Mongolia Brief November 7, 2014
Mongolia
and Germany Host 11th Consultative Meeting in Defense Sectors
November 7
(infomongolia.com) In the frameworks of the 2014 cooperation program between
the defense sectors of Mongolia and the Federal Republic of Germany, the
regular bilateral consultative meeting is ongoing in Ulaanbaatar at the Defense
Ministry on November 03-07, 2014.
The German
delegates led by Head of Department for International Cooperation, Federal
Ministry of Defense, Colonel Christian Schmidt have held a working visit to the
Defense Ministry of Mongolia on November 04-06, 2014.
During the
meeting, parties discussed the implementation of the 2014 Program and exchanged
points on developing the 2015 Program to train Mongolian military personnel at
the Bundeswehr.
This is the
11th consultative meeting between the sectors and at the meeting held on
November 06, Mongolian side was attended by officials of the General Staff of
Mongolian Armed Forces headed by the State Secretary at Defense Ministry, Major
General Z.Boldbaatar, and the other attendees were led Director General for
Security and Defense Policy, Federal Ministry of Defense, Rear Admiral Thorsten
Kaler.
In
consultations, parties exchanged information concerning international security
issues and defense co-operation between the two countries, besides shared views
on current and future development trends reaching consensuses.
Moreover, the
Deputy Minister of Defense of Mongolia A.Battur received the Federal Ministry
delegates and also shared views on bilateral cooperation and exchanged
information.
In 2014,
Mongolia and the Federal Republic of Germany are celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and this 11th
Consultative Meeting is giving importance to the event.
Related:
Mongolia-Germany
Meetings on Defence Run – Montsame,
November 7
Speaker
Receives Ambassadors of European Countries
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) The Speaker Z.Enkhbold received on November 7 the
accredited and concurrent Ambassadors of the EU members to Mongolia.
The Speaker
appreciated an opportunity to meet with them and congratulated the newly
appointed Ambassadors of the European Union, of Hungary and Cyprus for their
presentations of credentials and wished them a success.
This meeting
has become traditional, starting from 2009, it is a cooperation mechanism
between Mongolia and Europe, he said. “In a scope of its 'Third neighbor'
policy, Mongolia wants to expand relations with all members of the EU in every
possible sphere," he said and added that Mongolia looks for support and
recommendations from European countries on organization of the ASEM summit to
take place in Ulaanbaatar in 2016.
He said that
the established on April 30 of 2013 Agreement on Partnership and Cooperation
between Mongolia and the EU is to have its importance in determining directions
of the bilateral relations and cooperation in many sectors. The Agreement has
been ratified by Mongolia and by 12 EU members, "and I want to urge other
EU countries to support intensifying of the ratification procedures in their
countries".
The assured the
guests that Mongolia can overcome nowadays economic and political difficulties
and keep its social sustainability and economic development.
Mongolia has
inked agreements with 17 EU members on Promoting and Securing Investments.
"Our country aims to introduce the European norms and standards to all
economic sectors, and I thank the EU for its kind support. In regards of the
above obligations, the project to promote facilitating Mongolia’s
standardization began to be implemented from April 1 this year," he said.
He mentioned
that Mongolia and European Parliament holds meeting every two years, and the
10th consultative meeting is to happen in 2015 in Ulaanbaatar.
Mongolia and
NATO established a document of partnership in 2012, and a group for
interactions with the NATO Assembly has been operating at the State Great
Khural since then. Mongolia has also become a member of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe. “The 2015 Autumn Session of the OSCE
Parliament Assembly will also run in Ulaanbaatar”, Mr Enkhbold said and
expressed his belief that all Ambassadors will actively cooperate in the
organization of the above events.
At the end of
the meeting, the Speaker answered the questions of Ambassadors.
Ambassadors Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of 27 countries, including Germany, the UK, France, the
Czech Republic, Austria and Belgium, participated in the meeting. Present were
also vice-chairmen of the State Great Khural M.Enkhbold and L.Tsog, and
S.Byambatsogt and N.Battsereg MPs.
WHO
Rep Visits Nat'l Center for Infectious Diseases
By Enkhbileg
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) On the critical time of global awareness of Ebola, the
representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to Mongolia Dr Soe
Nyunt-U visited Thursday the national Center for infectious diseases.
He learned that
the emergency department of the center has 28 personnel, including physicians
and ambulance drivers. Each physician has a couple of protective clothing. Tye
emergency's ten rooms are furnished, and 50-bed rooms isolate
infection-struck patients from others. Four teams, each of 12 people, have been
trained to work in times of emergencies and of Ebola outbreak, the guidelines
on reception, diagnostics and treatment have been developed and are ready for
use, reported the clinical vice director M.Tunsag.
"Most
employees at the emergency department are young doctors, they are prone to
risks during infections outbreaks, so we are focusing more on their proper
trainings," said the vice director. The center submitted a request to the
WHO and the Ministry asking a support in renovating some equipment and sanitation
facilities, she added.
In response, Dr
Soe Nyunt-U said it is of importance to ensure a high-level readiness although
Ebola outbreak is unlikely to occur in Mongolia. He thanked the staff of the
Center for raising awareness with all capacity.
Consultant of
the WHO will visit Mongolia soon, he added and said the young doctors can learn
more from the trainings then. “The trainings are important not only in times of
Ebola but also during spreads of new and reoccurring diseases," said Dr
Nyunt-U. He also promised to deliver the request to the Regional office of the
WHO and that the organization will focus on overseas trainings and exchange of
experiences of doctors and scholars.
