Mongolia Brief March 25, 2014
Vice
Speaker Meets Ambassador of Estonia
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) A Vice Speaker of parliament L.Tsog Monday received Mr Toomas
Lukk, the Concurrent Non-Resident Ambassador of Estonia to Mongolia.
The Vice
Speaker said he is happy that the Mongolia-Estonia relations and cooperation
are expanding. He backs an activation of the relations and a co-organization of
high-level meetings and visits, he said and affirmed that the President of
Estonia has been invited to Mongolia.
He also
underlined the opportunities to expand the cooperation in the trade,
investments, economic and scientific fields, and said Mongolia wants to learn
Estonian technology of schist processing.
Estonia has
become one of the leading nations not only in Europe, but also in the world by
its developing E-governance system, the Vice Speaker expressed a willingness of
Mongolia to study this experience and to collaborate with Estonia in preparing
staffers and organizing trainings and seminars.
He highlighted
an importance of the inter-parliamentary relations and said D.Battsogt MP is
the head of the Mongolia-Estonia inter-parliamentary group at the State Great
Khural.
In turn, Mr Lukk
thanked the Vice Speaker for receiving him and said he and the Embassy of his
country do big efforts to expand the bilateral relations and cooperation and
intend to creatively continue them.
The Ambassador
said it is important to deepen the cooperation in the above fields, adding that
the ties between the countries are beginning to develop intensively. The he
briefed a present political situation in his country.
Mongolia and
Estonia established the diplomatic relations on November 20 of 1991.
Speaker
meets Ambassador of Germany
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) The Speaker Z.Enkhbold Tuesday received Mr Gerhard
Tiedemann, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal
Republic of Germany to Mongolia.
The Speaker
expressed a satisfaction with meeting with Germany’s Ambassador to discuss the
bilateral relations including the inter-parliamentary cooperation.
In turn, Mr
Tiedemann introduced to the Speaker some works for a planned official visit of
the Speaker to Germany and expressed a willingness of the German side to
develop a wide cooperation with Mongolia in economic sphere. Mongolia-Germany
economic forum will take place this, he noted and said he is satisfied
with the cooperation between professional organizations in air transportation
consulting and railways technical reforms.
The Ambassador
also asked the Speaker to support efforts of his country to widen the economic
cooperation in frames of the 40th anniversary of the Mongolia-Germany
diplomatic relations which is marked this year.
Here the
Speaker said Mongolia intends to boost its industrial sector and added Mongolia
is learning German experience in producing gas from coal.
He also said he
is confident that Germany’s Ambassador will significantly contribute to
expanding of the bilateral mutually-trusted and friendly relations and
cooperation.
P.Tsagaan
delivers remarks at 2014 MEF
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) A head of the Presidential Office P.Tsagaan made the
opening remarks at the 2014 Mongolia Economic Forum which kicked off Monday in
the State House.
Mr Tsagaan said
under the leadership of President Elbegdorj and thanks to fruitful efforts of
many Mongolians and the World Economic Forum’s staff, Mongolia and the WEF have
built an effective and meaningful cooperation in the past two years. “Our
cooperation in water issues, in combating corruption and promoting transparency
under PACI, and encouraging responsible mineral development have borne concrete
results and outcomes,” he said.
“WEF’s
contributions and participation in elaborating the Mongolia Development
Scenarios were truly instrumental. Discussions of these scenarios in
Ulaanbaatar in September 2013 and in a private session in Davos at WEF past
January have helped us narrow down our policy focus on many important
developmental tasks,” Mr Tsagaan said.
He emphasized
Mongolia-WEF partnership has indeed been fruitful, and Mongolia does value this
cooperation and friendship, adding that Mongolia has worked hard to improve
business and investment environment, and our cooperation with the WEF has given
a strong impetus to our efforts to promote foreign investment.
