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Budget debate on child allowance
Parliament held the first debate on the basic guidelines of the Mongolian economy for 2007. The issue of increasing the child allowance worth Tg3,000 per month, which started being issued from last year to support population growth and family, caused much dispute and caused the plenary meeting to be recessed.
New member for the DP
The DP council in parliament has added a new member, becoming 25. MP R. Erdeneburen, who was elected to the Motherland Party, withdrew his membership from the party at his own request and received a membership certificate from the Democratic Party on November 16.
Rail crash kills three
At ‘Khangai’ junction, about 107km away from Ulaanbaatar City and near Bagakhangai District, a freight train collided with a locomotive at 9am on November 20, killing three people. The freight train carrying coal from Choir station to Ulaanbaatar had broken down at 8am and had asked for help. However the locomotive, which was sent to repair the freight train, ran into the back of the stationary freight train causing the collision.
Miner dead in accident
Oyu Tolgoi Project’s Press Office informed press that at 9.05am of November 18, an industrial accident had occurred in the exploration shaft at Oyu Tolgoi. A miner died in the accident.
Doping tests prompt action
The Organising Committee for the National Naadam Festival called a meeting on November 14, at which they discussed the issue of doping and approved a resolution. Members of the committee, the Chief of the National Physical Culture and Sport Committee Ch. Naranbaatar, the Chief of the National Wrestling Branch Committee of the festival J. Batsuuri and Government Spokesman N. Demberel informed the press about the resolution on November 15.
Ministry rebuts charges
On August 31 the Fuel and Energy Ministry (FEM) and Renewable Energy National Centre (RENC) announced an international tender for the supply of 50,000, 50 watt solar energy units to herder families under the national programme ‘100,000 solar lights’. But at the plenary meeting of parliament on November 3, the Fuel and Energy Minister D. Erdenebat informed parliament that he would re-announce the tender having considered the former tender invalidated under tender law. The Korean comsortium ‘L-SYSTECH’, which had participated in the tender, hosted a media conference on November 16, at which it expressed its belief that the tender has been influenced due to insider interest.
Russian visit finalised
Prime Minister M. Enkhbold received the Russian Ambassador to Mongolia, B.A. Govorin on November 18
At the meeting the Russian Ambassador emphasized the importance of ensuring a successful upcoming visit of the Mongolian President to Russia.
Singaporean Ambassador presents credentials
On November 15 the Ambassador of Singapore to Mongolia, Mr. Chua Thai Keong presented his diplomatic credentials to the Mongolian President N. Enkhbayar.
Mongolian Ambassador in Malaysia
Whilst submitting his official credentials in November 13-17 in Kuala Lumpur, the Mongolian Ambassador to Malaysia Ya. Batsuuri met staff of relevant organizations in the death case of the Mongolian citizen Sh. Altantuya, who died in Malaysia, and officially requested that the case be legally resolved.
PM receives Ambassadors
On November 16 Prime Minister M. Enkhbold received the Indian Ambassador Yo. Varma.
On November 15, Prime Minister M.Enkhbold received Chua Thai Keong, Ambassador of Singapore to Mongolia and expressed his hope that relations between the two countries will be expanded during his mission.
On November 20, Prime Minister M. Enkhbold received the New Zealand Ambassador to Mongolia Antony Brown.
Mongolia qualifies for MCC
President N. Enkhbayar has received a letter from John J. Danilovich, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. In the letter Mr. Danilovich wrote “On behalf of the United States Government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), I am pleased to inform you that on November 8, 2006, the MCC Board of Directors selected Mongolia as being eligible for Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) funding for the fiscal year 2007.
Loan fund commences
The Enterprise Mongolia Project established a loan guarantee fund called the ‘One Village and One Product Loan Guarantee Fund’ on November 17. The signing ceremony of the agreement between the United Nations Development Programme, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and XacBank took place in the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Celebration marks 75 year achievement
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the cooperation agreement between Mongolia and Russia on the geological sector. To celebrate the occasion, the Mongolian Geology Association head and MP, S. Oyun, Chief of the Board of Directors D. Chuluun and Russian Geology Association Vice President E.G. Farrahov spoke to the press on November 11.