Dr Nyunt-U was
accompanied by the head of the Social Health Department of the Ministry
D.Narangerel and other officials.
DP
ejects 8 members who voted against the party
November 7
(news.mn) The Watch Committee of the Democratic Party of Mongolia held a
meeting on Thursday to review the issue of the DP caucus members who gave no
confidence votes for the party leader and called for the resignation of the
Prime Minister and his government.
The Watch
Committee issued a resolution to eject the 8 DP members who accepted the demand
from the opposition party and voted against Prime Minister Altankhuyag.
However, the resolution issued by the Watch Committee will be effective only
after the National Consultative Committee of the Democratic Party agrees to it.
The meeting of
the National Consultative Committee of the Democratic Party is scheduled to be
held today, at 3:00 p.m.
The National
Consultative Committee of the Democratic Party is expected to hotly debate the
current political situation, who will be the next party leader, and how to form
a new government.
Ambassadors
from Namibia, Colombia, Qatar, Bahrain and
Venezuela
to Mongolia Present Letters of Credence to President Ts.Elbegdorj
November 7
(infomongolia.com) On November 06, 2014, Ambassadors from the Republic of
Namibia, the Republic of Colombia, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Bahrain
and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela have presented their credentials to
the President of Mongolia Tsakhia ELBEGDORJ.
The credentials
handing ceremonies were held in the Government House, after which President
Ts.Elbegdorj held a separate meetings with newly accredited Ambassadors.
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Namibia to Mongolia, Mr.
Ringo Abed noted that next year Mongolia and Namibia will mark the 25th
Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and expressed his firm
commitment to further developing bilateral relations between the two countries.
President
Ts.Elbegdorj noted, “Mongolia is pleased to cooperate with the South African
countries, in particular, Namibia - one of the fastest growing economies in
Africa. In late 1990s, I had a chance to visit Namibia to attend the
International Parliamentary Association Summit. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Mongolia as well as the Office of the President will be committed to support
the foreign Ambassadors. I wish every success in your future endeavors”.
Mongolia and
the Republic of Namibia have established the diplomatic relations on October
30, 1990.
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Colombia to Mongolia, Mr.
Tito Saul Pinilla noted, “There is an opportunity to develop cooperation and
exchange students between the National University of Mongolia and National University
of Colombia. Our two countries have great potential to expand business
collaboration. Mutual exchange of the Deputy Foreign Minister-level visit and
joint consultative meetings between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries
served as a significant step towards improving bilateral ties”.
President
Ts.Elbegdorj conveyed his sincere greetings to the President of Colombia, Juan
Manuel Santos, underlining the opportunity to enhance bilateral cooperation in
education and business sector. President mentioned that Mongolia and Colombia
have an opportunity to intensify mutual ties through the newly opened Mongolian
Embassy in Brazil.
Mongolia and
the Republic of Colombia have established the diplomatic relations on August
10, 1988.
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to Mongolia, Mr. Sultan
bin Salmin Said Al-Mansouri noted with satisfaction the notable invigoration of
the bilateral relations in defense and infrastructure sector, stressing the
opportunity to deepen mutual cooperation in economy and investment field. Mr.
Ambassador also noted that the frequent exchange of highlevel visits would be a
great impetus to enhancing the bilateral relations and partnership between the
two countries.
Mongolia and
the State of Qatar have established the diplomatic relations on January 21,
1998.
At the meeting
with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Bahrain to
Mongolia, Mr. Anwar Al Abdullah, President Ts.Elbegdorj marked with
satisfaction the development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic
ties between the two countries in 1998. Mongolia and the Kingdom of Bahrain
both would greatly benefit from cooperation in trade, investment and oil
sectors.
President
Ts.Elbegdorj conveyed his sincere greetings to the King of Bahrain Hamad bin
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.
Mongolia and
the State of Qatar have established the diplomatic relations on May 16, 1998.
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to
Mongolia, Mr. Ivan Antonio Zerpa Guerrero conveyed the President of Venezuela,
Nicolas Maduro’s greetings to President Ts.Elbegdorj and noted, “President Nicolas
Maduro have entrusted me with a duty to enhance bilateral relations with
Mongolia in the next 25 years. We greatly appreciate Mongolia for supporting
our country within the international organizations. Mongolia supported
Venezuela in the election of the non-permanent member on the UN Security
Council. We have the intention to organize Venezuela-Mongolia Parliamentary
Group in the Parliament of Venezuela”.
In response,
President Ts.Elbegdorj conveyed his warm greetings to the President of
Venezuela Nicolas Maduro and wished success to the Ambassador in his diplomatic
mission.
Mongolia and
the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela have established the diplomatic relations
on December 14, 1990.
Ulaanbaatar
to Collaborate with Austria to Improve Its
Waste
Management Program
November 7
(infomongolia.com) On November 05, 2014, the Governor of the Capital City and
Mayor of Ulaanbaatar, Mr. Erdene BAT-UUL received in his office a non-resident
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to
Mongolia, Mrs. Irene Giner-Reichl.
During the
meeting, parties exchanged views on collaboration in the project to produce
energy from recycled wastes and discussed on current waste management situation
in UB and further prospect issues.
In the Mayor’s
Action Plan 2013-2016 it was included to establish at least two waste recycling
plants to improve the waste management program of the city. As of today, at the
landfill sites namely Narangiin Enger, Moringiin Davaa and Tsagaan Davaa, it
has been dumped 2,000-2,500 tons of household waste per day and being
exterminating using landfill technology.
