airline Intelligence Provider,
reports that the Hunnu Air has returned both of its A319-100s to their lessor
following a downturn in Mongolia's air travel market. These jets, having been
delisted from the Mongolian registry, have now been re-registered as N175AG (cn
1750) and N176AG (cn 1706), on the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA)
books.
At present,
Hunnu Air continues to operate three Fokker 50s on domestic as well as regional
services to China’s Erlian (Inner Mongolia), Manzhouli (Inner Mongolia) and
Hailar (Inner Mongolia).
2014
“Chinggis Khaan” Order Conferred to Academician Khavtgai Namsrai
November 21
(infomongolia.com) The 852nd Anniversary of Birth of Chinggis Khaan or the
National Pride Day occurs annually on the first day of winter month by a lunar
calendar and according to Gregorian calendar this year falls on Sunday,
November 23, 2014.
The Pride Day
is commemorated as a public holiday nationwide and celebrations started from
today with ceremonial conferences and meetings as well as events.
Moreover, the
main part of the events is an award ceremony of the “Chinggis Khaan” Order,
supreme state prize of Mongolia, to the most outstanding figure, who
contributes greatly to the development of Mongolia. The 2014 Winner of
“Chinggis Khaan” Order was announced to award the Academician Khavtgai NAMSRAI
under the Presidential Decree.
Events dedicated to the National Pride Day,
November 21-23, 2014
- Lecture
titled “Key to the Mongols’ Success in Medieval Era”, “A” Hall, Building No.2,
National University of Mongolia, 10:30 am, November 21, 2014
- Ceremony of
raising the State Flag, Chinggis Square, 10:00 am, November 23, 2014
- Ceremony of
presenting the “Yesun Khult Tsagaan Tug” (Nine White Banners), Chinggis Square,
10:40 am, November 23, 2014
- Ceremony of
award the “Chinggis Khaan” Order to Aademician Kh.Namsrai, Ceremonial Hall,
Government House, 11:40 am, November 23, 2014
- Tribute to
the Statue of Chinggis Khaan, Government House, 01:00 pm, November 23, 2014
- Traditional
wrestling competition dedicated to the Anniversary, Wrestling Palace, 02:00 pm,
November 23, 2014
Winners of the “Chinggis Khaan” Order
2005 - First
President of Mongolia, Mr. Punsalmaa OCHIRBAT
2006 -
Prominent Composer, Mr. Byambasuren SHARAV
2009 - Former
Prime Minister, Mr. Dash BYAMBASUREN
2010 -
Incumbent Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament), Mr. Radnaasumberel
GONCHIGDORJ
2011 - Second
President of Mongolia, Mr. Natsag BAGABANDI
2012 -
Incumbent Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament), Mr. Damdin DEMBEREL
2013 - Former
Prime Minister, Mr. Dumaa SODNOM
2014 -
Academician Mr. Khavtgai NAMSRAI
Academician
Kh.Namsrai was born in Tsagaankhairkhan Sum of Zavkhan Aimag in 1943. After
graduating from the Lomonosov Moscow State University, he has been working in
the fields of mathematics and physics for 46 years. Kh.Namsrai is the author of
Nonlocal Quantum Field Theory and Stochastic Quantum Mechanics (Fundamental
Theories of Physics) and many other books and scientific works, establishing a
new direction approach in integral and differential calculus".
Deputy
Marshal of Polish Parliament Visits Mongolia
November 21
(infomongolia.com) Delegates from Polish Parliament headed by Deputy Marshal of
the Sejm (Lower Chamber) Jerzy Wenderlich are visiting Mongolia and were
received by the Speaker of State Great Khural (Parliament) Z.Enkhbold on
November 20, 2014.
During the
meeting with Speaker of Parliament, Deputy Marshal Jerzy Wenderlich stated the
Secretariat of Polish Parliament is ready to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation
with Mongolian Parliament and parties negotiated to ink the MoU during the
Speaker’s visit to Poland.
In his speech,
Speaker Z.Enkhbold expressed his support for active collaboration between the
two Secretariats and affirmed that the cooperation in educational, cultural,
defense and political spheres are strengthening and further to bring
partnerships in economic relations in particularly in transportation,
construction, industry, agriculture and mining sectors into newer levels.
On the same
day, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ts.Oyungerel and Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Economic Cooperation D.Gankhuyag have held separate
meetings with the visiting Deputy Marshal of Sejm Jerzy Wenderlich to discuss
issues concerning bilateral relations and cooperation.
Deputy Minister
D.Gankhuyag forwarded a cooperation proposal regarding the upcoming Mongolia’s
chairmanship of Freedom Online Coalition and host of ASEM Summit in Ulaanbaatar
in 2016. The sides also talked about cooperation possibilities within
International Cooperation Fund of Mongolia initiated by President Ts.Elbegdorj
for spreading democracy in developing countries and organizing conferences and
events on pertinent topics in those countries.
Cultural Minister
Ts.Oyungerel expressed her willingness to broaden cooperation in the sector
underlining a long term partnership in movie art and cultural heritage
rehabilitation.