THE MINERALS LAW OF MONGOLIA
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Purpose of the law
The purpose of this law is to regulate prospecting, exploration and mining of minerals within the territory of Mongolia.
U.S. Ambassador marks Bush visit anniversery
November 21 marks the anniversary of President George W. Bush’s visit to Ulaanbaatar, the first visit of an American president to Mongolia. One year ago, President Bush declared in Government House that “America is proud to be Mongolia’s third neighbor.” The year since that visit has demonstrated that the distance that separates us is far less than the shared values and common interests that unite us. The comprehensive partnership between Mongolia and the United States is strong and growing.
As President Bush noted while here, Mongolia realizes that “our responsibilities in freedom’s cause do not end at our borders, and that survival of liberty in our own lands increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands.”
Peace Corps in Mongolia for 15 years
The United States government agency Peace Corps celebrated the 15th anniversary of its program in Mongolia on 17 November. In 1990 the Mongolian government requested the presence of Peace corps volunteers to serve in-country and it began operations in 1991. Over the past 15 years 576 volunteers have served in English teaching and health education, computer skills training, economic development and environmental conservation. Initially volunteers worked only in Ulaanbaatar, today they work in one third of soums living in gers or wooden cabins.
Kazakh Minister in Mongolia
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jamart Kemelevich Tokaev paid an official visit to Mongolia on November 12-14.
During his visit, Mr. Tokaev held official talks with Mongolian Minister of Foreign Affairs, N.Enkhbold, and met the Prime Minister and President. He also visited the Tonyukuk monument in Nalaikh District of Ulaanbaatar.
On November 13, President N.Enkhbayar received the visiting Kazakh delegates led by the Kazakh Foreign Affairs Minister Mr. K.K. Tokaev.
Maternal care improves as the birth rate increases
Mothers, who have given birth in Ulaanbaatar generally, leave maternity hospitals in after just one or two days. Recently the press caused a sensation about a mother who gave a birth on the street. City Health Office specialist N. Bolormaa was asked for information concerning the matter of maternal health care and said that previously mothers who had given birth generally remained in hospital from between 3-7 days however in foreign countries, mothers, who do not present any complications, are allowed to go home the same day as the delivery although they are often encouraged to stay longer. Currently, there are enough beds for post partum mothers in Mongolia but there is a shortage for women suffering complications during pregnancy.
The birth rate is increasing year by year in line with the increase in Ulaanbaatar’s population. 16,286 mothers gave birth in 2004, which increased to 17,862 in Ulaanbaatar in 2005
Health heads row
On October 2, the Health Minister gave the order to dismiss the director of the Maternal and Infant Scientific Centre (MISC) and replace him with J. Nyamjav, who had previously worked as the National Communicable Disease Studies Centre’s HIV/AIDS/STIs Surveillance Department chief. However MISC colleagues refused to receive the new director as he has no academic title, no action plan to manage the MISC and no knowledge concerning pressing issues on mothers and infants.
Infections close hospital
The 2nd maternal hospital in Ulaanbaatar has been temporarily closed due to several cases of neonatal infection diagnosed last week. Relevant treatment is now underway. After four infants became infected last Friday, relevant health officials met and made a decision to temporarily close the hospital. The number of babies infected increased to six and one died. The hospital building is dilapidated and has been in use for over 50 years.
New User-friendly Dictionary
It’s been over three months since the Oxford-Monsudar English Mongolian Dictionary was published and became available for thousands of domestic and foreign users. The newly published dictionary has been very well received and it is highly thought of not only amongst Mongolian students, scholars and intellectuals but also foreign researchers and learners of the Mongolian language. Monsudar Publishing Company earned the license to translate the Oxford Dictionary into Mongolian in accordance with internationally recognized procedure and has created the dictionary; the a joint effort of our leading translators, scholars, publicists and diplomats.
Doll exhibition to UB
After two successful exhibits of its Buddhist Tsam Dolls–one at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. and a second here in Ulaanbaatar–the Bogukhate Company unveils the first public showing of its entire collection of 60 ethnographic dolls, including those previously exhibited, at the Modern Art Gallery on November 25, 2006.