“I am tempted
to recall and share with you one story happened at the Mongolia Night Event in
January in Davos during WEF. Well, please forgive me for leaking out this
pleasant for Mongolia act of violation of protocol, Professor Schwab called the
audience comprised of mostly investment community, for actively investing in
Mongolia. He did admit that usually he abstains from making promotional
speeches, yet, because Mongolia was an exception, because Mongolia is a country
of great promise and potential, Professor Schwab urged the investors to come to
Mongolia. I do reiterate this call and invitation,” he said.
“On the other
hand, we in Mongolia have a lot of work to do. We must continue firmly
harnessing our investment environment and adopting business-friendly policies
and practices. We must complete and accomplish the goals and tasks we aspire
under the Smart government initiative.
You are well
aware, in the past 24 years, Mongolia conducted a double transition. Now, from
today on, we must pursue and attain a double digit growth. We have the
potential, and we have the will. When there is a will, there is a way,” he went
on.
“We have a
dream, a big dream to leap into a higher level of social and economic
development in years to come. It is not just a dream; it is an achievable
aspiration provided we pursue a smart, sustainable, liberal, inclusive economic
policy which would promote both domestic business and foreign direct
Investment. With this, ladies and gentlemen, I cordially invite our colleague,
our friend Kristel to moderate the session. Kristel and her colleagues at the
Strategic Foresight Group have been our close partners in the past few years,”
he said.
B.Boldbaatar
Meets Lao Delegation
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Secretary-general of the Parliament Office B.Boldbaatar
Monday received a visiting delegation headed by Mr Ungee Vutila, a member of
the Laos National Assembly (parliament).
Mr Boldbaatar
expressed his satisfaction with an expanding cooperation between the two
legislative bodies and their offices.
The
Mongolia-Laos ties date back to the 14th century, Mr Boldbaatar noted and said
the bilateral ties and cooperation have been activating and regularizing, and
the current visit of Mr Vutila gives big opportunities to widen the ties
between the parliamentary offices and to share experiences.
Then he spoke
about our parliament and its office.
In response, Mr
Vutila also introduced to him their National Assembly and its office's
activities.
The
Parliamentary Offices of the two countries established a cooperation protocol
in 2003 during a visit of the Lao NA to Mongolia. Since then, the sides
re-established such document three times. During this visit, the Parliamentary
Offices are expected to re-establish the cooperation protocol.
SCO
Secretary General D.F.Mezentsev Conducts Official Visit to Mongolia
March 25
(infomongolia.com) Upon the invitation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of
Mongolia, Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Dmitry
Fyodorovich Mezentsev is conducting an official visit to Mongolia on March
23-26, 2014.
On March 24,
Foreign Minister L.Bold received the Secretary General D.F.Mezentsev in his
office, where parties focused on issues concerning Mongolia-SCO cooperation and
other issues of mutual interests. During the meeting Minister L.Bold noted, as
an observer in SCO and in the light of its policy for taking active part in
regional political and economic cooperation, Mongolia has actively participated
in SCO activities and has an aspiration to maintain productive cooperation with
SCO on wider scale.
Highlighting an
importance of mutually beneficial economic collaboration for ensuring the
regional security, he further added that there are great possibilities for such
cooperation with SCO member states and observers.
Secretary
General D.F.Mezentsev introduced comprehensively about the organization's
further activities and vision, and confirmed SCO commitment to broaden joint
actions with observers including Mongolia.
On the same
day, Secretary General D.F.Mezentsev and SCO Under Secretary General
M.A.Zhalopov held meeting with Chairman of Security and Foreign Policy Standing
Committee of the State Great Khural (Parliament) Ts.Oyunbaatar, MP Ts.Tsolmon
and MP N.Enkhbold in the Government House. In the scope of 10th year of
Mongolia’s observer status, sides exchanged views on some measures to organize
in 2014.
During his
visit, Mr. D.Mezentsev will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Mongolia
N.Altankhuyag and Minister of Road and Transport A.Gansukh.
