Mongolia Brief May 19, 2014

Cabinet Meeting Resolutions in Brief: Saturday, May 17, 2014

May 19 (infomongolia.com) The regular Cabinet meeting of the Government was held on Saturday, May 17 and the following issues were discussed and some were resolved.

- Cabinet members agreed to submit to the State Great Khural (Parliament) the renewed draft bill on the Law on Petroleum, amendments made on the Law on Minerals and annulling of the existing Law on Petroleum. A working group was established earlier and revised the renewed draft bill on the Law on Petroleum repeatedly at the affiliated Standing Committee meetings and submitted to the Parliament, but was not supported and was rejected at the latter plenary session of the Parliament. Thus, by reflecting some Parliamentarians’ proposals, the new draft bill is to be re-submitted.

- It was agreed to submit to the Parliament the renewed version of the Law on Air and amendments to the Law to Reduce Air Pollution in the Capital City, which was first ratified in 2011.

- New regulation of internal control and its procedures to follow for food related operators was approved. Accordingly, Deputy Prime Minister D.Terbishdagva is entrusted to introduce the new regulation to food business runners and monitor the implementation on organizational measures.

- On April 28, 2014, officials representing the Governments of the Republic of Estonia and Mongolia signed an intergovernmental document in Tallin on “To mutually liberalize from visa requirements holders of Diplomatic e-passports”.

Accordingly, at the Cabinet meeting held on Saturday, May 17, members affirmed the document.

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Related:

Cabinet Meeting in Brief – Montsame, May 18

Mongolian Peacekeepers Awarded with U.S. Awards for Service with ISAF in Afghanistan as well as U.S. Central Command

May 19 (infomongolia.com) On May 16, 2014, a ceremony of rewarding Mongolian peacekeepers with U.S. awards for service with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan as well as grant aid ceremony to hand-over of military equipment by the U.S. Government to the Defense Ministry and Mongolian Armed Forces were held in the Defense Ministry of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.

At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Defense A.Battur, authorities of the Ministry and Armed Forces represented Mongolian side and the other part by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Mongolia Ms. Piper Anne Wind Campbell, visiting Congressman Mr. Steve Chabot and Congressman Mr. Stephen Lynch to Mongolia on May 15-16, 2014.

The U.S. awards were handed to 20 Mongolian militants representing 4,000 peacekeepers served in the ISAF in Afghanistan as well as the U.S. Central Command.

The Legion of Merit was handed over to Major General Ch.Ulaankhuu and Colonel T.Ganbat.

The Joint Service Commendation Medal to Brigade General D.Bayarsaikhan, Colonel D.Gankhuyag, Colonel D.Enkhbaatar, and Colonel T.Ganbat.

The Army Commendation Medal to Major S.Samdangeleg, Major B.Purevdorj, Captain D.Munkhbaatar, First Lieutenant M.Mendbileg and First Lieutenant M.Tuguldur.

The Army Achievement Medal to First Lieutenant D.Nyamsuren, Lieutenant G.Ganbaatar, Lieutenant M.Davaanyam, Sergeant E.Galbadrakh, Sergeant D.Shijirbayar, Sergeant Ch.Batnyam, Sergeant B.Tumenjargal, Sergeant B.Chinbat, Sergeant B.Tumursukh, Sergeant T.Tur-Amgalan and Sergeant V.Batkhuyag respectively.

The Government of the United States has provided a grant aid of about 8 million USD in last two years and this time, the military equipment of radios, night vision devices and engineering construction  equipment cost about 5.5 million USD.

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Related:

Mongolian Peacekeepers Awarded US Governmental Prizes – Montsame, May 18

Stock Exchange Weekly Review

Ulaanbaatar, May 18 (MONTSAME) Five stock trades were held at Mongolia's Stock Exchange May 12-16, 2014.

In overall, 95 thousand and 761 shares were sold of 51 joint-stock companies totaling MNT 123 million 818 thousand and 627.07.

"Merex” /29 thousand and 849 units/, "Mongolia Development” /15 thousand and 465 units/, "Bayanbogd" /12 thousand and 918 units/, "Hermes center” /6,210 units/ and "Silikat" /4,620 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading value--"Tavantolgoi” (MNT 22 million 481 thousand and 095), "Bayangol hotel" (MNT 17 million and 090 thousand), "UB hotel" /MNT 11 million and 769 thousand/, "Mongolia Development" /MNT 10 million 771 thousand and 990/ and "Gutal" (MNT 10 million 302 thousand and 200).