Vice
FM Meets Deputy Marshal of Polish Sejm
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs D.Gankhuyag
Thursday met with visiting Mr Jerzy Wenderlich, a Deputy Marshal of Poland’s
Sejm (lower house of parliament). They exchanged views on a present situation
of the Mongolia-Poland relations and cooperation and further development.
Mongolia will
chair the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) and will host the 2016 ASEM Summit,
noted Mr Gankhuyag and suggested that the Polish side give support to these
actions and cooperate in them.
The parties
also consulted issues of collaborating in delivering ideology of democracy to
the developing nations by providing them with information on the International
Cooperation Foundation (ICF) recently established in Mongolia and co-hosting
meetings and measures through giving information to these countries on
democratic experiences.
Public
Expects Increase in Average Price
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) Consumers’ Confidence Index (CCI) decreased in the third
quarter of 2014 compared to the previous quarter, according to the Q3’2014
Consumer expectations survey report by the researchers of the State University
of Mongolia.
In the period
reported, the CCI was 83.5 percent, the current attitude – 37.8 percent and the
future attitude of consumers were 93.9 percent. The regional surveys of the
report show that the CCI in Khangai region is the highest while the CCI in
western regions is the lowest. All attitudes were higher in Ulaanbaatar than
those of other regions.
Some 70 percent
of the participants expect a price increase in the next six months. Very few of
the participants said they expect a decrease in the average price, and
13.1-14.5 percent of total participants considered the prices will not change
in the next months.
The inflation
rate of 6.5 percent exceeded in Q3’2014 the expectations of the previous
quarters, which stood at 5.3 percent in Q1’2014, and 4.2 percent in Q2’2014.
Police
Dog Service Turns 70 Years
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) The 70th anniversary of the establishment of police-dog
service in Mongolia is being marked on Friday. First division of scenting dogs
was established in 1944 at the General Police Force Department. The division
has been working subsidiary to a former Ministry of Public Security and the
Police Force Department, and expanded into a Center for Dog-trainers and
Police-dogs of the General Police Department.
The service is
currently operating under the control of newly established training center at
the Ministry of Justice. The staffers of the center are facilitated with new
training equipment and instruments on the occasion of this anniversary, which
allow them to conduct activities in accordance with global standards, said a
chief trainer of the dog-service and a police Major Ts.Boldbaatar.
Dog service
staffers and veterans were received at the opening of the anniversary event.
They got au fait with the new equipment and utilities and viewed photographic
exhibition.
A laboratory
for scenting-dogs was also created by the center together with scholars and
professors of the University of Agriculture, said a deputy director of the
center, police Lieutenant-Colonel B.Tsogtbayar. Accroding to him, through
cooperation with police-dog units from 15 aimags and the Customs Department,
the Border Protection Office, the Courtservice Department, the Emergency
Department and the Railways Police Division, the center is developing a new
programme for training of dogs and dog-trainers. "There are some 100
countries that have police-dog services. Mongolia used to train the trainers in
Russia and purchase dogs from Russia of Germany before 1990. Now we are
training the dog-trainers here and intend to breed our own dogs,” he said. Term
of study for dog-trainers is four months and the training for dogs takes around
six months, the trainers added.
Roberto
Benes: Mongolia Has Shown Great Commitment to Children
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) UNICEF is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and is calling for
more greater joint-efforts to be made to promote equity and protect the rights
of all children.
The CRC is a
landmark international treaty setting globally accepted standards for the
promotion and protection of children’s rights. With almost every country in the
world ratifying the CRC, it is one of the most universally ratified conventions
in the world. Mongolia was one of the first states to ratify the Convention 5
July 1990.
UNICEF Mongolia
Representative Roberto Benes said great progress has been achieved on
children’s rights since the CRC was adopted and that Mongolia had shown great
commitment to children. "In Mongolia we have seen great improvements
across the sectors, for example, there has been significant improvements on
child, infant and maternal mortality over the past 25 years, more laws have
been passed to better protect children, there is nearly universal primary
education and corporal punishment was outlawed in schools in 2006," Mr
Benes said.
"At the
same time, there are growing disparities among children, and many of the most
marginalized and disadvantaged children do not have the opportunity to reach
their full potential, for example, all children have the right to an education,
but less than half of primary aged children with disabilities attend
school," he went on.
"If we do
not reach all children, especially the most vulnerable, they will missing out
on life-long benefits and opportunities, such as a better job, social and
economic security and the opportunity to participate in society," Mr Benes
said. "We know disparities are still persisting and we have the capacity
to address this effectively."
Mr Benes also
said for this reason greater investments in children, particularly
disadvantaged and marginalized children, was one way to improve the situation,
as well as a commitment from all actors for better equity for children.
"Investing
in children is critical to eradicating poverty, boosting shared prosperity and
creating a more equitable future," Mr Benes said. "The future of
Mongolia does not only go through its tremendous natural resources, but through
its human capital and the fantastic potential held by Mongolian children
adolescents and youth. UNICEF is calling for increase investment in the new
generation and a firm commitment from authorities towards the most
disadvantaged children who are still unreached."