Sumo says sayonara
On November 14 President N. Enkhbayar received Kyokushuzan D. Batbayar, state honored athlete of Mongolia and professional sumo wrestler in connection with the latter’s retirement from the sport.
News-in-brief
The 35th regular meeting of the Council of the joint Mongolian-Russian ‘Erdenet’ mining industry and the 36th meeting of the joint Mongolian-Russian Mongolrostsvetmet’s Council were separately held on November 7-10 in the Pokrovskaya holiday home near Moscow, Russia.
The meetings discussed the results of activities, which were carried out in 2005 by the industry and factory. A strategy conception on 2005-2015 development of the ‘Erdenet’ mining industry and a draft programme on developing the ‘Mongolrostsvetmet’ until 2015 were approved at the meetings, chaired by S.V.Sysoev, Deputy Head of the Russian State Property Committee and Head of the Russian group. Prominent among the participants were Kh.Narankhuu, Director-General of the ‘Erdenet’ mining industry, O.Erdenee, Director-General of the ‘Mongoltsvetmet’ consortium, as well as experts from the two countries.
A budget was approved at the meetings for the building of a joint copper factory with the technology of the Finland ‘Oco compu’ company. Apart of this, the issue was solved of the funding for the engineering system of a new apartment district to be erected in Erdenet, Orkhon Aimag.
Mongolian President N. Enkhbayar received delegates on November 15 led by A.P.Kuleshov, Director General of the International Institute for Management Issues Studies.
The representatives introduced to the President a plan to introduce a new information and communication system to Mongolia with the cooperation of the Russian Space Research and Production Centre named after Hrunichev. If the project is realized, the whole of Mongolia with its great territory and small population will be connected to the latest united communication system.
The President has attached a great significance to the project and advised the delegates to cooperate with related professional institutions in Mongolia.
The implementation of projects and programmes, carried out in Mongolia by UNICEF, were introduced to the Mongolian President N. Enkhbayar on November 15 by the UNICEF Resident Representative in Mongolia, Mr. Bertran Desmoulin.
The State Head noted that the UN and its organizations make an important contribution to Mongolia. He stressed that the Government of Mongolia will render any necessary assistance and support to the UN and its organizations.
Mongolia and UNICEF have been cooperating for more than 40 years in the fields of health, education, children and women’s protection. The UNICEF Representative Board in Mongolia is one of the financiers of the ‘Lunch’ programme, which has been implemented since September among first and second grades’ pupils of secondary schools under the President’s initiative.
Mongolian lawmakers headed by the Deputy Parliamentary Speaker D. Lundeejantsan have attended the seventh meeting of the Asian Parliaments Society for Peace, which was held on November 10-14 in Teheran, Iran.
The meeting discussed the issues regarding changing the Society name to the Asian Parliaments Assembly, and exchanged views on the draft regulation.
At the meeting, Mr. Lundeejanstan gave a speech on Mongolia’s involvement in the cooperation of Northeast Asian Region and emphasized the importance of developing regional political and economic cooperation, particularly the creation of an infrastructure network.
During the meeting, Mongolian delegates led by D. Lundeejantsan were received by Iranian parliamentary speaker Haddad Adel and exchanged issues on the bilateral relationship.
Also they met the delegates from Afghanistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Kuwait, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Philippine and Japan. The next meeting will be held in Indonesia.
The ‘Great Mongol 800’ National Committee has introduced to the media, the full scope of activities carried out and planned activities to come, for the 800th anniversary celebration of the Great Mongolian State.
A total of 168 kinds of large-scale activities have been performed since January 1, 2006, official launch of the 800th jubilee celebration. The National Committee concluded that the creation of historic feature films, plays and operas, publications of volumes of books has become a great intellectual investment for Mongolians who will know the history of their motherland.
The National Committee will display a photo exhibition on November 27 to show all the work, including the inauguration ceremony of the 800th anniversary celebration, of all that has been done since January 1, 2006. The exhibition will also make public how the ‘Great Mongol 800' Fund has spent the budget and donations dedicated to this historic event.
The ‘Building Exchange’ construction information and technology centre has opened apartment’s office with the intention of conducting apartment sales. All necessary services such as banking, finance, and insurance matters, apartment repair and construction material sale are centralized at the office.