Today on March
25, SCO Secretary General D.F.Mezentsev will attend at the press conference to
be organized at the Institute for Strategic Studies at 03:30 pm.
Related:
Representatives of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation visit Mongolia – news.mn, March 25
MPs
Meet SCO Secretary-General
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO) Dmitry Mezentsev Monday met with Chair of the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on Security and Foreign Policy Ts.Oyunbaatar MP and others.
Present at the
meeting were also SCO Deputy Secretary-General MrDjalopov, SCO advisor
MrVorobyev, and Ts.Tsolmon and N.Enkhbold MPs.
The sides
shared views on multilateral activities on trade, economy and transportation
between Mongolia and SCO members, observers and dialogue partners. The parties
also talked about an initiative to organize joint activities within the 10th
anniversary of Mongolia’s joining SCO as an observer.
The Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation or SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military
organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. SCO today has
observer states such as Mongolia, Afghanistan, India, Iran and Pakistan, and
dialogue partners such as Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Parliament
of Mongolia Makes Changes to Its 2014 Spring Plenary Sessions' Timetable
March 25
(infomongolia.com) On March 24, 2014, Speaker of the State Great Khural
(Parliament) Z.Enkhbold issued a Decree No.48 amending the Parliament Plenary
Sessions’ timetable.
The Decree
cites, based on the Law on Parliament of Mongolia, Article 11, Paragraph 11.2
and Law on the Rules of Procedures of the Parliament’s Session, Article 4,
Paragraph 4.1, the morning 2014 Spring Plenary Sessions will be starting on
every Thursdays and Fridays at 09:00 am and afternoon meetings to start at
02:00pm.
Accordingly,
Chairmen and Members of Standing Committees and Secretary General of the
Parliament Secretariat B.Boldbaatar are obliged to arrange their works undernew
hours.
The Autumn
Plenary Session morning meetings used to start at 10:00 am and continued at
03:00 pm every Thursdays and Fridays.
According to
the Parliament Law, the first day of the Spring Plenary Session with opening
ceremony is set on April 05 annually, but this year the day falls on Saturday,
therefore the Secretariat has not announced yet when to start the Session.
Related:
Timetable
of Parliamentary Spring Sessions Re-Scheduled – Montsame, March 25
FM
Receives S.Korean Foreign Ministerial Delegation
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Foreign Minister L.Bold Tuesday met with Mr Li Dung-gi, a
chief of Cultural Exchanges Bureau of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South
Korea.
Mr Bold thanked
the delegation for visiting Mongolia to attend a consultative meeting of
Foreign Ministries of the two countries, which has been held after the official
visit of Mr Bold to South Korea, and expressed a confidence in fruitful results
of the meeting aimed at enhanced cultural exchanges and mutual understanding of
the two nations.
The sides noted
the need to pay attention to the relationship between the peoples of Mongolia
and South Korea, which falls behind the development of the traditional friendly
relationship of the countries.
Referring to
S.Korea-based Mongolians as cultural ambassadors, Mr Bold asked the delegation
to support activities of voluntary associations and societies of Mongolians
living in the country.
In turn, Mr Li
Dung-gi briefed on cultural actions and programs planned within missions to
advance the mutual understanding and awareness of the two peoples, and to
intensify the citizens and diplomatic relationships of the two countries.
Foreign
Ministries hold consultative meeting
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) The first consultative meeting between Foreign ministries
of Mongolia and South Korea ran in Ulaanbaatar March 25 to discuss public
diplomacy issues.
The Mongolian
part was led by Ts.Batbayar, a director of Policy Planning Department of the
Foreign Ministry, the S.Korean--by Mr Li Dung-gi, a chief of Cultural Exchange
Bureau of S.Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The sides
shared views on cooperation opportunities for advanced public diplomacy, mutual
understanding, historical-cultural awareness raising and promotion among the
peoples of Mongolia and South Korea.
Emphasizing the
role of the press in awareness-raising about a country and its peoples, the
Mongolian part expressed willingness to increase exchanges between press and
media organizations.