Mr Benes
concluded that "no child should be left behind and together we can make
this happen", reports UNICEF.
Mongolian
Wrestlers to Fight for Gold Medals at World Championship
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) On the first day of the World Sambo Championship, which
kicked off Friday in Narita of Japan, the Mongolian wrestlers were advanced to
compete in gold medal contests.
International
master of sports D.Tomorkhuleg and L.Otgonbaatar will compete for gold in the
men 68kg and 90kg weight categories, respectively. A State Honored Sportswoman
and World champion for judo M.Urantsetseg will also compete in the gold medal
bout in the 48kg. Other Mongolians Kh.Amartuvshin (men 74kg) and Ts.Naranjargal
(women 72kg) will fight for bronze.
The
competitions will last until Sunday.
3G
Networks Operational between Northern and Southern Borders of Mongolia
November 21
(infomongolia.com) The launching ceremony of establishing 3G telecommunication
networks along the “A” Class auto road between northern and southern borders of
Altanabulag and Zamyn-Uud that stretches up to 1,007 km was held on November
20, 2014.
The 3G networks
are provided by one of four mobile phone operators in Mongolia, the Unitel
Group and ceremony was held at the Khar Modot Davaa in Bayanchandmani Sum of
Tuv Aimag.
The opening
remark was delivered by Chairman of the Information Technology, Post and
Telecommunication Authority of Mongolia Ts.Jadambaa noting, “There were set up
51 stations along the corridor between northern and southern borders. By
accomplishing this large-scale project, not only riders on the road but also
residents of these areas and passengers of train are available to receive the
advanced 3G service provided by Unitel. Furthermore, we aim to cover all
territory of Mongolia with this network in the near future”.
Mongolia
invests in UN Green Climate Fund raising
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) The United Nations Green Climate Fund approached its
goal to raise USD 10 billion for projects to fight global warming, drawing
investment from Mongolia to Mexico in a break with tradition that money comes
only from the industrialized world.
The fund has
received promises totaling USD 9.3 billion to date, German Development Minister
Gerd Mueller told reporters today in Berlin. The GCF confirmed that amount
after earlier saying the pledges totaled USD 9.4 billion.
The funding
brings down a barrier between richer and poorer nations that has hobbled
climate negotiations since 1992, when the UN adopted a principle that
industrialized nations should move first in reining in fossil fuel emissions.
Contributions from Panama and Mongolia added to money from the USA, Germany, Mexico
and South Korea.
“The
contributions from developing countries break the artificial divide between
North and South,” said Abyd Karmali, head of climate finance at BofA Merrill
Lynch, who attended the meeting.
The fund is
meant to channel a portion of the $100 billion a year in climate-related aid
that industrial nations promised in 2009 to bring to developing nations by
2020. That aid helps smooth negotiations among 190 nations about reining in
fossil fuel pollution, a discussion the UN is hoping will produce a global deal
next year that restrains emissions in all nations, reports Bloomberg.
Stock
Exchange news for November 21
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Friday, a total of 9,126
units of 16 JSCs were traded costing MNT 14 million 392 thousand and 020.20.
"Merex”
/5,209 units/, “Genco tour bureau” /1,547 units/, “Remikon” /1,029 units/,
“APU” /468 units/ and "Talkh chikher” /221 units/ were the most actively
traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading value were "Talkh
chikher” (MNT four million 088 thousand and 500), "Bayangol hotel” (MNT
two million and 900 thousand), “Darkhan nekhii” (MNT two million and 823
thousand), “APU” (MNT one million 708 thousand and 208) and "Gobi” (MNT
592 thousand).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 501 billion 766 million 308
thousand and 979. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 14,835.26, decreasing 73.84
units or 0.50% against the previous day.
Stock
exchange weekly
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) Five stock trades were held at Mongolia's Stock Exchange
November 17-21 of 2014. In overall, 175 thousand and 981 shares were sold of 33
joint-stock companies totalling MNT five billion 413 million 305 thousand and
581.20.
"Hermes
center” /82 thousand and 506 units/, "Remikon” /9,480 units/, "Merex”
/6,709 units/, "Hai Bi Oil” /5,954 units/ and "APU” /4,781 units/
were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading
value--"APU” (MNT 17 million 668 thousand and 733), "Hermes center”
(MNT 14 million 768 thousand and 574), "Bayangol hotel” /MNT six million
and 380 thousand/, "Darkhan nekhii” /MNT five million 783 thousand and
200/ and "Talkh chikher” (MNT five million and 439 thousand).
Two
Mongolians topping sumo tournament
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
November 21 (MONTSAME) "Yokozuna"-titled Mongolian wrestlers
"Kakuryu" M.Anand and "Hakuho" M.Davaajargal are leading
the Kyushu basho (November tournament) of the Japanese professional sumo, which
is continuing in Fukuoka city.
They both have
gained 11 wins so far. On the 12th day of the tournament, M.Anand defeated
Ozeki Goeido (Japan), whereas M.Davaajargal beat Ozeki Kisenosato (Japan). They
are being followed by a Georgian "Tochinoshin" Levan Gorgadze, who
has 10 wins.