Therefore,
under the project, UB is willing to cooperate with Austria to produce energy
and fuel from solid waste, sewage sludge, food, medical, industrial, oil-based
and agricultural waste using high-temperature gasification technology.
Under the waste
management program improvement, the UB Administration is implementing a project
to build a recycling plant to process construction waste financed by South
Korea, which will be operational next year.
"Corruption
as Threat to National Security" Conference Runs
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) The Standing Committee on security and foreign policy
organized on November 6 a theory-and-practice conference themed
"Corruption as a threat to national security" jointly with the US
Asia Foundation (AF), Authority Against Corruption, Women Leadership foundation
and State University of Mongolia, at the State House.
Present at the
meeting were Vice Speaker L.Tsog, the head of the Standing Committee
Ts.Oyunbaatar MP, a head of Standing Committee on justice D.Ganbat MP, a Country-Director
of the AF for Mongolia Meloni Lindberg, a department head of the Corruption
Combating Agency (CCA) E.Amarbat, as well as representatives of public and
private organizations. The gathered discussed the obstacles faced while seeking
the most efficient anti-corruption approaches and developing their
implementation plans.
L.Tsog thanked
Ms Lindberg and other representatives and expressed a confidence that the
meeting would serve as a decisive action toward combating corruption. A
chairman of the Standing committee on security and foreign policy Ts.Oyunbaatar
presented a paper on “Corruption as a threat to National Security”. He
emphasized an importance of “A Glass Account Law” in combating corruption and
improving state services. According to him, the 2012 election PR costs of the
State Great Khural were quadrupled against 2008.
After this, Ms
Lindberg addressed the meeting and appreciated being a co-organizer of the
meeting. The Asia Foundation mainly focuses on promoting democracy and good
governance in Mongolia, she said. This meeting is important as the participants
would reach a general understanding about high-class corruption and discover
correct policy approaches. "The Asia Foundation has been realizing a
project on strengthening a transparency and governance (STAGE) in Mongolia in
the past two years, it became the basis of this meeting,” she added.
According to
B.Bat-Otgon, the head of the CCA department for prevention and enlightenment,
the agency investigated 351 cases involving 693 people in 2012 and 2013, 372 of
whom were from state administrations and services’ agencies. The CCA also
disclosed MNT 123 billion of damage and managed to have 9.4 billion covered.
The CCA issues a proposal on amending the Law against Corruption and the Law on
Prevention of Crimes, and on reflecting the recommendations by this meeting to
the National Strategy against Corruption.
The
participants also raised important matters on intensifying a prevention of
corruption and enlightenment of people, risk-of-corruption assessments on
drafts being discussed by the Parliament, developing a strategy program on
combating corruption.
Turquoise
Hill CEO Steps Down
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) Turquoise Hill Resources Ltd. announced a retirement of
CEO Kay Priestly after two years at the helm of the company that controls the
Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold mine. Jeff Tygesen, a director of Rio Tinto
Group-controlled Turquoise Hill, will replace Priestly from December 1.
The appointment
is the result of a succession planning program that has been under way for
several months, according to a statement. Priestly became CEO at Turquoise Hill
in May of 2012, a year before the start of commercial production at the Oyu
Tolgoi copper and gold mine. The $5.4 billion underground expansion of the mine
has been delayed since last year amid a funding dispute between the government
and Rio Tinto. Turquoise Hill controls 66 percent of Oyu Tolgoi while the
Mongolian government holds the remaining 34 percent.
Turquoise Hill
slid 5.4 percent to $2.98 in New York yesterday prior to the announcement.
"The company’s stock has been under pressure following a vote of
no-confidence that ousted Mongolian Prime Minister on Wednesday," reports
Bloomberg.
Mongolian
Horse Parade Enters Guinness Records
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) Mongolia’s record of the "largest in the world"
horse parade that involved 11 thous.125 horses and their riders has been
included in the special edition of the Guinness world records book of 2014. The
edition is dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Guinness World Records.
The largest in
the world horse parade was achieved by the Federation of Mongolian Horse Racing
Sports and Trainers (FMHRST) during an event organized by the chairman of the Federation M.Enkhbold
and a secretary-general P.Sergelen in Khui Doloon Khudag on August 9 of 2013.
The event ran in order to duly mark the historic 750th anniversary of the
establishment of Ministry of Horses in Mongolia and to advertize to the world
Mongolia’s culture of horses, national horse-race and the spirit and skills of
the children who ride racing horses.
The Mongolian
parade broke the record of previous largest parade arranged in Colombia in 2006
with 7,895 horsemen.
Mongolian
contortionists capture silver cup at Wuhan International Acrobatic Art Festival
November 9 (UB
Post) Mongolian contortionists of the Mongolian National Circus won a silver
cup at the 11th Wuhan International Acrobatic Art Festival which was held in
Wuhan, China on November 7.
The
contortionist performed a performance called “The Movement of Baby Tiger” to a
Mongolian traditional melody. The contortionists were led by a circus trainer
B.Norovsambuu.
Initiated in
1992, the Wuhan International Acrobatic Art Festival of China is held
biennially in Wuhan of Hubei Province, Central China. After 20 years of
development, it has become one of the top four international acrobatic
festivals in the world, the other three being Monte Carlo International Circus
Festival of Monaco, the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (the World
Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow) of France and China Wuqiao International Circus
Festival. As Wuhan’s culture brand, the acrobatic art festival is also listed
by the Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China as one of China’s
seven foreign cultural exchange programs.