The S.Korean
side briefed on cultural activities planned for the Mongolian people,
especially the youth, that are to take place through S.Korean Embassy in
Ulaanbaatar, and asked the Mongolian part to support these actions.
After that, the
sides agreed to actively cooperate in these matters and to hold this kind of
meeting activities on a regular base.
Mongolia
Wants to Develop Wide-Range Cooperation with SCO
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) As the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) observer,
Mongolia has been actively participating in the organization’s actions and
wants to make the cooperation wider.
It was said by
the Minister of Foreign Affairs L.Bold Monday at his meeting with visiting
D.F.Mezentsev, the Secretary-General of the SCO, when they were exchanging
views on the Mongolia-SCO collaboration and other issues.
Underlining an
importance of developing win-win economic cooperation for ensuring the regional
security, the Minister said Mongolia has a great opportunity to collaborate in
it with the SCO members and observers.
In turn, Mr Mezentsev
gave details about the SCO’s activities and measures to be taken in near future,
and then expressed a willingness to expand the cooperation with the observers
especially with Mongolia.
Mongolia-Swiss
consultative meeting held
March 25
(news.mn) The Foreign Ministries of Mongolia and Switzerland held the third
consultative meeting in the city of Berne in the Swiss Confederation on March
24th.
At the
consultative meeting, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Mongolia, D.Gankhuyag
chaired on the Mongolian side and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs Assistant State Secretary for Asia-Pacific, Ambassador Beat Nobs
leading the Swiss side.
Parties
exchanged views on bilateral relations, cooperation, mutual cooperation
development, future prospects, and discussed regional and global multilateral
issues.
Parties pointed
out successful bilateral relations in the fields of politics, culture, and
humanities and discussed the plans for an upcoming event marking the 50th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and the Swiss
Confederation on May 22nd. Both sides agreed to hold a diverse art and
cultural events, business meetings and exhibitions for the anniversary.
The
representatives also talked about further moves to boost bilateral trade and
economic cooperation. The Mongolian side emphasized the significance of
increasing trade and economic relations and suggested to establish a
Mongolia-Swiss Joint Economic Cooperation Commission. At the consultative
meeting parties and consuls also shared information and opinions on civilians`
issues.
Parties also
assured satisfaction over the results of numerous development programs that
have been launched in Mongolia by the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC) over the past decade. Project have included support to
agricultural development, improving veterinary practice, reducing negative
impacts of micro mining to the environment, creating a Single Window Access to
Public Services and combating against human trafficking.
Swiss efforts
for development in Mongolia are targeted to decelerate centralization in the
City, improve vocational school systems in the local area, and increase
agriculture to provide food security in the coming years.
Mongolia
congratulated Switzerland for chairing the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) this year and expressed that Mongolia believes
that bilateral cooperation between Mongolia and the Organization for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) will be boosted during this period. The
parties also emphasized the importance for the two countries to mutually
support each other in the framework of UN and other international organization.
Related:
Mongolia-Swiss
consultative meeting held – Montsame,
March 25
Business
council to be established to cooperate with China
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Such council is expected to be set up, and a meeting will
be held on April 4 in the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(MNCCI) to elect the council’s members.
This council's
main objectives are to widen the Mongolia-China trade and economic cooperation,
to expand a space for Mongolian businessmen at China’s market, to attract
Mongolian enterprises to joint investments, to help Mongolian businessmen to
collaborate with China’s state-run and private organizations, and to protect
legal interests and rights of the Mongolian entities.
These goals are
set up in a scope of realizing business support decisions made at
intergovernmental meetings.
Stock
exchange news for March 25
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) At the Stock Exchange trades held Tuesday, a total of 41
thousand and 519 shares of 26 JSCs were traded costing MNT 37 million 249
thousand and 289.34.