Another
Mongolian, Yokozuna "Harumafuji" D.Byambadorj gained his ninth win on
the 12th day by defeating Toyonoshima (Japan).
Photo
News: 2014 National Pride Day of Mongolia
November 23
(infomongolia.com) The November 23, 2014 is the first day of first winter month
by a lunar calendar, which is observed as a national public holiday celebrating
the National Pride Day to commemorate the 852nd Anniversary of Birth of Great
Chinggis Khaan.
The official
celebration started with a National Flag Raising Ceremony at 10:00 am, after
which state guards of honors on horseback have performed the Nine White Banners
of Mongol State on Chinggis Square riding clockwise the Monument of D.Sukhbaatar.
The official
celebration continued with awarding the Supreme State Prize - “Chinggis Khaan”
Order bestowed to Academician Khavtgai NAMSRAI under the Presidential Decree.
Winners of the “Chinggis Khaan” Order
2005 - First
President of Mongolia, Mr. Punsalmaa OCHIRBAT
2006 -
Prominent Composer, Mr. Byambasuren SHARAV
2009 - Former
Prime Minister, Mr. Dash BYAMBASUREN
2010 -
Incumbent Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament), Mr. Radnaasumberel
GONCHIGDORJ
2011 - Second
President of Mongolia, Mr. Natsag BAGABANDI
2012 -
Incumbent Member of the State Great Khural (Parliament), Mr. Damdin DEMBEREL
2013 - Former
Prime Minister, Mr. Dumaa SODNOM
2014 -
Academician Mr. Khavtgai NAMSRAI
On the occasion
of the 852nd Anniversary of Birth of Chinggis Khaan, President Ts.Elbegdorj,
Speaker of the Parliament Z.Enkhbold, Prime Minister Ch.Saikhanbileg, “Chinggis
Khaan” Order laureate Kh.Namsrai and other Government officials paid tribute to
the Statue of Chinggis Khaan.
Also,
traditional wrestling competition among top 128 wrestlers is taking place at
Wrestling Palace in Ulaanbaatar.
‘Mounted
Mongolians’ completes a six-month journey across Mongolia
By M. Zoljargal
November 23 (UB
Post) Ulaanbaatar welcomed the return of a team of young men who crossed
Mongolia on horseback to document the daily lives of Mongolian nomads and the
unrelenting persistence of Mongolian horse culture, on Saturday at Khaadiin
Khaan Equestrian Complex near the city.
The team of
five riders set off on their journey on May 9, with 13 horses, ETV cameraman
D.Natsagdoo, and photographer Ch.Ganbold.
They travelled
10,394 kilometers across 88 soums and 15 provinces of Mongolia and returned
home safely last week after their six-month journey. The riders rode 88 horses
over the course of their journey.
Moriton Mongol
Zaluus NGO first initiated the “Mounted Mongolians” project, carried out by the
five students of Mongolian State University, hoping to preserve the equestrian
culture of Mongolians, promote nomadic customs, and improve horse travels.
The project
received approval and financial support from former Prime Minister
N.Altankhuyag.
ETV’s
D.Natsagdoo led the journey and talked about their adventures along the way,
“I’m glad that we didn’t face any major dangers and our horses were all good.
We even crossed untouched places where no one had ever left footprints before.
Border guards helped us a lot and we were proud of them for protecting the
safety of the border.”
He highlighted,
“I hear Mongolians talking about wanting to travel abroad all the time. But I
want to highly recommend that they travel their home country first. Mongolia is
a great country with magnificent history, culture and nature. I feel very proud
to have been born a Mongolian after this journey.”
One of the
riders, T.Davaakhuu, also commented, “We traveled across all types of Mongolian
regions, from Gobi, steppe, to forest area. We met different Mongolian ethnic
groups and witnessed their ways of life. I’m very glad that I have completed
such a journey.”
Fellow rider
N.Ganzorig said, “None of us came down with flu or sore throat even though
there were times we camped in open fields when it was raining. Each one of us
gained five to 10 kg during our travel, which is intriguing. I believe it shows
how the bodies of Mongolians are naturally adjusted to horseback riding.”
Photographer
Ch.Ganbold also said, “We didn’t have proper food for days and got lost on the
steppe. But we never gave up, as it seemed Mongolians will be fine and healthy
as long as there is breathtaking nature, clean air, fresh water and humble
food.
“We even
wrestled in soum Naadams during our travels and won three rounds. But the
hardest part of the travel for us was Mongol Shariin Davaa. Our horses proved
that Mongolian steeds are powerful and patient, and they took us wherever we
wanted.”
The riders were
granted Sports Merit Laureates by Ts.Oyungerel, Minister of Culture, Sport and
Tourism, at a ceremony attended by many other public figures.
Member of
Parliament Kh.Battulga presented 60 million MNT to the riders at the start of
their journey and they expressed how grateful they were at their welcoming
ceremony.
Open
letter to Mongolian political leadership
November 23 (UB
Post) By Julian Dierkes
I am traveling
to Ulaanbaatar from Yangon, Myanmar, just as your ranks are being reconfigured
into a new government. It is encouraging to see another peaceful change of
leadership that responds to the will of parliament, and thus, signals the
solidity of democratic institutions. While Mongolia may well be an example for
Myanmar to consider as it embarks on its democratization, it is other
similarities between the two countries that made me curious about Myanmar.