Related:
Mongolian
Contortionists Grab Silver at Int'l Festival – Montsame, November 7
'Gal
Undesten' announces appeal to the IJC
November 7
(news.mn) Activists of "Gal Undesten" (Fire Nation), an environmental
and human rights movement, announced that it will bring a lawsuit to the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) against the French company Kogegobi LLC if
it does not agree to their demands to halt operations.
Gal Undesten
delivered a demand for the halt of operations of the French company Kogegobi
LLC, which is conducting explorations, evaluations and research in the country.
The activists
of the environmental and human rights movement stated that the company ignores
the laws of Mongolia and decisions by local authorities, and that it has
violated the legal rights and interests of local residents through its illegal
operations in the country.
Gal Undesten
believes that the company's illegal activities cause irreparable harm and loss
to the environment and the area's residents.
The activists
demanded that the company halt operations within 72 hours and leave the
country.
The activists
also noted that if the company does not accept their demands, they will file a
lawsuit with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Sumo
Adult State Championships will be held
November 7
(news.mn) Sumo Adult and Youth State Championships 2014 will be held at the
Wrestling Palace, on November 8th.
The state sumo
tournament will be organized for wrestlers age 19 and above, and for men and
women's youth between 15-18.
Athletes who do
not belong to any sport club or committee but train regularly in the sport will
compete at the tournament. The Sumo Adult and Youth State Championships is
organized to promote the sport among youth, and increase the numbers of
athletes in Mongolia.
Ekh
Dagina Dondogdulam's 140th birthday marked
November 7
(news.mn) The 140th birthday anniversary of Ekh Dagina Queen Dondogdulam,
who was married to the 8th Bogd Khan Jibzundamba, is marked today, on
November 7th, or day 15 of the final fall month according to the Mongolian
lunar calendar.
A girl was born
to Tsende's family of Khalkha Province, ruled by Khuvchiin Jonon beis
Sangilagdorj, destined to become the Bogd Khan's consort, on day 15 of the final
fall month in 1874.
On the occasion
of the birthday anniversary of Ekh Dagina Dondogdulam, the director of the Bogd
Khan Palace Museum, O.Mendsaikhan, historian O.Munkhjargal, and other officials
showed respect to the throne of Ekh Dagina at the museum.
At the
ceremony, O.Mendsaikhan noted that a number of events would be launched
promoting Ekh Dagina's merit and celebrity, to remember and celebrate on the
occasion of the birthday anniversary of the queen.
Tsendiin
Dondogdulam served as a private servant and maid to the queen of Khuvchiin
Jonon beis Sangilagdorj until she met the 8th Bogd Khan at
Amarbaysgalant Monastery in 1896, when she went there to pray for Undur Gegeen.
At that time, she was acknowledged to be unrivaled beauty, with six senses education,
and great knowledge and balues. Thus she was given uvshinz – lay vows (Genen,
upasika) deputy to the 8th Bogd Khan.
In 1911,
Mongolia declared independence and crowned Jibzundamba as the 8th Bogd
Khan and Dondogdulam as queen.
However, Ekh
Dagina was not a spoiled person who succumbed to power and wealth.
It is said that
Ekh Dagina was good at riding horses and shooting archery, and creating
embroidery - like a typical Mongolian woman and spouse. She created a Sangai
crafts community, leaving behind some of the most unique and unmatched
artifacts in Mongolian history by merging over 120 of the nation's best
craftsmen and craftswomen from all over Mongolia at that time.
Now, the
heritages created by that crafts community are stored at the Bogd Khan Palace
Museum, attracting visitors.
“New
Railway” Project Paper Works is under 65% of Completion
November 7
(infomongolia.com) In November 2014, Executive Director of the state-owned
"Mongolian Railway" Company P.Batsaikhan reported that a blueprint
for “New Railway” project to construct over 1,800 km of railroad is
accomplished.
In addition,
Japanese “Nippon Koei” Co., Ltd, who had won an open tender in 2013, has been
executing the paper works and as of today, this work is undertaken at 65%
of completion.
Also, in order to implement this project about five thousand employees are
required, adds P.Batsaikhan.
In the
frameworks of implementing the “State Policy on Railroad”, the authorized
"Mongolian Railway" JSC announced an open tender for "New
Railway" project to select financial, legal and technical advisor company
in February 2013. After which, “Mongolian Railway” and “Nippon Koei” had signed
a Contract of Cooperation on “Technical Advice Service Provider” on May 14,
2013.
Under the
project, over 1,800 km of railroad will be constructed in the routes of Ukhaa
Khudag (Tavan Tolgoi) – Sainshand – Baruun-Urt – Khuut – Choibalsan, Choibalsan
– Ereentsav, Khuut – Bichigt, Khuut – Numrug as well as between Tavan Tolgoi –
Gashuun Sukhait and Arts Suuri – Erdenet.
In October
2014, Parliament of Mongolia approved to construct new railway between Tavan
Tolgoi – Gashuun Sukhait and Khuut – Bichigt using narrow gauge of 1,435 mm,
and between Arts Suuri – Erdenet, Tavan Tolgoi – Sainshand – Baruun-Urt – Khuut
– Choibalsan, and Khuut – Numrug under broad gauge of 1,520 mm.
Legatum
Prosperity Index 2014: Mongolia
November 7 (infomongolia.com)
British Legatum Institute has released the Legatum Prosperity Index 2014, a
unique annual assessment of global wealth and wellbeing, covering 142 economies
around the world in eight distinct categories: Economy; Education;
Entrepreneurship & Opportunity; Governance; Health; Personal Freedom;
Safety & Security; and Social Capital.
On average,
over the last six years, global performance on each of these has improved.
