Mongolia Brief February 4, 2015 Part I
Prime
Minister meets local authorities
By B.
Amarsaikhan
Ulaanbaatar,
February 4 (MONTSAME) At the workshop meeting, run by the Cabinet Secretariat
with the localities' authorities, the Prime Minister has given a detailed
information about current economic level, policies and actions taken by the
government.
The two-day
meeting, completed this Tuesday, all the Governors of aimags and of the city
were given general directions and obligations concerning the 2015
development priorities, state budget, budget clarifications and implementation of
the Glass Account law. They also reached agreements with the general
budget administrators and determined policies and actions for this year.
The PM
mentioned his words said earlier in interview that "two or three well-adjusted
projects or programs can help Mongolia overcome the economic problems, they are
a temporary decline that requires the public effort and a team-work", and
said that his cabinet had discussed the concession agreement on new roads and
had identified the State Distinguished Herders and Farmers. He also obligated
the city and aimags' heads to work hard on nowadays problems.
Revised
draft of Criminal Law submitted to Parliament for approval
February 4
(news.mn) At the plenary session of the Government, held on February 2, a
revised draft of the criminal law and a draft law on violations were discussed.
These laws are going to be submitted for approval by the Parliament, in
accordance with procedures for the submission of laws and draft projects.
The draft of
the Law on Violation has been revised considering the contents and concepts of
the new draft of the criminal law, and incorporating legal procedures in the
current law.
The existing
criminal law was approved in 2002, and since that time, 10 amendments to the
law have been made considering the changing demands of society and the state.
Minister
of Energy meets UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia
February 4
(news.mn) Minister of Energy D.Zorigt has met with Sezin Sinanoglu, United
Nations Resident Coordinator in Mongolia. During the meeting, Sinanoglu
introduced the status of programs and projects carried out by the U.N. in
Mongolia and the parties exchanged views regarding further
cooperation.
She noted that
the elaboration of a five-year development program to be implemented by the
United Nations in Mongolia has begun, and a program to be implemented by all
diversified organizations of the U.N. will be starting in 2017. The Resident
Coordinator mentioned that the U.N., together with the Ministry of Environment,
Green Development and Tourism, is going to introduce the Threshold 21 Model for
macro economy development planning named “Partnership for Green
Development”.
The Millennium
Institute's development program is going to be completed this year, and a
proposal to cooperate further has been delivered.
Sinanoglu
mentioned that hot water and heating is going to be supplied to eight soums in
Mongolia within the project “Water Supply of Rural Areas and Sewage
Facility”, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy, a proposal to
supply energy to these soums has also been put forward.
Minister of
Energy D.Zorigt thanked the U.N. Resident Coordinator for providing information
regarding the projects and programs being implemented by the U.N. in Mongolia,
and said that the Ministry of Energy will put efforts towards further
cooperation and study the possibility of the realization and implementation of
projects.
Head of the
Strategic Policy and Planning Department P.Tovuudorj, Senior Specialists of the
Finance and Investment Department G.Enkhtuvshin and E. Solongo, U.N. Office
Specialist Responsible for Natural Environment and Disaster Issues
B.Bunchindev, and D.Erdenebulgan, an official from the U.N. Resident
Representative Office, were present at the meeting.
Science
industry to sue PM
By G. Ermuun
February 4
(gogo.mn) Science industry decided to sue the prime minister.
Specifically,
the science sector which has more than 1,000 employees had not paid from last
month.
Thus, today
at 12:00, they will hold press conference at the Conference Hall of the
Academy of Sciences.
What
to give on Tsagaan sar?
By A.
Narantsatsral
Mongolians have
a tradition to visit friends and family on Tsagaan sar and exchange gifts.
Recently, people prefer to support the domestic manufacture for the gifts
rather than to choose imported low-quality gifts.
In view of
upcoming Tsagaan Sar celebration, "Made in Mongolia 2015" exhibition
is being held at "Misheel expo" center.
We are
delivering you the photo interview from the exhibition.
UBiers:
Michelle Borok
February 4
(gogo.mn) We are delivering the next “Short Interview” featuring Expats in
Mongolia, who are working and enjoying live in Mongolia and UB city. We aim to
share their experiences of living in Mongolia. Our next guest is Michelle
Borok, who works as English language editor at the UB Post and a
freelance writer... Certainly, it starts with “Why Mongolia?"