Some of the
features that the two countries have in common: rich mineral endowments, a
state-socialist past, and a similar geopolitical position wedged between two
regional and global powers. But there are also very significant differences.
Myanmar is a much more populous multi-ethnic and multi-religious society that
is divided by conflict, often armed. While Mongolia’s erstwhile dictators have
transformed themselves into a democratic political party, Myanmar’s military
retains nominal and real power.
Learning just a
little bit about the challenges that Myanmar faces leads me to implore you as
leaders to do right by your fellow Mongolians, and to do your best to
capitalize on opportunities (and the absence of many challenges) that have been
given to you. Put quite simply, and in comparison to Myanmar, achieving a
prosperous, healthy, democratic and stable Mongolia should be so easy!
Consider an issue like relations between communities and mining projects as an example, because the minerals sector is so central to Mongolian and Burmese development.
Consider an issue like relations between communities and mining projects as an example, because the minerals sector is so central to Mongolian and Burmese development.
Myanmar is in
the middle of a very enthusiastic journey toward membership in the Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a status that Mongolia has enjoyed
since 2006. For Myanmar, this means not only collecting data about company
payments to the state from large oil companies that will represent the bulk of
the financial volume of EITI reporting, but attempting to include nearly 2,000
small and medium-sized mining companies from across the country, many if not
most of whom are tightly interwoven with the military and regional militias and
government.
In Mongolia, EITI
reports have been reconciled consistently and have come to include a sample of
400 of the total 1,800 license-holders.
Another aspect:
When conflicts over mining projects between local populations and miners arise
in Myanmar, they are overshadowed by ethnic divisions and violence. No such
violence has existed in Mongolia, which also has not seen a civil war nor a
military that has been involved in civilian or economic affairs since the
democratic transition.
Despite all the
challenges Myanmar is facing, Burmese people seem hopeful that they will be
able to achieve a measure of sustainable and equitable prosperity. A recent
report by the Asian Development Bank (“Myanmar – Unlocking the Potential”)
explicitly modeled different growth trajectories for Myanmar and noted that
growth rates of seven to eight percent per year would bring Myanmar to the per
capita GDP level of today’s Mongolia by 2030!
As would be
clear to any observer, Mongolia enjoys so many advantages over a country like
Myanmar that any degree to which Mongolia fails to achieve its objectives of
economic, political, and social development, should be seen as an embarrassment
by you, its political leadership.
As you are
forming a new government, and because I have come to care very much about the fate
of Mongolia, I implore you to prioritize the development of the nation over
individual, family, business or political party interests. Corruption is a
crime against your fellow citizens and must be rooted out from the top through
impartial prosecution and by setting examples of transparent and evidence-based
policy-making.
The state
bureaucracy has to be reconfigured to allow it to develop the expertise to
administer Mongolian political decisions effectively. The past two years of
wholesale replacements of officials have been disastrous. This disaster is most
evident in policies that have been enacted seemingly without attention to
consequences that such decisions might have. This is most obvious in the
macro-economic and investment sector, where foreign direct investment has been
virtually eliminated by government policies, and where a significant foreign
debt has been taken on with only limited plans for how to use the borrowed
capital productively. Policy analytical capacity has to be built up in the public
service to be able to advise politicians in their difficult decisions. This
expertise and the public service has to be independent and free of corruption.
Most
concretely, the development of and production at Oyu Tolgoi has to be brought
back on track. This project is not only a very large microcosm of Mongolian
development, but it is also of huge significance in providing revenue streams
for funding further capacity development in regulation, education and
vocational training, and infrastructure. It is also a symbol of Mongolia’s
development that is watched much more closely from abroad than any other
project. Persuading Rio Tinto to re-engage in development and production at Oyu
Tolgoi must be one of your first tasks.
You are making
a new start with a different government. Some of the individuals involved have
talked about a professional or even technocratic government, cabinet members
that wear only a single deel, and so on. I sincerely hope that this is not just
talk and that you use the coming months to enact really beneficial policies for
the country, independent of factional politics and an election that will begin
to loom large.
Your decisions
make the difference between a Mongolia in 2030 that will have achieved some of
its potential, and a Mongolia that remains mired in complex webs of corruption
and inequality.
I do wish you and all Mongolians the best of luck in this journey!
I do wish you and all Mongolians the best of luck in this journey!
Radish-like
budget
By D.
Jargalsaikhan
November 23 (UB
Post) Following the recent dismissal of the government, Mongolia came close to
being left without a parliament. The parliament was supposed to be dismissed if
they were not able to ratify the 2015 state budget by November 14.
The state
budget was approved in a panic, at the last minute, after the parliamentarians
– having held their second meeting the day before – combined their third and
fourth meetings on the day of the deadline. The meeting was attended by 45
members of parliament (59 percent of its membership) and the budget was
approved by 38 members (83.9 percent of the vote).