The Top 5 of
the 2014 Index was led by Norway, Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark and Canada,
where Mongolia has moved up five places on overall Prosperity compare to last
year Index.
Mongolia's best
performance is in the Social Capital sub-index, where it ranks 25th in 2014.
Mongolia's lowest performance is in the Health sub-index, where it ranks 91st
in 2014.
Mongolia:
Economy - 80, Entrepreneurship & Opportunity - 58, Governance - 76,
Education - 46, Health - 91, Safety & Security - 40, Personal Freedom - 90,
Personal Freedom - 25.
Stock
Exchange weekly
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) Five stock trades were held at Mongolia's Stock Exchange
on November 3-7 of 2014. In overall, 67 thousand and 187 shares were sold of 40
joint-stock companies totaling MNT four billion 401 million 917 thousand and
957.00.
"Remicon”
/six thousand and 112 units/, "Genco Tour Bureau” /three thousand and 600
units/, "Mogoin Gol” /2,822 units/, "Binse” /2,000 units/ and
"APU” /2,000 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading
volume, in terms of trading value--"Mogoin Gol” (MNT 28 million 220
thousand and 80), "APU” (MNT seven million 444 thousand and 467),
"Darkhan Nekhii” /MNT five million 752 thousand and 120/, "UB-BUK”
/MNT three million and 84 thousand and 480/ and "Material Impex” (MNT two
million and 739 thousand).
Stock
Exchange news for November 7
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
November 7 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades on Friday, a total of 3,639
shares of 6 JSCs were traded costing MNT 30 million 514 thousand and 467.00.
"Mogoin
Gol” /2,800 units/, “APU” /559 units/, “Nako Fuel” /178 units/, “Mongol
Leather” /42 units/ and "Shariin Gol” /36 units/ were the most actively
traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading value were "Mogoin
Gol” (MNT 28 million), "APU” (MNT two million 71 thousand and 377),
“Shariin Gol” (MNT 231 thousand and 250), “Darkhan Foods” (MNT 120 thousand)
and "Nako Fuel” (MNT 49 thousand and 840).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 540 billion 409 million 27
thousand and 40. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 15,311.52, decreasing 165.15
units or 1.07% against the previous day.
Moscow’s
newest WWII memorial will also be its first Buddhist temple
By B. Dulguun
November 9 (UB
Post) A foundation stone laying ceremony for a memorial Buddhist temple was
held at the memorial complex in the Poklonnaya Hills in Moscow, Russia, on
National Unity Day, celebrated on November 4.
Construction of
the Buddhist temple complex project, commemorating every Buddhist killed during
World War II, has been hastened so the memorial is finished in time for next
year’s 70th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II.
The project is
particularly significant to Moscow because it will become Moscow’s first
Buddhist temple.
Members of the
Federation Council of Russia, the State Duma, Russian Presidential Executive
Office, the Moscow City Duma, as well as Buddhist monks from Buryatia, Kalmykia
and Tuva, and plenipotentiary representatives of Irkutsk participated in the
event.
At the
foundation stone laying ceremony, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Mongolia to Russia Sh.Altangerel and other embassy staff members,
representative offices of the Ulaanbaatar Railway Authority, Erdenet Mining
Corporation, and Mongolrostsvetmet LLC, as well as Mongolians living in Moscow
were also present.
“It’s said the
first battle of the Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union took place in
Khalkhiin Gol in 1939. Then, it can be said that the last battle was when the
Soviet troops liberated Manchuria across the Hyangan Mountain Range. Mongolian
troops participated in both of these battles. The people of Mongolia supported
its neighbor [Russia] during the war years by mobilizing all of Mongolia’s
economic opportunities. Mongolia is a Buddhist country. I’m confident this
Buddhist temple complex, dedicated to everyone who died heroically during World
War II, will become a heroic friendship monument for both of our country’s
people,” stated Ambassador Sh.Altangerel.
NCC
holds a meeting to discuss DP’s internal issues
By Ch. Khaliun
November 9 (UB
Post) The National Coordinating Committee (NCC) of the Democratic Party (DP)
held a meeting to discuss several internal issues of the party, particularly
the schedule for the DP’s Assembly, a decision from the Inspection Committee
(IC) on the expulsion of its eight members who voted for dismissal of the Prime
Minister, and the issue of selecting a new head of the party.
Beginning the
meeting, Head of the DP N.Altankhuyag and E.Bat-Uul gave speeches. The meeting
was chaired by N.Altankhuyag, E.Bat-Uul and Secretary-General Ts.Oyundari, but
participants decided to change the meeting’s leaders. After fierce debate, the
participants decided to choose E.Bat-Uul, Chairman of the City Council
D.Battulga, and Governor of Sukhbaatar District D.Badarsan as leaders of the
meeting, finishing the first day of the meeting.
The following
day, the NCC discussed the party’s major issues.
A total of 174
members attended the meeting, from which the majority decided that it was
unnecessary to discuss the issue of changing its party leader.
The next issue
was the expulsion of the party’s eight members for contributing to the PM’s
dismissal and the collapse of his government, as well as calling for
accountability from the seven members who didn’t attend the plenary session at
such a significant moment.
The
participants decided to not expel the members who voted against the party,
because they believe that the resolution of the IC violates the party’s
regulations, rejecting the call for accountability of those members.
During the
two-day meeting, the DP’s NCC released a resolution to cancel the agreement
established between the DP and Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party (MPRP).
Participants
scheduled the DP’s Assembly for next month and decided to discuss the issue of
the party’s head and review the program “Mongol Khun 2020”.
