Mongolia Brief August 13, 2014 Part I
Meteorology
and Hydrology Reports
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) The highest precipitation (161.7 mm) was recorded in
Bayan-Uul soum, Dornod aimag in July of 2014, the Institute of Meteorology and
Hydrology reports.
The highest air
temperature (+41.4°C) was recorded in Khanbogd soum, Omnogobi aimag, whereas
Bayankhongor aimag’s Bayanbulag soum had the lowest (-4.4°C) in July. The
strongest wind of 32.0 m/sec was observed in Bayan-Olgii aimag’s Olgii soum.
For the
acceptable level of air quality standards as of July 2014, daily average
concentration of nitrogen dioxide exceeded 24 times around the West crossroad,
five times around the 13th micro district, four times around the 32nd Circle,
two times around the 1st micro district.
The particulate
matter less than 10 micrograms exceeded 17 times around the West crossroad,
nine times around the Kharkhorin market, and eight times around the 32nd Circle
from the maximum allowable concentration of air quality standard in July.
Second
UB Food Festival to Take Place This Weekend
August 13
(infomongolia.com) Welcoming the 375th anniversary of the capital city of
Mongolia and in the frameworks of “Friendly Ulaanbaatar” program, the Authority
of Culture of Ulaanbaatar City is organizing the UB Food Festival for the
consecutive second year at Viva City Residence (on the road to Airport) on
August 16-17, 2014.
In this year’s
festival over 40 chefs from best restaurants and houses in UB are claimed to
participate that aim to introduce and share the culture of domestic and foreign
dishes. Also, as customary, taste sales for 1,000-3,000 MNT, cooking
performances, bartender’s show, and many more events are awaiting at the 2014
UB Food Festival.
Moreover, 5x1
meter size cake will be shared to festival goers for free taste and Khan
Garuda, a symbol of the capital city, will be decorated on this big cake.
Related:
'UB Food Festival' takes
place – news.mn, August 13
Nation's
largest pharmaceutical chain forced to close temporally
August 13
(news.mn) Sixteen infants who were poisoned by excessive doses of Phenobarbital
distributed at a Monos branch in Ulaanbaatar were taken to the National Centre
for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH).
The Authority
for Fair Competition and Consumer Protection (AFCCP) forced the Monos
pharmaceutical chain to close temporally, as the medicine sold at the branches
was not registered in the national drug registry.
All 20 branches
of Monos will be closed today according to a decision made by the Authority for
Fair Competition and Consumer Protection.
A task force
sent by the AFCCP will determine how much Phenobarbital has been sold to
customers, and will then remove the medicine from the pharmacies.
Phenobarbital
is given for the treatment of infant seizures. Excessive doses can cause
serious pneumonia, dangerously high blood pressure, and kidney failure.
Calls
for irregular session meeting
August 13
(news.mn) MPs M.Zorigt and S.Demberel have called for an irregular plenary
session meeting of parliament today, August 13th.
The
parliamentarians stressed in their call that, “The nation slips into a flagging
economy and critical living conditions as Mongolia’s tugrik sinks against the
dollar and a high inflation rate. During such critical conditions, it is
inappropriate for parliament to be on holiday. Mongolia's GDP growth is 5.3
percent according to the statistic indicators in the first half of 2014,
showing that it is time for parliament and the Government to work responsibly
over the next months. Civilians are waiting for parliament to start the Autumn
session as soon as possible to discuss necessary laws and regulations, and to
make clear political and economic decisions.”
Oyu
Tolgoi Recorded Net Revenue of 436.0 Million USD in Second Quarter of 2014
August 13
(infomongolia.com) On August 12, 2014, Turquoise Hill Resources announced its
financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Oyu Tolgoi
had an All Injury Frequency Rate of 0.51 per 200,000 hours worked and no
fatalities for the first half of 2014.
- Oyu Tolgoi
recorded net revenue of $436.0 million in Q2’14 on sales of approximately
202,500 tonnes of copper-gold concentrate.
- Q2’14
concentrate sales increased approximately 320% over Q1’14 and exceeded production
resulting in an inventory drawdown for the quarter.
- In Q2’14, Oyu
Tolgoi had its strongest quarterly performance since production began in 2013
with 140,000 tonnes of copper-gold concentrate produced containing 36,200
tonnes of copper.
- Concentrate
sales, which are expected to be strong throughout the second half of 2014, are
scheduled to exceed production through the end of 2014.
- Sales
contracts have been signed for 100% of Oyu Tolgoi’s expected 2014 concentrate
production and 92% of 2015 planned production; 84% of concentrate production
has been contracted for up to eight years.