Last year the
state budget was approved in the same way, barely within the deadline, and it
was amended six months later. This time, both the ruling authorities and the opposition
“gave their word” to amend the state budget with the new Prime Minister early
next year. It gives the impression that the state budget will be approved
quarterly rather than annually, and the parliament will spend all their time
discussing the budget.
The parliament
increased 2015 budget expenditure to 7.5 trillion MNT despite the projected
revenue of the 2014 amended budget falling short by one trillion MNT. Yet, it
is amusing that the members of parliament are talking up how they have made
deep cuts to spending. Although they planned to keep the budget deficit at
around two percent of GDP, the current deficit is nearly 10 percent of GDP.
Nevertheless, the parliament is saying that the budget deficit will be 1.81
percent of GDP next year. There is not a small gap, but a huge difference
between what the authorities are saying and what they are actually doing.
The 2015 state
budget, which is for a year when an economic crisis is expected, has been
approved after shallow, dispersed cuts in spending. These cuts in spending can
only scratch the surface, just like a white patch appearing even when the
shallowest cut is made to a red-skinned radish.
The state
budget is a reflection of not only how the economy is doing, but also how
skilled, capable, and enthusiastic the members of parliament are. As the
political parties that form the parliament do not differ greatly in ideology
and have an attitude that is shaped by election goals and terms, a more
populist budget tends to be approved when an election year approaches.
Firstly, a good
assessment should be done on how the state budget was approved and why 2014′s
revenue fell short as much as it did. Afterwards, a careful analysis based on
research should be conducted to determine economic conditions and trends, both
nationally and internationally. Only then can sound principles be applied when
deciding on budget cuts or increases. If the discussion skips all those steps,
discussing spending becomes an impossible task and produces a budget that is
approved in a panic, after working day and night. Our state budget is still
approved in this fashion.
Next year’s
state budget needs to include every possible measure aimed at reacting to the
imminent economic crisis, mitigate the causes of inflation, stop the decline of
the tugrug, and minimize budget deficit.
It has become
an important, timely step that the budget discussions this year focused on
creating accumulation, which would help settle external debt starting in 2017;
and reducing administrative costs by making 345 deputy, vice, and consultant
positions redundant to remove duplication of functions. However, this cut in
spending is not enough. When possible, the public budget should be spent on
procuring goods and services produced in Mongolia. For instance, if government
organizations are to purchase new furniture in their offices, there could be a
requirement that the furniture is made in Mongolia.
In order to cut
the current 14 percent inflation rate in half, the new government will need to
have another look at the factors that are making prices go up.
Although the
number of government employees is not to be raised, their salaries will be
increased, as a total of 380 billion MNT was budgeted for their pay. It will
hit the private sector hard. The inflation rate could grow again as the private
sector tries to keep up with government organizations to increase the salaries
of their employees. In order to stop tugrug decline, we should attract more
foreign investment and refuse the printing of more currency. Accurate price
indicators should be delivered to the market to reduce trade deficits. Monetary
policy should be in alignment with fiscal policy.
The current demand for mortgages is largely coming from lower income residents seeking cheaper apartments. However, construction companies build apartment blocks for people with higher income for greater profit. Trying to deliver the undeliverable promise of keeping the eight percent mortgage program going, construction companies have been building more apartments that are expensive, which has increased imports.
The current demand for mortgages is largely coming from lower income residents seeking cheaper apartments. However, construction companies build apartment blocks for people with higher income for greater profit. Trying to deliver the undeliverable promise of keeping the eight percent mortgage program going, construction companies have been building more apartments that are expensive, which has increased imports.
There are
approximately 35,000 apartments from 217 projects for sale in Ulaanbaatar
today. Apartment sales have shrunk to a level five times lower than last year.
This means that properties worth at least 3.5 billion USD are not in
circulation as unsold properties. If such big loans expire, there will be an
increased amount of bad loans, which could mean that loan collateral would be
sold at lower rates. It could drastically increase risk in the banking sector.
Another market
indicator is price restrictions for consumer products such as fuel, meat,
flour, and rice. The government has been keeping prices from going up by
providing soft loans to suppliers. It does not make consumers, who are
convinced that the prices will not go up, reduce their spending by, for
instance, using public transportation to save money spent on fuel for cars. The
continuous increase in car imports is having negative effects on the balance of
trade. If the government turns state-owned companies into shareholding
companies through the stock exchange and stops restricting the price of
electric power, the market will eventually be regulated by supply and demand.
Laws needs to
be passed to allow social insurance fees to be kept in a dedicated fund and
private pension funds to be established. A certain part of these funds should
also be allowed on the capital market. It is time to stop providing social care
in such a broad-based manner and focus resources on those who really need them.
The approved
budget plan projects that 1.1 trillion MNT, which is 15 percent of budget
revenue, will come from the mining sector. Approximately 324 billion MNT is
expected to come from Oyu Tolgoi’s open cut and underground mining operations.
Therefore, there is a need to speed up this project. Citizens expect the new
government to do a lot of work to reduce budget pressure, increase private
sector involvement in the economy, and improve the efficiency of public
services.