"Hai Bi
Oil" /22 thousand and 644 units/, "Remikon" /8,197 units/,
"Khokh gan” /4,144 units/, "Khovsgol" /2,496 units/ and
"Gobi" /936 units/ were the most actively traded in terms of trading
volume, in terms of trading value--"Gutal" (MNT eight million 468
thousand and 550), "Hai Bi Oil" (MNT seven million 925 thousand and
400), "Gobi" (MNT six million 020 thousand and 385),
"Tavantolgoi" (MNT three million 968 thousand and 078) and
"UB-BUK" (MNT two million 782 thousand and 500).
The total
market capitalization was set at MNT one trillion 645 billion 612 million 113
thousand and 526. The Index of Top-20 JSCs was 16,446.70, decreasing by MNT
26.17 or 0.16% against the previous day.
EU
to Provide Financial Support of over 6.5 Billion EUR to 12 Asian Countries
Including Mongolia
March 25
(infomongolia.com) On March 20, 2014, the European Union Commissioner for
Development, Andris Piebalgs has announced a financial support of over 6.5
billion EUR in new support for countries and organizations in Asia for the
period 2014-2020.
The
announcement was made during a two-day event to discuss development cooperation
with authorities from the countries and regional organizations involved.
In his
statement, Commissioner Piebalgs said, "The EU is committed to cooperation
with Asia for the long-run. The future programs are expected to help achieve
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region, address climate change, promote
energy efficiency, facilitate business and trade through better market accessand
support regional integration".
While Asian
economies have shown remarkable recent growth, poverty is still widespread on
the continent, with about 800 million people in the Asia and Pacific region
still living in extreme poverty (live on less than $1.25 a day), according to
the Asian Development Bank. As most countries in the region are facing
challenges due to uneven regional development and increasing income inequality,
EU funding for national and regional programs in Asia for the time period from
2014-2020 increased by 20% compared to the financing period 2007-2013 (€5.1
billion).
The new funds
will address key priorities being discussed with the countries present in the
programming seminar in Brussels, as well as with the representatives of the regional
organization the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Some of these
priorities include social protection, better health and education, job creation
and better integration of partner countries into regional and world markets.
Funding for
EU-Asia cooperation comes from the Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI),
which is part of the overall EU budget. These 12 countries (Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines,
Sri Lanka, and Vietnam) in Asia are eligible for bilateral development
programs.
According to
the European Union Technical Office in Ulaanbaatar opened in June 2006,
Mongolia was represented at above two-day event by Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union,
Mr. Khishigdelger DAVAADORJ and an official statement regarding how much fund
was distributed to Mongolia is not revealed yet.
Law
Merchant Training Runs
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) A regular training of "Judges training project in law
merchant sector" is running at the National Legal Institute March 24-28.
The judges
training project has been co-implemented by the Supreme Court, General Council
of the Courts and International Development Law Organization /IDLO/ with a
financial support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
/EBRD/.
The training
has gathered judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional Court
and trainee judges majoring in law merchant sphere.
Foreign
teachers and specialists are giving lessons on shareholders' right, dispute in
insurance sector, right of lender, laws of competitiveness and bankruptcy.
Bulgan
Aimag Receives Tractor
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) A center of Bulgan province has acquired tractor for
landfill.
Some 800
million togrog were spent for this technique from environment protection and
remediation activity expenditure of the fund of environment.
The tractor has
been supplied by a tender-winner "Da Chi Wu" company in frames of the
governor's action plan on creating a safety living environment, with an aim to
make the aimag a "model province of green development".
Journalists
to Receive Discounted Medical Treatment
Ulaanbaatar, March
25 (MONTSAME) The Mongolian Journalists’ Union Monday signed a memorandum of
cooperation with the South Korean health association and educational authority.
The memorandum
enables opportunities for the Mongolian journalists to receive health services
in South Korea, including medical treatment at preferential prices, annual
complimentary full medical examinations for two media personnel, and a
free-of-charge esthetic operation.
In educational
cooperation, young journalists will study a one-year language course at a South
Korean university.