GDP
by production grows in the first nine months of 2014
By B. Mendbayar
November 9 (UB
Post) The National Statistical Office (NSO) has reported on the nation’s gross
domestic product (GDP) growth for the first nine months of 2014.
According to
the report, GDP by production reached 11,093.5 billion MNT at 2010′s constant
price in the first nine months of 2014, increasing by seven percent from the
same period of the previous year.
The NSO
attributed the increase mainly to a 15.3 percent increase in the industrial and
construction sectors, and a 15.4 percent increase in the agricultural sector’s
marginal costs. The mining and exploitation sectors accounted for 5 percentage
point of the seven percent increase, agriculture for 1.8 percentage points and
other services for 1.8 percentage points. The increases in the mining and
exploitation sectors were mainly due to increases of 38 percent in copper
concentrate exploitation, 10.9 percent in gold exploitation, 50.2 percent in
petroleum exploitation, and a 2.1 times increase in iron ore concentrates.
At current
prices, GDP by production reached 16,517.3 billion MNT in the first nine months
of 2014, up by 18.8 percent compared with the same period of previous year.
GDP by
expenditure reached 15,847.3 billion MNT at current prices and 11,150.3 billion
MNT at 2010 constant prices in the first nine months of 2014, up by 16.7
percent, or 2,271.3 billion MNT, at current prices and 7.3 percent, or 760
billion MNT, at constant price compared with the same period of the previous
year.
B.Munkhbat:
Herders can manufacture biochar to make profit
November 9 (UB
Post) Professors and scientists of the
Mongolian State University of Agriculture (MSUA) manufactured and supplied 10
tons of biochar to Oyu Tolgoi LLC. Biochar is not only beneficial for reducing
global warming and has been dubbed a “technology to save the earth”, ranked
third after solar and wind energy.
Professor at the School of Engineering of
the MSUA B.Munkhbat who led the team that produced biochar gave a very
informative interview about biochar production.
Based on which studies and technology did
you manufacture biochar?
Research work
began in 2008. There are several ways of producing biochar. Studies were
initially aimed towards manufacturing technologies and equipment. Our objective
was to invent an easy-to-use stove made from highly advanced technology and
equipment with simple structure that doesn’t require special skills allowing
anybody to function it.
After studying
many types of stoves, we got a patent for a new stove that sucks air from the
inside and ignites from the top. Later, we needed to determine technological
regime for the stove and biochar raw materials such as dung, manure, Blackwood,
pine tree, birch bark, and sawdust. We also researched about how to extract
biochar from raw materials. At this stage, we needed to change the design of
the stove and altered the diameter of a hole for letting in primary air
accordingly to raw material properties.
Many scientists
across the world determined the best burning temperature for getting the best
quality biochar is 500 to 700 degrees Celsius. Our research also came out the
same. In 2013, we saw it was correct to develop biochar studies in Mongolia and
established the Mongolian Biochar Research Institute (MoBRI) of the MSUA. We
worked towards creating a bio bank containing all records of getting biochar
from all types of raw material in Mongolia. It was necessary to have
specialized personnel for biochar production. Therefore, two doctorates were
educated in Japan and China. One of them is running our management. We’re
currently training six post-graduate degree course students. Our next research
work is on reusing oil and heat, emitted during biochar extraction process.
Mongolia has
over 60 million livestock. Locals in gobi (desert) and western provinces use
manure and dried and compressed dung as fuel while provinces such as Selenge,
Bulgan and Khuvsgul don’t use manure. They don’t use collected trees from
forest cleaning.
We started this
research because biochar production is not only beneficial to the environment
but also profitable for the economy. Besides using meat, milk, wool, cashmere
and leather, herders can manufacture products with animal manure and compressed
dung for getting revenue.
What can this fuel (biochar) be used for?
The president
of the International Biochar Initiative said that the only way to stop global
warming is to manufacture biochar at large quantity. According to biochar
studies, although emissions from dung can’t be seen by naked eyes, the
biodegradation process continues for five to six years. Toxic substances,
including nitrous oxide and methane, are released into the air as a result of
this biodegradation. On the other hand, smoke is created from burning dung or
manure. Converting every biochar into solid form has two significances.
Firstly, toxic substance will not be released into the atmosphere. Secondly,
burying biochar into soil will improve its fertility and create useful bacteria
for plant growth.
Potato harvest
increased by 35 percent when our researchers experimented by inserting biochar
into soil a month before harvesting. The number of useful bacteria in a gram of
soil also increased. Specifically, before biochar was put into a gram of soil,
the soil contained three million useful bacteria but a month after inserting
biochar, the number increased to 300 million. This is convenient for
agricultural technical restoration of fields and the mining sector. Organic and
mineral fertilizers are put into soil annually. However, biochar can be
preserved for 500 to 1,000 years after inserting it once.
We established
a small plant capable of manufacturing 50 to 800 kg biochar a day in Mandal
soum, Selenge Province thanks to getting financing for constructing a
small-sized biochar plant after participating in an innovation project contest
and getting support from the MSUA. We produced trial products and supplied it
to Oyu Tolgoi LLC. Oyu Tolgoi LLC will try them out on soil next spring. We’ll
be able to see how the products recover and improve Gobi’s decertified zone
soil.
Apart from
putting it into soil, biochar can be used for roasting meat and filtering water
as well as air. Biochar is used in South Korea’s high-filtered cigarettes.
Legal environment and regulations are causing us difficulty. For instance,
legal environment isn’t available if I wanted to manufacture biochar fertilizer
and establish my own company. An extremely good law for innovation was passed.