Why Mongolia?
In 2010 I came
as here as a tourist and fell in love with the country, and then in 2011 I fell
in love with a Mongolian. I moved here in 2012 to take a chance on those loves
and got lucky in both. Now it's hard to imagine any other place to call home.
I've lived in Darkhan Uul since I moved here and absolutely love it, although
we're in UB regularly for business, family, friends, and food.
How do you cope with the cold?
I barely do! I
lived in Minnesota for a few years and vowed to never live in a place with snow
outside of ski resorts after moving back to Los Angeles, but I here I am. Last
year we bought a hashaa and built a new home. My one priority requirement was
that it would be warm, and my husband came through on that like a champ. In the
winter we do still venture out to the countryside outside of Darkhan to spend
time with family. Somehow, you forget how cold it is outside when you're with
family in the ger, gulping bowls of hot milk tea. And of course, it's never
cold in a home filled with family for Tsagaan Sar.
Most favorite thing to see in UB?
When we come in
to UB, it's to take advantage of the things we don't have in Darkhan. There are
fantastic restaurants across the city and I always stock up on harder to find
grocery items, but that's becoming less and less of a challenge over the years.
My favorite thing about UB is also probably one of most problematic things: the
centrality of it all. When people say that the real Mongolia is the
countryside, I have to disagree. The real Mongolia is every corner of it. UB is
a special place where all of that comes together. It's not the home to
everything that's wonderful about this country, but it's where you can tap into
all of those things in one place.
What would you suggest changing in UB?
My biggest
frustration about UB is the disparity. Foreign journalists begin every Mongolia
story about gers next to skyscrapers (forgetting to mention that's just where
the construction crews hang out), and deel and Louis Vuitton off Chinggis
Square. The contrast makes for great photos and anecdotes, but it's also a very
real struggle for people. Aside from politics and economics, the love of
traditional values and cultural heritage is one path to take out of a very
treacherous and ever expanding wealth gap.
What were the greatest myths about
Mongolia?
I think the
greatest myth, one I believed when I first visited, is the notion of arriving
here solo and being able to live a solitary life on the steppe. A solitary life
here can be a curse. Mongolians are a warm and communal people. You can live
well here with less, but it's nearly impossible to do it alone - perhaps that
applies as much to the life of a herder as it does to city living. I haven't
met a Mongolian yet who wants to live in isolation. Maybe that Western romantic
ideal of being alone with nature says more about how far removed other cultures
are from the importance of community and family, be it by blood or friendship.
That lone herder you may spot from the roadside may truly appreciate the peace
and quiet of solitude while he's out with his herd, but I guarantee you that
he's eager to get home to a cozy ger full of family before the sun sets.
What would be your advice for the newcomer?
My advice would
be to keep an open mind. Mongolian culture is unique among Asian cultures, and
about 95% of whatever newcomers may believe about life in an Asian country does
not apply here. There's a hunger for knowledge, understanding, and excellence
that drives Mongolian society, and things are changing quickly, but I think
it's also good to remember that a lot of major changes have happened within
just a couple generations of the nation's political, cultural, and economic
leaders. Be patient with Mongolia. While it works through the changes that are
going to make it better place, savor the gifts it offers and try to spend less
time worrying about expectations that aren't being met.
56.1%
voted for developing the bigger projects such as OT
By B.
Erdenechimeg
February 4
(gogo.mn) PM Ch.Saikhanbileg asked the nation which route Mongolia is to choose
for its Development Path for Mongolia 2015-2016.
Total
of 365,841 votes had submitted and out of 63,830 votes were not eligible
due to people sent different texts or empty text.
Thus, 56,1%
of residents voted for developing its bigger projects such as OT vote 1 while
43,9% of residents voted for saving on its expenditures and stabilize the
exchange rates vote 2.
Ts.Munkhtur, Advisor
to PM said: "Residents were not responsible for attending the poll. The
Government is to choose Development Path not only based on the result of
the poll. In order to determine the attitude of the public, the Government
asked the nation. There were no costs for the poll.
Telecommunication companies accepted the social responsibility for the
cost."
Related:
Public
Poll on Choosing Developmental Way Concluded – Montsame, February 4
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