Disaster
Protection Training to Be Organized Nationwide on March 27, 2014
March 25
(infomongolia.com) National Emergency Management Agency of Mongolia (NEMA),
under the implementation of the Law on Disaster Protection and other relevant
regulations, is organizing a complex training on disaster protection activities
at the national level starting at 04:00 pm on Thursday, March 27, 2014.
The training is
aimed to regulate the ways to ensure protection of the life and health of the
population, of the environment and of property in events of disaster.
Also, the above
law and regulations require to organize warning alerts across the country
annually on the fourth week in March and check the alert facilities prompt operations,
besides to increase the participation of citizens and entities involved in its community
area and improve the training practices.
This year the
complex training will be organized on its third consecutive year and under the
“Earthquake Early Warning System” Project being implemented, 40 Earthquake
Sensor Towers have been installed in 6 Districts of Ulaanbaatar. Moreover, TV stations
such as MNB, UBS, Mongol TV, largest mobile phone operators - Mobicom and
Unitel, and FM radio stations – FM102.5, Auto Radio FM 96.3, Family Radio FM
104.5, Lavain Egshig (Shell Vowel) FM 97.5, MNB 1st Channel and other massmedia
are collaborating.
Therefore, the
NEMA warns civilians in case of alert signals, do not panic, stay calm and
follow instructions and regulations.
Related:
Disaster
Protection Training to Run – Montsame,
March 25
Earthquake
occurs in Bulgan
Ulaanbaatar, March
25 (MONTSAME) An earthquake was recorded Monday morning at 08.04 am by UB time
in Teshig soum, Gobi-Altai province.
The Institute
of Astronomy and Geophysics reported it Tuesday. It said the earthquake was
3.94 magnitudes, its epicenter was 19 km to northeast from the soum on 50.09
degrees of northern latitude and 102.75 degrees of eastern longitude.
There is no
information about accidents due to the natural disaster.
Earthquake
felt in Govi-Altai
March 25
(news.mn) On Tuesday March 25th a minor earthquake shook southwest Mongolia 40
km away from Tonkhil sum in Govi-Altai aimag early in the morning. The 3.5
magnitude earthquake occurred at latitude 46.13, longitude 93.47 according to
the Research Center for Astronomy and Geophysics, Academy of Sciences of
Mongolia.
A 3.9 magnitude
earthquake in the same area, around 6.20 pm on March 8th, was also registered
by the Research Center for Astronomy and Geophysics, Academy of Sciences of
Mongolia.
Mongolian
Students at State University of Agriculture to Be Completing Their Bachelor
Degree at Missouri State University
March 25
(infomongolia.com) Mongolian State University of Agriculture (MSUA) and
Missouri State University (MSU) have established an Agreement of Cooperation in
Ulaanbaatar on March 24, 2014.
The document
was signed by Associate Vice President for International Programs Mr.Stephen
Robinette representing MSU and Mrs. Kh.Altantsetseg, Professor and Vice Director
of the Division of International Cooperation at MSUA.
In the
frameworks, two universities will partner in scholar and cultural
exchangeprograms, besides to implement bachelor degree programs under 3+1 and
2+1+1 systems, which means MSUA students will study 3 years at their school and
complete the last year program at MSU, and the second option is to study 2
years at MSUA, 1 year at MSU and 1 year at MSUA.
Missouri State
University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United
States and founded in 1905 has 85,000 alumni applying their education around
the world and 1,500 international students studying on the Springfield campus.
The Missouri
State University system has four physical campuses:
- The main
campus in Springfield, Missouri
- West Plains,
Mo., offering two-year associate’s degrees
- Mountain
Grove, Mo., focusing on fruit science and agriculture research
- Dalian, PR of
China, in partnership with Liaoning Normal University
"Ethnosphere"
Art Project to Cooperate with BMI
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) National art project themed "Ethnosphere" will
cooperate with the BMI /Broadcast Music.Inc/, the largest music rights
organization in the USA.