However, there isn’t any opportunity for implementing it. It states that the
state will support people executing innovations by purchasing their products.
Yet this is conflicting with the Public Procurement Law.
Can anything besides tree and manure be
used as raw material for biochar?
Any sort of
organic waste can be used as raw material, including bone, paper, and things of
animal and plant origin. Biochar output is from 25 to 30 percent, depending on
the raw material. It will not give off any negative impact to the environment
or release smoke and gas during production.
Mongolia has
several industries that produce products from waste materials. Their regular
and long-term operations are limited due to inadequate raw material supply.
Does a biochar plant have sufficient raw material sources and opportunities for
running regular operations?
We didn’t aim
for the sole possession of the technology for manufacturing biochar or the
plant. It’s impossible to do that. However, every household can become the
manufacturer. Stoves were invented with our many years of effort. Every
household should acquire this stove, manufacture biochar whenever it’s
convenient, and we need to be able to collect them at the MoBRI somehow, maybe
by an exchange system. It’ll be useful if biochar characteristics and quality can
be determined and supplied in the future. Only this stove is necessary for
household production.
How many biochar stoves have you produced?
Has prices for the stove and biochar been determined?
Around 20 out
of 40 manufactured stoves are used by us. They will be sold for cheap prices.
Biochar price hasn’t been determined even internationally. Prices are different
depending on the availability of raw materials and its quality.
How’s the demand for biochar in Mongolia?
Currently, few
alcohol, drinks and beverage, and spirt manufacturing companies import biochar
from Russia and China. Demands will depend on how much biochar can be
manufactured in the future.
Source:
http://mongolnews.mn/1d1b
Team
Khatantuul returns from World Dance Sport Championship
By M. Zoljargal
November 9 (UB
Post) Mongolian standard dance sport team Khatantuul has finished the World
Dance Sport Federation’s (WDSF) 2014 World Championship in Braunschweig,
Germany, ranking 11th out of 18 teams from ten different countries.
Khatantuul
Mongolia competed in the first round with 17 teams and qualified to the second
round. However, the team couldn’t advance to the final round, finishing the
championship at 11th.
The championship’s
three rounds challenged over 200 dancers on November 1 and 2. Germany’s
Braunschweiger TSC was crowned a champion, while Russia’s Vera Tyumen Standard
Team won a silver medal. The third place went to another German team 1 TC
Ludwigsburg.
Six teams from
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Belarus, Romania and Hungary were eliminated in
the first round, while six other teams from the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland,
Romania and Mongolia could not pass to the third round.
The Mongolian
team returned home on Thursday last week. It was their fourth World
Championship in formation standard discipline.
Khatantuul
Mongolia ranked seventh in last year’s WDSF World Championship in Tyumen,
Russia.
Who
will be chosen as the next PM?
November 9 (UB
Post) As soon as the “Government for Changes” collapsed and Prime Minister
N.Altankhuyag handed over the State Seal, rumors among the public arose about
who would be the next Prime Minister?
D.Dorligjav,
Ch.Saikhanbileg, Lu.Gantumur, Z.Enkhbold, R.Amarjargal and Kh.Battulga were at
the top list for potential candidates to serve as the next Prime Minister,
according to the public’s speculations.
But before the
new PM is elected, many issues need to be resolved in the Democratic Party,
including resolving violations among the factions in DP.
Whether the DP
can hold the authority of the government or not is under public scrutiny. Also,
will the recently signed cooperation agreement between N.Altankhuyag and N.Enkhbayar
remain valid?
The DP has a 20
year history in Mongolian government. Any heads of the factions and groups in
the DP are looking ahead to the 2016 election and attempting to recover the
party’s honor.
The DP has many
choices for choosing parties and coalitions to cooperate with and establish
their government. The choices they have are the Justice Coalition, the MPP, or
working with the Justice Coalition and individual members of the MPP.
Anyhow, a new
government will be established soon, but the most significant issue is that
there have to be ministers who know their sectors and make policy to undo the
mistakes of the former government.
On the other
hand, the “double deel” issue is also being raised – whether or not parliament
members wearing a “double deel” should work in the government.
The public
waits with interest for a response from the DP.
Brief profiles
of possible candidates:
State General
Prosecutor D.Dorligjav has served as the Deputy Minister, Minister of Defense,
head of the DP, general secretary of the DP and head of the Office of the
President. The President has been actively lobbying for him. Most of the
members of the DP suggest that he remain the state general prosecutor.
Speaker of
Parliament Z.Enkhbold has served as the head of the State Property Committee,
advisor to the Speaker, and general secretariat of the DP. The “Shonkhor”
faction supports his candidacy.
Head of the
Cabinet Secretariat of Government Ch.Saikhanbileg worked as the president of
the Mongolian Youth Federation, Minister of Education (currently the Ministry
of Education and Science), head of the Information, Communications Technology
and Post Authority, and head of the Press and Public Relations Department of
the Government. He has enough support if the representatives of the National
Coordinating Committee of the DP make up the electors.
Member of
Parliament Kh.Battulga has served as Minister of Roads, Transportation and
Urban Development and Minister of Industry and Agriculture. He participated
actively in the collapse of Altankhuyag’s government. Even if he is nominated,
he is unlikely to receive a majority vote from the National Coordinating
Committee.
Member of
Parliament R.Amarjargal worked as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime
Minister. If the DP can relieve economic hardship and be elected in the next
term, he is the most likely candidate for Prime Minister. The public has great
expectations to promote him to Prime Minister, but he is not relevant to any
factions so he is unlikely to be elected.