- Ore grades
are expected to increase as the Oyu Tolgoi open pit deepens into a high-grade
zone during the second half of 2014.
- Turquoise
Hill continues to expect Oyu Tolgoi to produce between 135,000 – 160,000 tonnes
of copper and 600,000 - 700,000 ounces of gold in concentrates for 2014.
- Following
receipt of a Tax Act from the Mongolian Tax Authority during Q2’14, all parties
continue to work together to resolve these issues.
- The
feasibility study for the underground is largely complete subject to
confirmation of some estimate assumptions.
- All 15 global
banks participating in the Oyu Tolgoi project financing agreed to extend their
commitment letters to September 30, 2014.
- All parties
remain committed to the underground development of Oyu Tolgoi and are working
through the outstanding shareholder issues; underground development is subject
to resolution of shareholder issues, the finalization and approval of the
feasibility study by all shareholders, the agreement of a comprehensive funding
plan including project finance and receipt of all relevant permits.
- On July 29,
2014, Turquoise Hill entered into a share purchase agreement with National
United Resources Holdings for the sale of a 29.95% stake in SouthGobi.
- Turquoise
Hill’s cash position, on a consolidated basis at June 30, 2014, was $201.2
million.
Related:
Oyu
Tolgoi releases 2014 Second Quarter Results – Montsame, August 13
First
Ever Meeting between State Heads of China, Russia and Mongolia Expects to Be
Organized in Ulaanbaatar
August 13
(infomongolia.com) Following the participation at the 47th ASEAN Foreign
Ministers' Meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Mongolian delegates led by
Foreign Minister Luvsanvandan BOLD attended in the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum
took place on August 10, 2014.
At this
Regional Forum, Foreign Ministers and Vice Ministers from 28 states have
participated including representatives of Russia, China, United States, EU,
North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Mongolia.
At the Forum,
Foreign Minister L.Bold delivered a speech introducing Mongolia’s policy being
adhered towards provision on regional peace and security. Besides, Minister
L.Bold pointed out Mongolian President’s initiation on Ulaanbaatar Dialogue,
Mongolia’s activity on not spreading nuclear weapon being carried out at
international level, and contribution of Mongolian peacekeepers.
During the
Forum, Minister L.Bold held official meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the People’s Republic of China, Wang Yi and Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs of the Russian Federation I.V.Morgulov, where parties exchanged views
on bilateral and trilateral cooperation. The main topic of the meeting with
Ministers of the two neighbors were focused on providing preparations of the
upcoming state visit of President of the PR of China, Xi Jinping and working
visit of President of the Russian Federation, V.V.Putin to Mongolia.
Moreover,
Foreign Minister L.Bold extended Mongolia’s initiation on organizing first ever
meeting between the state heads of the three countries in Ulaanbaatar in
September 2014, and underlined that the Government of Mongolia pays high
attention to bring the upcoming high-level visits’ significance and results at
highest level and to increase the impact of the visits to Mongolia’s
development.
Besides,
Foreign Minister of Mongolia L.Bold held separate meetings with Foreign
Ministers of Australia, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Singapore and
Thailand, and with representatives of 11 countries headed by their Vice Foreign
Ministers.
Also, Minister
L.Bold met with United States Secretary of State John Forbes Kerry and the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European
Union Catherine Ashton respectively and during the meetings, Foreign Minister
L.Bold touched upon issues on Mongolia’s priority goals in foreign policy such
as to become ASEAN Dialogue Partner country and to join the APEC as a
member-economy.
Programme’s
Implementation Summarized
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNICEF Tuesday
held a meeting to discuss an implementation course of a cooperation programme.
The programme
on the cooperation for 2012-2016 was established between the government of
Mongolia and the UNICEF in 2011.
Speeches were
given at the meeting by Dr Isiye Ndombi, the UNICEF Southeast Asia and
Asia-Pacific Representative; Mr Muhammad Fall Malick, the UNICEF Permanent
Representative to Mongolia; Ms I.Narantuya, a chair of the National Department
for Children (NDC); and by Otgonjargal, the State Secretary of the Ministry of
Population Development and Social Welfare.
The
participants underlined the UNICEF’s significant contributions to protecting
the children’s rights, improving their health and education, upgrading the
nutrition, water supply, sanitation and hygiene for children, and realizing
social policy on children in several phases. They also considered necessities
to take some measures.
This meeting
was also attended by experts and officials from the Ministry of Population
Development and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of
Education and Science, the NDC, the administrations of Khovsgol aimag and the
UB city's Nalaikh district, other related organizations and NGOs.
Foreign
Minister Meets Ambassador of Belarus
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) The Foreign Minister L.Bold Wednesday received Mr
Stanislav Chepurnoi, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
Belarus to Mongolia.
