Thursday, January 12, 2017. № 2018 (3031)
AUDITOR GENERAL OF MONGOLIA APPOINTED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During its session today, the Parliament discussed the appointment of new Auditor General of Mongolia who heads Mongolian National Audit Office, and approved of the proposed candidate D.Khurelbaatar who was nominated for the job in connection with Auditor General A.Zangad’s request to be released from his duties.
The new Auditor General was born in Arkhangai province in 1961. He graduated from the former Ural Polytechnic Institute and Mongolian National Academy of Governance. Having worked in various organizations including local administration, ministries and factories, he is now working as an adjunct advisor to the Minister of Construction and Urban Development and Prime Minister of Mongolia.
Some Members of Parliament questioned and gave instructions to the newly appointed Auditor General. Member of Parliament Ya.Sodbaatar said, “Measures have to be taken after determining the starting point. Mongolia spent a huge amount of money in the last 4 years, and the public should be informed of the outcome”. D.Khurelbaatar said that he will ensure transparency.
Member of Parliament O.Baasankhuu instructed the Auditor to focus on monitoring state-run companies whereas Member of Parliament D.Terbishdagva said, “The previous authority didn’t perform poorly, but conclusion made after the inspection wasn’t practiced”, and advised the Auditor General to closely cooperate with parliamentary standing committees.
As such, the Parliament voted up the appointment of D.Khurelbaatar, releasing the former Auditor General A.Zangad from his duties.
Kh.Aminaa
SPEAKER RECEIVES CUBAN AMBASSADOR
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 11, M.Enkhbold, Speaker received Raul Delgado Concepcion, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cuba to Mongolia in accordance with presenting his diplomatic credentials to the President of Mongolia.
Speaker, M.Enkhbold underlined that Mongolia and Cuba have a long history of relations and cooperation despite the geographical distance and noted that an official visit of the President of Mongolia to Cuba paid last September played a significant role in bringing friendly relations and collaboration to a new level.
Also, M.Enkhbold said “Bilateral cooperation in the fields of education and health is developing effectively. We are grateful for the government of Cuba for attaching importance on training Mongolian youths in Cuba. It is noteworthy that students of the both countries have been studying in Mongolia and Cuba reciprocally. I am confident that the direct cooperation between the National University of Mongolia and the University of Havana will give an impetus to closer cooperation in this field”.
He also expressed his gratitude for genetics, biotechnology and veterinary medicine specialists of Cuba, who will be working in Mongolia and said that he believes that cooperation in trade, economic and other potential spheres will be successfully reinforced in a broad manner during Ambassador Raul Delgado Concepcion‘s tenure in Mongolia. Furthermore, he requested from the Cuban Ambassador to pay attention on the collaboration of sports sector and to give support to Mongolian team and athletes, who will participate in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2020.
After expressing his thanks to Speaker M.Enkhbold for receiving him and conveying a greeting from the President of the Cuban National Assembly of People’s Power to the Speaker, Ambassador Raul Delgado Concepcion vowed to cooperation initiatives pledged by the Speaker M.Enkhbold will yield great results during my tenure in Mongolia in the next four years.
Then, the Ambassador underlined that Cuban side pays attention on implementing talks agreed during the President’s visit to Cuba and noted that he supports the Speaker’s proposal in terms of the sports cooperation. In conclusion to the meeting, Speaker M.Enkhbold touched upon collaboration in the tourism field.
B.Oyundelger
IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON RIGHT-HAND DRIVE VEHICLES TO BE DEVELOPED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During the cabinet meeting on January 11, Minister of Road and Transport Development D.Ganbat introduced a decision about import restrictions on right-hand drive vehicles used more than 6 years.
As Mongolia has a standard of right-hand traffic, all regulations related to Mongolia’s traffic are designed for vehicles with steering wheel on the left. It means that all laws, rules, standards and road traffic safety regulators will be in correspondence to the left-hand side cars. However, imports of vehicles with right-side drive to Mongolia have increased in the past decade.
According to studies, nearly 48 percent of all vehicles in Mongolia and nearly 55 percent of all cars in Ulaanbaatar have steering wheels on the right side.
In 2015, some 41,064 traffic-related accidents occurred, 64.4 percent of which were involved by vehicles with steering wheels on the right side.
Obligations were given to D.Ganbat, Minister of Road and Transport Development to develop a concrete proposal related to import restrictions on right-hand drive vehicles that are used more than 6 years.