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Wrestling Judges Take Int’l Titles

Ulaanbaatar, May 18 (MONTSAME) A chief coach of the national selected team for women’s freestyle wrestling B.Batbayar received a diploma for international coach during the 2014 national freestyle wrestling championships kicked off Friday.

The diploma was granted by Mr D.Dagvadorj, the president of the Freestyle Wrestling Federation of Mongolia (FSWFM). In addition, 11 judges received diplomas for the 3rd class judges. Other 11 judges were awarded the right for judging international competitions.

An international judge Kh.Ganbold was awarded with the Olympic Golden Star Order, the supreme prize of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee, as well.     

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Nat’l Champions for Draughts Selected

Ulaanbaatar, May 18 (MONTSAME) The national championships for 100x100 draughts for men’s and women’s players was concluded on Sunday in the “Badmaarag” center, Ulaanbaatar city.

Ran through a Swiss system, the competitions were participated by 60 players, and sponsored by the “Bodi badmaarag” company.

As the result, a master of sports S.Davaadorj from Baganuur district won a gold medal in the men’s classic tournament, whereas a master of sports B.Nandintsetseg won the women’s tournament. In the blitz contest, a State Honored Sportsman and three-time Asian champion D.Erdenebileg GMI won a gold medal. A master of sports G.Enkhtuya captured a gold medal of the women’s blitz category. The blitz tournament was attended by 30 male and 22 female players.

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Representing Mongolia at the 55th International Spring and Food Fair in London

May 17 (mongolianartlondon.wordpress.com) Mongolian Art and Culture in London together with the Mongolian Embassy in the UK proudly represented Mongolia at the 55th Children and Family Across Borders (CFAB) International Spring Fair and Food Festival on 13th & 14th May 2014, which took place at Kensington Town Hall in support of their charity work for protecting children and uniting families across borders.

Diplomatic missions of over 80 countries based in London brought their art, culture and food over two days. There was all day live entertainment, cocktails, sale of arts, crafts, souvenir items, textiles and food in support of a good cause. The event was a great success helping to raise valuable funds for CFAB and this year’s fundraising surpassed the amount all the stalls raised last year by over £5,000. The Preview Evening took place on Tuesday 13th May and welcomed over 2,000 Ambassadors, Supporters and other CFAB guests to visit the Fair. On Wednesday 14th May the Spring Fair was open to the General Public and welcomed the CFAB Royal Patron HRH Princess Alexandra who also visited the Fair and did some shopping.

Mongolia stalls

Many thanks to everyone who visited Mongolia stalls throughout both days. We had paintings and paper cutting artworks by Mongolian and international artists, Mongolian souvenirs, cashmere , food as well as books on Mongolia, Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan.

Artworks were provided by us, the Mongolian Art and Culture, cashmere – by a London-based Mongolian designer Semka Dashnyam and food – by a London-based Mongolian chef Khorkhoi Odnoo. Books were provided by a British writer John Man. All participating parties contributed towards the fundraising for CFAB and we thank you for their generous support.

Mongolian cultural performance

Mongolian music entertainment was delivered by N. Bat-Erdene, a Khöömii (overtone/throat) singer and morin khuur (horse-head fiddle) player, who studied throat singing from his father in Chandmani of Khovd province in Mongolia, a birthplace of throat singing. The audience was mesmerised by an enchanting sound of both throat singing and horse-head fiddle.

VIPs and famous visitors who dropped by the Mongolia stalls

The CFAB Royal Patron HRH Princess Alexandra visited our art and crafts stall. She said that her brother Prince Michael of Kent has already visited Mongolia and that she herself would love to visit Mongolia some day and that she loved Mongolian music and art as well as horses in general. We gave her ink painting on rice paper by a Mongolian artist Nurmaajav Tuvdendorj. Author John Man was also present during the Princess’ visit to our stall and presented his book “Genghis Khan” to her.

We also welcomed the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Councillor Charles Williams and his wife June Williams, the Mayoress of the RBKC.

We thank you the Embassy of Mongolia for inviting us to organise Mongolia stalls and entertainment on behalf of the Embassy and Mongolia and look forward to working together again on the event next year by promoting Mongolian art, culture and food in London.

Thank you from the organisers:

“Thank you for your support and we really appreciate your kind contribution this year. This year’s spring fair ended up being our most successful in recent years and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without your support. We ended up surpassing the amount we raised last year by over £5,000.”

“I just wanted to say thank you so much for organizing entertainment for our spring fair. The throat singing added that extra bit of flavour to the fair. I heard lots of great comments about the act – please do pass on our thanks. Thank you once again for organising the performance.”

Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB)

Thank you from the Mongolian Embassy

“Thank you very much for representing Mongolia successfully at the CFAB Fair & Festival. I am proud of you and your commitments. It was impossible to make this without you guys. Thank you Unurmaa, Azaa, Semka’s husband, chef Odonoo, Bayaraa & friends, writer John Man, throat singer Bat-Erdene and many others who supported Mongolia during the CFAB event.”
Embassy of Mongolia

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SUMO/ Kakuryu booed in victory, Hakuho remains on top on Day 8

May 18 (Asahi Shimbun) Newly promoted yokozuna Kakuryu bounced back from a loss to Chiyootori to defeat Takarafuji on May 18 and stay two wins back of sole leader Hakuho at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Desperately looking to avoid a third loss, Mongolian Kakuryu improved to 6-2 when he dodged to his side at the face-off and watched as winless No. 2 maegashira Takarafuji tumbled to the dirt.

As much as he needed the win, Kakuryu’s tactic, often considered unbecoming of a grand champion, resulted in a rare round of booing from the capacity crowd at Ryogoku Kokugikan.

In other major bouts, yokozuna Hakuho spun Yoshikaze around after the face-off and calmly shoved the komusubi over the edge to stay undefeated at 8-0. Yoshikaze dropped to 3-5.

At the midway point of the 15-day meet, Mongolian Hakuho, who is bidding for his 29th Emperor’s Cup, holds a one-win lead over ozeki Kisenosato and lower-ranked grappler Ikioi.

Mongolian grand champion Harumafuji also stayed two wins off the pace when he got a grip on the belt of Chiyootori (2-6) and lifted the komusubi out to improve to 6-2.

Elsewhere, Kisenosato kept the pressure on Hakuho with a hard-fought win over rising star Endo.

Kisenosato got a right-hand grip on the belt of the fourth-ranked maegashira and maneuvered him to the edge before shoving him out to improve to 7-1.

Endo earlier upset Kakuryu but has since come back down to earth, losing three straight to fall to 4-4. It won’t get any easier for Endo, who next faces Hakuho.

Fifth-ranked maegashira Ikioi also stayed in the hunt when he beat Egypt’s Osunaarashi to improve to 7-1.

Ikioi absorbed a crushing blow to the neck at the face-off before swatting down the 10th-ranked maegashira to his fourth loss.

Top maegashira Takekaze used an arm throw at the center of the ring to defeat ozeki Kotoshogiku and give both wrestlers a record of 4-4.

No. 2 maegashira Chiyotairyu deployed a barrage of arm thrusts to the upper body to send sekiwake Goeido backpedaling off the raised ring. Chiyotairyu improved to 2-6 while Goeido, who was slow at the face-off, was handed his fourth loss.

Sekiwake Tochiozan slapped down Toyonoshima to pick up his fifth win against three losses while handing the No. 4 maegashira his fourth loss.

No. 13 maegashira Kitataiki fell a further win off the pace when he was shoved out by Myogiryu to drop to 6-2. No. 8 maegashira Myogiryu improved to 4-4.

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Government of Mongolia Revises New State Policy to Adhere on Science and Technology

May 19 (infomongolia.com) At the Cabinet meeting held on May 17, 2014, the state policy to adhere on science and technology was reviewed and agreed to submit to the State Great Khural (Parliament).

The country’s economic and social developments’ tendencies have been changing and in the scope of the new policy to adhere, the country’s economic development should not rely on its minerals wealth and mining, instead should develop based on knowledge.

In the state policy ratified in 1988, it was emphasized maintaining the capacity of science and technology sectors to transfer into a market economy following the economic transition, so the new policy focused to fully utilize the power and resources that have been already generated and provide with creative and comprehensive maintenance goals.

The new policy also underlines to provide Mongolian national sustainable development and security, to improve competitiveness and increase the role of science in order to expand economic sectors based on knowledge.

In the frameworks, science and technology cluster, parks and a town will be erected, also it includes to establish technological exchanges and integrated database that would meet current requirements.

In addition, to increase the number of qualified research personnel and engage scientists and researchers working abroad, create a system of supporting young scientists by providing grants and scholarships.

If the draft bill is approved, the science and technology sector would meet market needs, and demands of society and the economy, consistent with competitive bidding would reach a new stage of development, and existing legal documents would be amended in accordance with the policy legal opportunity. By establishing a science park, high technology and product innovation would be increased in the gross domestic product.

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