Minister of Education
and Science L.Gantumur is not connected to any stories of corruption and is one
of the most well-spoken members of the DP. He might be a strong competitor.
Source: Unuudur
Frantic
Taxers
By D.
Jargalsaikhan
November 9 (UB
Post) Why must there be taxes? It’s because it was decided that citizens were
all to contribute to financing the government, whose primary role is to
organize security to protect the three basic rights of people: life, liberty,
and property. Through social progress, the government’s duties were expanded to
provide education and protect health. Of the one million people that make up
Mongolia’s labor force, 18 percent work in government, law enforcement, education,
or healthcare.
The funds to
provide wages, facilities, and transportation for these 180,000 citizens are
accumulated by taxing the portion of the population creating material wealth.
The number of taxpayers is about 400,000, after subtracting the 100,000 who are
abroad, the 100,000 unemployed, and the 220,000 who run businesses off the
radar. This means that one taxpayer is paying the costs of government services
on behalf of 7.5 people.
The taxes in
Mongolia are divided into income, capital, and sales taxes. Because our country
is almost solely dependent on the mining industry, the royalties from public
goods (mineral reserves) are no less than the income tax collected from
individuals and businesses. A tax ratio like this, especially in a developing
country like ours, where the citizens cannot oversee public governance in its
entirety, leads to a prevalence of corruption and bribery.
The mineral
markets have their own development periods. When prices and sales fall due to
foreign markets, tax revenues fall along with them and the government usually
ends up borrowing to make up for its bloated spending. If the government cannot
restrain its spending and increase the revenues from sectors outside of mining,
the chances of that country being credited to borrow again decrease.
Consequently, there is no choice but to raise the other types of taxes.
TAX DEPRAVITY
Currently, the
Mongolian government is looking for all the ways it can increase tax revenue.
Mongolia is a country with a heavy tax burden. Every company pays 10 percent of
their income in VAT, 10 percent of their payroll goes to income tax, another 20
percent to Social Security and health insurance, and finally, 10 percent of
their net revenue. This comes out to a total tax burden of 47 percent of a company’s
income.
This tax rate
has become too heavy a burden on the nation’s roughly 90,000 enterprises and
most can no longer afford to pay. Due to this, the Mongolian Chamber of
Commerce and the Business Council have urged authorities to cut taxes in half. Even
though half the companies are bankrupt, they are not allowed to close down. The
local tax authorities want to increase their ranks so that they can work to
collect taxes from all the companies.
In order to
provide bonuses for the tax authority workers, who work long hours on little
pay, the Head of the General Taxation Authority released the procedures for
providing bonuses on the implementation of performance agreements, and these
procedures were updated on June 27, 2013. These procedures are based on a
Ministry of Finance resolution to provide incentives for decreased spending and
increased fiscal income, which was approved in 2007, and later updated on
November 15, 2012.
Thus, this
“race” to increase fiscal income by exceeding the planned budget has continued
for the duration of several governments, has brought private businesses to
their knees, and provided the foundation for bribery. In actuality, working at
the tax department, in customs, the courts, or any other similar oversight
department, still provides people with the opportunity to find income that can
be many times greater than a civil service worker’s actual wages. Due to this,
politicians have been using such positions as “currency” to pay off their
election debts.
The Independent
Authority against Corruption (IAAC) has reported that in the tax divisions of
the capital districts, 60 percent of the tax revenues that were collected in
excess of the budget was being used for bonuses.
For example, in
2013, the Sukhbaatar District tax authority was able to collect an excess of
4.2 billion MNT. It was granted 800 million MNT in bonuses, of which over 40
percent (360 million MNT) was given to the General Taxation Authority, 40
million MNT to the Head of the Tax Division, 40 million MNT to the Head of the
Finance and Treasury Division, 54 million MNT to the Head of the Tax Collection
Department, and 2.2 million was given to each officer. The Bayangol District
taxation department was awarded 574 million MNT, and 220 million MNT went to
the General Taxation Authority, 20 million MNT to the division head, 12 million
MNT each to five senior officers, and 5 million MNT to one senior officer. In
Bayanzurkh district, the tax authorities were awarded a bonus of 1 billion 174
million MNT, of which 273 million MNT went to the division head and 528.7
million MNT was divided among the 32 officers. Songinokhairkhan District
received 501 million MNT, of which 75 million MNT went to the division head.
Khan-Uul District and Chingeltei District each received 416 and 250 million MNT
respectively to share among their workers. What kind of plan is this?
The core of the
problem is not that the bonuses are huge, or that they go against article 38 of
the Tax Law, which states: “the monthly bonuses awarding an officer will not exceed
his/her monthly salary.” The problem is that the Ministry of Finance feels that
these bonuses do not go against any of their resolutions or procedures.
This all proves
that the tax officers are using the uncertainty of laws and regulations to
plunder the assets of others, as well as forcing some people to pay bribes. It
is indication of how foolish it would be for anyone to talk of developing the
private sector or re-investing in business under such conditions.
Taxes should be low, and everyone should pay them without being forced. The more value that people get to receive from their labor, the more value they will create. If they pay more than half their income in taxes, the motivation to work and use resources efficiently decreases. Let us Mongolians unite for fair taxes and intelligent taxes.
Taxes should be low, and everyone should pay them without being forced. The more value that people get to receive from their labor, the more value they will create. If they pay more than half their income in taxes, the motivation to work and use resources efficiently decreases. Let us Mongolians unite for fair taxes and intelligent taxes.
Trans. by
G.Munkh-Ariun
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