N.Khaliun
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY TO COOPERATE WITH NGOS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 12, D.Oyunkhorol, Minister of Environment and Tourism and S.Erdene, Head of Mongolian Environment Civil Counsel signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2017-2018.
The Mongolian Environment Civil Counsel is an umbrella organization that unites over 1400 NGOs engaged in environmental protection, rehabilitation and environmental training and research.
After signing the memorandum, Minister D.Oyunkhorol highlighted that as a result of the bilateral cooperation, NGOs are becoming more specialized, diversified and empowered. Those NGOs are significant for improving the public knowledge on environment, creating eco-friendly attitude and skills, enabiling the public to become active participant in decision-making process toward the local development.
In turn, S.Erdene said that the Mongolian environment confronts many types of challenges. She confirmed that the Mongolian Environment Civil Counsel is ready to promote activities and state policy documents. “We are confident that the bilateral cooperation will solve environmental issues”.
B.Oyundelger
HEALTH MINISTRY TO FOCUS ON MEDICAL POSTGRADUATE TRAINING
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On January 12, D.Ochirbat, State Secretary of Ministry of Health received a team of a project unit on strengthening postgraduate training for medical staff in the first and the second stages of health organizations of Mongolia.
The State Secretary D.Ochirbat is also a director of the project unit, which is co-implemented by the Health Ministry and JICA.
Participants of the meeting briefed on project actions and activities being implemented since the project has launched. D.Ochirbat, State Secretary mentioned about the significant roles of the project and expressed his willingness to pay attention for the effective implemention of planned works within the project.
B.Oyundelger
URGENT ACTIONS PLANNED TO IMPROVE WINTERING SITUATIONS FOR HERDERS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ 70 per cent of Mongolian territory is covered with snow and 64 soums of 15 provinces are experiencing hard wintering.
There is a risk that wintering would get worse in 127 soums of 17 provinces, if heavy snow and severe cold continue further. In connection with it, Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry was instructed to organize meat preparation works urgently to generate income for herders and prevent from insufficiency of meat supply in rural areas and overpricing of meat.
The issue was discussed during the yesterday’s Cabinet meeting and the Government decided to make reservation of 30 thousand tons of meat, purchasing from herders in the 127 soums of 17 provinces, where a risk of hard wintering is faced.
The required money for meat preparations will be financed from commercial banks’ sources and loan interest will be repaid from budget for incentives of Minister of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry.
B.Ooluun
RAILWAY ROUTE IN DIRECTION TO ‘ERDENET-OVOOT’ DEFINED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Railway route in direction ‘Erdenet-Ovoot’, on which railway from Erdenet city of Orkon province to Ovoot coal mine in Tsetserlegsoum of Khovsgol province is to be put, was defined during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Relevant minister and chairmen of agencies were instructed to develop detailed feasibility study of the railway construction and engineering plan as well as to register the approved route coordination in National Space data.
The railway in direction of ‘Erdenet- Ovoot’ will enable putting products of mines in Khovsgol, Bulgan and Orkhon provinces into circulation, improving their efficiency and the development of tourism. Further basis for integrated transportation network will be founded to connect mines, industrial complexes and rural areas with railway.
‘Erdenet-Ovoot’ railway will be 542 km long with two basic stations and 8 junctions. It will have a capacity of 22.2 million tons/year, with transportation freight of 20 million tons/year and passing capacity of 16 pair of trains.
According to preliminary estimation, construction basis of the railway costs USD1.3 billion. 10 tons of mining products is estimated to be extracted in Ovoot coal mine in a year for further transportation.
B.Ooluun
BILLS AND DRAFTS TO BE DEVELOPED FOLLOWING NSC RECOMMENDATIONS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Bills and drafts of decisions and programs regarding air pollution reduction, which reflected in the National Security Council’s (NSC) recommendation on January 10, will be developed urgently. Government instructed relevant ministries to introduce the bills and drafts to the cabinet meeting, which is to be held in the first week of February.