‘Sutra Great Deity Tara’ inscribed in the Asia-Pacific Register of the Memory of the World
By B. Tungalag
November 23 (UB
Post) Secretary-general of the Mongolian National Commission for UNESCO
G.Jargalsaikhan granted an official certificate of the registration of Sutra
Great Deity Tara in UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Register of the Memory of the World
to Minister of Culture, Sport and Tourism Ts.Oyungerel at the Mongolian
National Library on November 19.
Mongolian
cultural heritage Sutra Great Deity Tara’s official inscription took place on
May 2014, during the 6th General Meeting of the Memory of the World Committee
for Asia-Pacific, held from May 13 to 15 in Guangzhou, China.
UNESCO’s Memory
of the World Program is an international initiative launched to safeguard the
documentary heritage of humanity against collective amnesia, neglect, the
ravages of time and climatic conditions, and willful and deliberate
destruction.
The Sutra Great
Deity Tara was a Tibetan sutra of the Green and White Tara written by Mongolian
philologist, a genuine member of the Institute of Sutra and Letters, former
student of religious philosophy school at Gandantegchinlen Monastery in the
early 20th century, S.Shagj (1886-1938).
The unique
creation consists of a total of 8,228 characters included in 62 stanza poems,
250 lines, 5,718 alpha characters and 2,510 verses in Tibetan language.
The Sutra Great
Deity Tara was registered to the List of Unique and Priceless Cultural
Heritages of Mongolia in accordance with the government resolution No.118 in
2002.
D.Chuluunbat:
Not one but several people need to go to Antarctica
November 23 (UB
Post) Head of the Climate Change
Coordination Office of the Ministry of Environment and Green Development and
honored environmental worker D.Chuluunbat has been studying the outermost layer
of Earth’s atmosphere with Russian researchers for a year. He conducted his
work amongst a company of penguins and seals at the icy continent of Antarctica.
In a fascinating interview, D.Chuluunbat
spoke about his journey and work in Antarctica.
In 1982, you
joined the 28th Expedition Team of Russia’s research work on Antarctica and set
foot on the icy continent. Although over 30 years have passed since then, can
you share some of your unforgettable memories?
J.Tserendeleg,
the first Mongolian to set foot on Antarctica, travelled to Antarctica on a
ship, whereas, I flew. This flight is the farthest flight in the world. At the
time, IL-18D airplane was a special plane for flying from Leningrad city
(currently known as Saint Petersburg) to Polar Regions, while passing Africa
and reaching its final destination, Maputo, the capital city of Mozambique. We
waited for a week until the air was safe to fly. Snow storms are frequent in
Antarctica so it’s challenging to land planes. A nine hour flight is necessary
to go to Molodyozhnaya Station in Antarctica. Airplanes land only once every
year after snow and ice are cleaned and a year’s worth of preparation work is
completed.
We arrived in
Antarctica after 30 hours of flight. From some ten km above the ground,
Antarctica’s ice mountains appear as sugar lumps. It felt as if I had come to a
new world when I stepped out onto the plains teeming with so much snow that sky
and ground can’t be differentiated. The people receiving us looked like
penguins in their special outfits.
Is it true it reaches minus 30 degrees
Celsius in the summer?
Antarctica is a
continent at the bottom of the Earth covered in thick layers of heaped frozen
ice that’s been accumulated for thousands of years. It’s relatively warmer near
coasts and colder in the center where it’s covered in 3,000 to 4,000 meter
thick ice. In July 1983, temperature at Vostok station dropped to minus 83.3
degrees Celsius. This is the coldest level reached on earth. In the summer,
temperature is around minus 30 to 40 degrees Celsius. Molodyozhnaya Station,
our situated area, is near the coast and stays warm at minus 10 to 20 degrees
Celsius. Except from sunlight hours, it’s always winter.
When do sunlight hours begin?
From December
22 (June 22 according to Mongolia’s time). Currently, it’s summer in
Antarctica. It’s summer for the whole latitude when the Sunlight hour (season
when the sun doesn’t set) begins. We have to cover windows with black curtains
to sleep. From March, the sun sets and winter darkness begins. Antarctica has
only two seasons – with and without sun. Stars can be seen for a few days every
half year. There’s always snow storm. To ensure we don’t get lost, we tie up
ropes and hold onto them as we head to the dining area and toilets when dark
seasons begin.
It must be difficult to keep track of time,
right?
People in pole
peaks can’t understand time. So we use New Zealand’s time zone to measure time.
Meteorological observations are done in Greenwich’s time.
How many people worked at Molodyozhnaya
Station?
Over a hundred.
Several bases are located, surrounding Antarctica. Every base is set 200 to
2,000 km apart so you can reach there only via a helicopter or plane.
You studied the outermost layer of the
Earth’s atmosphere for over a year. What’s the significance of this study?
It’s the most
fundamental research for developing weather forecasts. It measures and studies
climate changes in the atmosphere at 30 km above ground level. We can construct
weather forecasts after studying how the atmosphere will change in the future.
Antarctic weather stations fly an apparatus named radio zone, receive weather
information in the atmosphere and send data to regional centers of world
meteorological organizations.