The office provides foreign and domestic customers with info on apartments and receives related orders. The office also delivers information to customers on the 40,000 Homes programme and apartments bonds.
The 61st session of UN General Assembly is continuing in New-York and Second Committee (Economic and Financial Committee) discussed issues pertaining to problems of landlocked developing countries and transit transport.
Mongolian representative expressed the government’s position on issues at the discussion and stated that Mongolia will host the Trade Ministerial Meeting of landlocked developing countries in Ulaanbaatar in 2007. Mongolian delegates said that international and regional cooperation partnership would be important in achieving the declaration tasks, endorsed in the 2006 Summit of Landlocked Developing Nations in Havana and 2003 Almaty Programme. At the discussion, the Russian representative noted that three countries; Russia, Mongolia and China had proved that it is possible to transport railway freight in 13 days on the ‘Ereen-Ulaanbaatar-Brest’ route, laying claim to the shortest transportation time from Northeast Asia to Eastern Europe. At the discussion, the European Union representative pledged to cooperate in easing trade issues for landlocked developing countries.
Under the ASIS programme, an English contest was announced recently to select pupils, studying in the secondary schools of UB’s ger areas, to study with scholarships from the USA. Twenty out of 100 pupils have been chosen for scholarships.
On Tuesday, the selected pupils were received in the U.S Embassy to receive certificates of scholarship. The scholarship programme is a result of the US President’s visit to Mongolia in 2005, during which the Mongolian President asked G.Bush to help Mongolian youths study English.
The 20 pupils will study for two years in the Educational Advice Centre. The US Ambassador to Mongolia, Mr. Mark Minton said, “This special scholarship programme will provide these pupils with opportunities for working in the state organizations, NGOs and businesses in the future.”
The Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme, implemented here by UNDP, provides financial support to community-based organizations and local non-government organizations in their biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, protection of international waters, elimination of persistent organic pollutants, fight against land degradation and anti desertification activities whilst ensuring sustainable livelihood.
Ten more environmental small projects with total budget of Tg 78.2 million will be implemented in Mongolia with investment from the above Programme. This project will be carried out by local communities themselves through NGOs. ‘Takhit khan’ NGO will artificially grow some types of medicinal plants in Rashaan soum of Bulgan aimag, linking this activity with local community livelihood enhancement options; and ‘Galyn dol’ and ‘Shakhmal tulsh’ cooperatives of Gobi-Altai province will establish a small briquette production workshop in order to reduce Saxaul consumption for firewood and etc.
Under the joint Mongolian-French ‘Artificial Insemination’ project; the calves of cows, which were artificially impregnated with deeply frozen embryo of French bulls, are growing well.
The above artificial insemination was carried out last year on the cows of the ‘Khos Tav’ company. A cow derived from artificial insemination, produces 9,600 liters of milk a year. The cows of more than ten farms in Orkhon Aimag have been artificially impregnated this year under the project.
The water supply of population and livestock pastures has been greatly improved in Uvs Aimag over the last four yeas.
There are a total of 907 water points in the Aimag, with 94.1 percent of 346 engineering-made and 561 ordinary wells in use. In 2006, nine wells were dug, and 25 wells were repaired in the province with the 160 million togrogs from the state budget. 64 wells were dug by herders themselves, and water accumulation dams have been erected in Tarialan and Turgen soums.
The Secretary General of Mongolian Gymnastics Association Ch. Darisuren has reached an agreement to let Mongolian athletes conduct a joint training in the Republic of Korea. It was discussed during her participation in the 73rd forum of the International Gymnastics Association.
Some wheel chairs and hearing aids have been presented to disabled students on the eve of the International Student Rights Day. The aid was rendered to the disabled students by the Federation of Mongolian Trade Unions and Social Welfare and Labour Ministry in response to a the request by the Mongolian Student Federation. The Social Welfare and Labour Ministry presented the wheel chairs and hearing aid to ten disabled students and the Federation of Mongolian Trade Unions gave Tg100,000 in aid to two students. A proposal to set up a Union of Disabled Students was accepted at the ‘We are together’ party held in the ‘Happy’ night club. |