Recommendations issued by NSC included the following:
- To amend relevant laws and regulations to ensure legal environment for working in emergency regime and define disaster zones, prohibiting some activities, taking actions of evacuation, rehabilitation and re-planning, as pollution of air, water and soil declared to state of disaster;
- To evacuate central administration organizations, institutes and universities and their infrastructure;
- To create system of responsibility and duties of every organization, official, company, entity and citizen at all level regarding reducing air and environment pollution, realizing relevant laws and regulations;
- To create legal environment ensuring involvement, collaboration and public control of citizens and entities regarding to reducing environment pollution
B.Ooluun
LOCAL MEDICAL FACILITIES TO RECEIVE VEHICLES
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During its regular session on January 11, the Cabinet resolved to provide free 2410 tons of hay to provinces and soums in difficult wintering conditions, and 1700 tons of fodder with 50 percent discount.
Also, in order to deliver urgent medical services in rural areas and herding households, the Cabinet issued a resolution to issue UAZ vehicles to medical facilities of 15 soums.
Kh.Aminaa
‘CHINGGISKHAAN’ PROJECT TO ATTRACT TOURISTS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During its regular session on January 11, the Cabinet assigned ‘ErdenesTavanTolgoi’ JSC and ‘Erdenes Mongol’ LLC to support and cooperate with ‘ChinggisKhaan’ project which will be executed to intensify tourism development, increase the number of tourists and create more services for them.
The project is designated to promote Mongolia through a multimedia channel which contains more than 1200 images, ‘The Secret History of the Mongols’ and other ways. In frames of the project, exhibition installations dedicated to foreign and domestic tourists will be set up on the Central Square to remain in function for 6 months starting from June 1, this year.
The ‘ChinggisKhaan’ project team estimates that the exhibition will reach about 1.4 million people, garnering MNT 4-5 billion income tax to state budget; thus, the project will be able to repay the loan which the team hopes to acquire from the Government of Mongolia.
The creative project requires USD 2.5 million for its realization, and the project team has requested the Cabinet to grant a two-year, soft loan.
CABINET MEETING IN BRIEF
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ During its regular session on January 11, the Cabinet made following decisions.
• The Cabinet approved a National Program on Prevention of Contagious Disease.
• The Cabinet updated the functional manual of specialized organization for hunting management, and ‘Procedure on Issuance of Special License for Hunting and Capturing of Rare Animals’.
Kh.Aminaa
UNFPA PRESERVES DIGNITY FIRST FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS AFFECTED BY THE NEAR DZUD
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ According to the Water, Climate and Environmental Research Institute reports dated on January 3, 2017, the winter condition has become difficult in 127 soums of 17 provinces and 2 districts of Ulaanbaatar city and directly affecting the lives of nomadic, herding households in Mongolia. In response, UNFPA takes the lead in addressing the special needs of women and girls in the affected communities via procuring of 2,465 Dignity Kits amounted of MNT 160,000,000. These Dignity Kits were handed over by UNFPA today to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for immediate distribution to the aforementioned areas.
The UNFPA signature Dignity Kits are designed and assembled to help women and girls maintain an acceptable level of hygiene, sanitation, health and well-being within the context of humanitarian situations. Dignity kits include such items as sanitary supplies, clothes, socks and underwear; laundry soaps and bath soaps; towels; and toothbrushes and toothpaste. Additionally, they also included a torch with batteries so that women will have the ability to travel or move about safely at night, as well as an emergency whistle in cases of distress – it has been proven that women and girls are particularly vulnerable to gender-based and sexual violence in the wake of natural disasters among other challenges.
“Unfortunately, the needs of women and girls are often not prioritized and even forgotten in the Dzud. The needs of women and girls might besecondary when affected families face economic pressures from the loss of livelihood and have to cope with limitations of resources such as the lack of disposable income. Further, environmental impediments to mobility due to the heavy snow, bars access to necessary everyday items that women and girls need,” says Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative. “However, UNFPA believes that women are the backbone of Mongolian society and that preserving their dignity, their sense of well-being and their health should come first. This is essential to surviving such a disaster and to successfully moving forward”.
UNFPA assistance in distributing these Dignity Kits in the affected areas is also part of our efforts aimed to ensure a strong capacity of the NEMA, which is the leading agency to coordinate and manage the disaster response interventions in the country. NEMA is a central national agency which effectively responds to emergencies and coordinates response interventions. It is important that special needs of the women and girls are placed at the heart of the disaster preparedness and response actions.
Kh.Aminaa
2016 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS INTRODUCED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ An academic conference designated to introduce the outcome of archaeological expeditions conducted in Mongolia begins today at Mongolian University of Science and Technology, assembling archaeologists who have enriched the existing list of Mongolian archaeological treasures with their fresh finds in 2016.