After living in a remote icy continent, did
you experience any psychological changes?
Indeed.
Although there are many workers at the station, several members were
psychologically affected. Each person has to complete three-person’s worth of
work there. Initial months were fun as we got to know each other, went to
saunas, watched films, and played tennis and billiard. In the end, you run out
of things to talk about since we don’t receive any new information. You gradually
get sick of seeing one another. No matter if it’s a team of psychiatrists or
surgeons, you tend to experience psychological changes. You must get doctor’s
professional consultation and lecture every two weeks.
During your stay, did you contact your family?
After
connecting to Moscow with high frequency communication, we call to Ulaanbaatar
and talk to family and colleagues through scheduled time. Our research heads
allowed Russians to phone once a month and foreign experts twice a month.
Lately global warming seems to be affecting
even Antarctica. Can you comment on this?
North and South
Pole ice arre melting and started increasing the water level. Countries like
the USA and Russia are operating heavy chemical and petroleum industries. This
creates artificial global warming. There was an estimation that showed that
certain cities will drown if a certain amount of ice melts. The South Pole
hasn’t melted to a critical level.
Carbon dioxide
gathered around the two poles due to air fronts. It’s boosting greenhouse
gases. Climate change is more hazardous than nuclear war. We can save the world
by reducing adversities that depend on us. Particularly, it’s important to
reduce raw coal usage.
According to extensive studies, exactly how
has the temperature changed?
Some
researchers say warming of both poles increased by 0.5 to 1.0 degrees. This may
sound insignificant but it’s a big change. Global warming is more visible at
the North Pole. Research proves sea level around northern Canada and Russia’s
Arctic coasts have risen. Satellite images show that the North Pole ice has
melted considerably. At this rate, the ice will completely melt in 25 years.
The eternal snow of Greenland is melting. The South Pole ice isn’t melting as
much because there aren’t industrial countries near it.
In Mongolia, how much global warming can be
felt?
In Mongolia,
winter has become warmer by two to 2.5 degrees. Unlike other countries,
Mongolia will not be affected by flood.
By including a Mongolian member in
international studies, people said Mongolia can receive a piece of Antarctica’s
resource and get land. What sorts of mineral resources are in Antarctica?
Antarctica is
the world’s reserve. The time to open it is approaching. It has every mineral,
including coal, petroleum, gold and silver. Land ownership permission isn’t
necessary there. Research teams set up bases wherever they want. Main mineral
reserves have already been identified. Countries included in the international
agreement have the right to share and own Antarctica’s resources.
Since the
1950’s, the USA has been spending large sums of funds in Antarctica. During our
wintering year, China went there with 500 people and set up six stations. Japan
built three stations. They’ve started studying about how to drill ice and
extract minerals. It’ll become possible to jointly use Antarctica’s resources
in the future.
Can’t Mongolia establish a research base
there?
It’ll require a
huge amount of money. Mongolian hydrologists Kh.Purevdagva departed from
Mongolia earlier this month on November 13 to participate in the 23rd
expedition. Currently, he’s reached the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute. On
November 20, he should have headed to South America with his team.
It’s beneficial
to include Mongolians in researches but in the future, we should begin sending
four to five member teams. Then it’ll be possible to get a land in Antarctica
and independently conduct research work.
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Republic of Bulgaria and
Ph.D. L.Dugerjav participated in the Antarctica’s research work and named a
land in Livingstone, Antarctica as “Dugerjav’s Peak”. It’s marked on maps. Two
gers were set up to promote Mongolian ger.
Will you go there again?
I’ll pass the
opportunity to young people.
Source:
mongolnews.mn/1dmy
World
Bank ready to implement four projects in Mongolia
By B. Mendbayar
November 23 (UB
Post) Member of Parliament and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee
on State Structure, A.Bakei had a meeting with the World Bank Country
Representative for Mongolia, James Anderson, on November 19, to discuss the
bank’s readiness to implement four projects in Mongolia.
Beginning the
meeting, A.Bakei congratulated James Anderson on his reappointment and
expressed his confidence in Anderson’s success as an experienced individual
with considerable experience working in Mongolia during its economic
transition.
James Anderson
thanked the MP for the reception and introduced the four World Bank projects
for Mongolia, namely the Education Quality Reform Project, the Third
Sustainable Livelihoods Project, the E-Health Project, and the SMART Government
Project.
Anderson asked
A.Bakei to have the projects ratified by the relevant Standing Committees in
the near future. The MP agreed to Anderson’s call for his support.
The Third
Sustainable Livelihoods Project is the third phase of a project to benefit
rural citizens throughout Mongolia with improved local governance through the
implementation of local development funds and to support the further
development of the Government’s Soum Program for local economic development.
The E-Health
Project will take advantage of Mongolia’s vast broadband infrastructure to
ensure faster access to more integrated health information systems across the
country to benefit healthcare providers, patients, and hospitals.
The Education
Quality Reform Project is focused on improving the quality of education for
primary school children in Mongolia, and the SMART Government Project will use
information and communication technology to improve the accessibility,
transparency and efficiency of public services and governance in Mongolia.
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