The parties
exchanged views on enriching the Mongolia-Belarus traditional and friendly
relations with economic contents, on seeking opportunities to establish joint
factories, on refreshing the cooperation in the education, and on boosting the
collaboration in roads, transportation and defense spheres.
Student
Soldiers Sworn in
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj addressed a swearing-in ceremony of student-soldiers
Wednesday on the Chingis Khaan’s Square.
A
"Student-soldier" program launched in April this by a decree of the
President and the 40th governmental resolution. More than 400 students from 42
universities and institutes were involved in the first group of the programme,
learning military lessons of 96 hours or two credit hours, doing physical
exercises, studying nine subjects for 560 hours on the field in the #119 military
unit.
The student
soldiers were addressed by the President. After him speeches were given by
D.Bat-Erdene MP and the Minister of Defense, and a representative of the
students soldiers Ch.Bayarbileg, a first grade student of the Mongolian
University of Science and Technology.
Present at the
ceremony were also P.Tsagaan, the head of the Presidential Office; a
Major-General Z.Boldbaatar, the State Secretary of the Defense Ministry;
Lieutenant-General Ts.Byambajav, a head of the General Headquarters of Mongolian
Armed Forces (GHMAF); Kh.Batsaikhan, a president of the Union of Mongolian
Students; authorities of the Ministry and the GHMAF; and family members of the
students.
Nat’l
Gross Domestic Product Rises
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) The National Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by production
approach reached MNT 9,856.9 billion at the current price, and MNT 6,634.8
billion at the 2010 constant price in the first half of this year.
It shows an
increase of 14.6% at the current price, or 5.3% at the constant price against
the previous year.
The GDP by
expenditure approach reached MNT 9,429.7 billion at the current price, and MNT
6,730.7 billion at the 2010 constant price in the first half of 2014. It
reflects an increase of 11.1% at the current price and of 5.1% at the constant
price against 2013.
Disasters
and Accidents
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) In the first seven months of this year, two thous.787
disasters and accidents occurred. They claimed lives of more than 100 people
and 13 thous.390 heads of livestock and animals, and 3,454 heads of livestock
died due to foot-and-mouth disease.
Of these
disasters/accidents, 2,441 were construction fires, 107--forest fires,
106--cases of rabies of domestic animals, 29--floods and river and lake
accidents, 24--earthquakes of 3.5-magnitude, and 23-- floods.
An estimated
damage caused by the construction fires amounted to 7.4 billion Togrog, by
porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome--1.5 billion, by heavy rains and
floods--755.4 million, by severe storms--135.0 million Togrog. Some 448.2
million was spent for eliminating consequences of these disasters/accidents.
Some 40 people
died at the construction fires, 89--by drowning in rivers and lakes, in
artisanal mining and rock falls.
The number of
the natural disasters/accidents declined by 109 cases against the previous
year.
Crimes
in Statistics
By B. Khuder
Ulaanbaatar,
August 13 (MONTSAME) At the national level, 15 thousand 628 crimes were
reported in the first seven months of this year, reflecting an increase of 812
crimes or 5.5% against the previous year.
This increase
was largely attributable to the rises in crimes such as against the right of
ownership (445) and infliction of a bodily injury (474) against the previous
year.
Due to these
crimes, 5,993 people were injured, 623 died. The number of the injured
increased 795 or 15.3%, the number of the killed went up by nine people or 1.5%
against the previous year.
The
most beautiful word is 'Mother'
August 13
(news.mn) The Linguistic Fun Facebook page conducted a poll among its group
members to choose “The most beautiful word in the Mongolian language.”
The result was amazing. The poll was shared and viewed hundreds of times.
The Linguistic
Fun Facebook page administrators considered the meaning the of the most
beautiful word, not just the way it is spoken or how it sounds. They specified
it should not be a proper noun.
After 290
members and Facebook users voted, 403 words were nominated for the most
beautiful word in the Mongolian language. The Linguistic Fun Facebook page
shared the top 25 most beautiful words in the Mongolian language. The full list
is posted on the Linguistic Fun Facebook page. According to the results
of the poll among Mongolian speakers, family members names like
"mother", "father", "descendant", "spouse",
and "wife" in their respective ways of being spoken were named in the
top 70 places. Most Mongolian speakers also chose the word
"motherland" and "home country" as the most beautiful
words.
Here are the
top 25 most beautiful words in the Mongolian language.
Mother, mom,
mummy
Love
Father, dad
Sky
Family
Motherland
World
Home country
Beauty
Lullaby
Descendant
Universe
Space
Spouse
Melody
Mom
Divine
Glow
Holiness
Wife
Faith
Spirit
Beautiful
Distinct
My
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