The ‘Mongolian Archeology – 2016’ conference presents the most interesting archaeological findings including unique petroglyphs and iron melting furnace of Hunnu era discovered in Erdenetsagaansoum, Sukhbaatar province, Xianbei era tombs found in Nogoonnuursoum, Bayan-Ulgii province and Jargalantsoum of Orkhon province, Turkic and Uighur aristocrats’ scared tomb and rock grave found in Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd provinces.
In 2016, Mongolian archaeologists have realized projects and programs in cooperation with scholars and organizations from 12 countries to conduct researches in more than 50 soums of 18 provinces.
Kh.Aminaa
NO CASE OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV REGISTERED
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ There is no case registered in Mongolia that HIV transmitted from mother to child. This fact was mentioned during a consultative meeting on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of deceases, held yesterday.
“- However, number of cases of mother- to-child transmission of syphilis is still high. Therefore doctors, medical officers and specialists should work highly responsible” underlined chair of Medical aid department of Health Ministry Ya.Buyanjargal.
During the meeting Health ministry officers and specialists discussed about current situation, improving preventive measures, diagnosis and medical treatment regarding mother-to-child transmitted infectious diseases and providing HIV patients with accessible and quality medical services.
B.Ooluun
“THE SUN FOAL” EXHIBITION OPENS
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ “The Sun Foal” personal exhibition by D.Batmunkh, painter and teacher of the Mongolian Fine Art Institute opened on January 12 at the Purple Art
The exhibition is unveiling 16 oil paintings by D.Batmunkh, who aims to portray the Mongolian horses and images of courageous characters of Mongolian people with the help of numerous of natural color dyeing.
D.Batmunkh has been working as a teacher of the Mongolian Fine Art Institute since 1994. He organized a series of his exhibition named “The Sky Horses” in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007.
The exhibition runs through January 26.
B.Oyundelger
WEATHER FORECAST UNTIL JANUARY 18
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Snow is expected in the territory of western provinces on January 14, in some areas of western, central and Gobi provinces on January 15. The blizzard is expected in the most territory of the country on January 16-17. Wind will get stronger in the Altai Mountain on January 16-17, reaching 14-16 m/sec.
The nighttime temperature in the Lake Uvs and in the valley of rivers Ider and Tes, banks of Orkhon-Selenge, Kharaa, Eroo and Kherlen will be -36- 41 Celsius and the daytime, -23-28 Celsius.
In the depression of Great Lakes, Khangai, Khuvsgul and Khentii mountain areas and valley of Eg river, and the steppes of Dornod and Dariganga, the nighttime temperature will be -32-37, and the daytime -18-23.
In southern part of the Gobi, the nighttime temperature will be -13-18, and the daytime, -4-9.
In other regions, the nighttime temperature will be -18-23, and the daytime, -8-13 Celsius. \
N.Khaliun
STOCK EXCHANGE NEWS FOR JANUARY 12
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ At the Stock Exchange trades on Thursday, a total of 36 thousand and 886 units of 22 JSCs were traded costing MNT 11 million 793 thousand and 843.00.
“Suu” /29 thousand and 100 units/, “APU” /1, 492/, “Khukh Gan ” /1,490/, “Genco tour bureau” /1,201/ and “Teleco Mongolia” /1,079/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading volume, in terms of trading value were “Suu” (three million 729 thousand and 498), “Gobi” (three million 357 thousand and 780), “TAB” (740 thousand), “Teleco Mongolia” (651 thousand 571) and “APU” (553 thousand).
The total market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 441 billion 160 million 805 thousand and 295.00. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 12,181.17, decreased 0.43% and the all index of MSE was 846.28 decreased 0.28%.
N.Khaliun
RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT SECURITIES AUCTION
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Auction for 28 weeks maturity Government Treasury bill was announced at face value of 35.0 billion MNT. Face value of 25.0 billion /out of 25.0 billion bid/ Government Treasury bill was sold at discounted price and with weighted average yield of 17.680%, reports the Bank of Mongolia.
Kh.Aminaa
RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT BOND AUCTION
Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Auction for 2 years maturity Government Bond was announced at face value of 5.0 billion MNT and each unit was worth 1.0 million MNT. Par value of 2.5 billion / out of 2.5 billion bid/ Government Bond was sold with weighted average yield of 18.000 % and a coupon of 18.000%, reports the Bank of Mongolia.
Kh.Aminaa