The BMI will
work on the copyright protection of new album which will be published and sold
to the international music market in frames of the project.
This project is
expected to start next month with participation of the Ministry of Culture,
Sport and Tourism, Arts Council of Mongolia, professional composers, musicians,
fashion designers and painters, who will create complex artwork at professional
level.
Since its
founding in 1939, BMI is the bridge between songwriters and the businesses and
organizations that want to play their music publicly. As a global leader in
music rights management, BMI serves as an advocate for the value of music,
representing more than 8.5 million musical works created and owned by more than
600,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.
The ethnosphere
is the sum total of the world's cultures, it refers to both the accumulation of
living cultures and the ancient lineages from which they evolved.
Famous
“Portraits” Exhibition Opensat Mongolian Modern Art Gallery
March 25
(infomongolia.com) On March 24, 2014, “Portraits” art exhibition has been opened
at the Mongolian National Modern Art Gallery, where famous art pieces being
preserved in its fund are now for public view until April 30, 2014.
A portrait is
an artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expressionis
predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the
mood of the person, says organizers.
These famous
artworks include “Self Portrait”, “U.Yadamsuren” and “D.Manibadar” by Mongolian
State Laureate, People’s Artist N.Tsultem, “Senior Artists” by G.Odon, portraits
of “D.Sukhbaatar” and “Kh.Choibalsan” by U.Yadamsuren, “SculptorTs.Amgalan” by
Do.Bold, “Yu.Tsedenbal’s Childhood” by People’s Artist B.Gombosuren, and other
paintings by prize winners of Union of Mongolian Artists such as “Manlaibaatar”
by Ts.Jamsran and “Jamukha Khaan and Aloneness” by N.Orkhon.
Related:
"Portraits"
Exhibition Opens – Montsame,
March 25
Mongolian
designer’s show at Mercedes Benz fashion week
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Mongolian designer Ariunaa Suri presented her ready-to-wear
show during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Tokyo, March 22.
This was her
second participation in this fashion week that defines further tendency of the
fashion world. This time, her show mainly focused on men wears made of pure
linen materials. At the show, some forty wardrobes for fall and winter seasons
were presented on the podium by Mongolian models such as Ch.Subedei,
Ts.Michihdmaa, S.Togs, Yu.Baljidmaa and I.Togsoo, with songs from the new album
of the Lemons band of Mongolia.
"Mercedes
Benz Fashion Week" is a fashion festival held twice a year in the world's
fashion cities during which the trends for the next season are born from the
latest collections that are unveiled at fashion shows and exhibitions.
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Tokyo is hosted by the Japan Fashion Week
Organization and held twice a year on March and October.
Memory
Champions Announced
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25(MONTSAME) The National Memory Championship ran at Mongolia-Japan
Center on March 22.
At the final
stage of the championship, named after the Trade and Development Bank, a total
of 52 mental athletes aged 9-34 competed in ten category events such as speed
cards, names and faces, numbers marathon, binary digits, flash numbers, five
minute random words and ten minute cards, words dates, playing cards and
abstract images.
The championship
was attended by four of five grandmasters of memory of Mongolia. International
second rank judge Kh.Khatanbaatar judged the event, where achievements and
scores of mental athletes were included in the world rankings.
At the end of
the championship, Ts.Bat-Erdene (15) was announced as the champion of general
and junior categories, where he earned a total of 14 medals and 5466 points.
With these results, he advanced into 15th in the world memory ranking, beating
his own two world records. The Grandmaster Bat-Erdene was followed by two other
grandmasters–O.Sengesamdan and S.Tsogbadrakh. The medal winners were also
granted rights to take part in open championships in countries such as Japan,
Great Britain, Germany, Philippines and Sweden.
The earliest
high-level international tournament is the Extreme Memory Tournament in San
Diego this April 26-27, to which Ts.Bat-Erdene has been invited as the one of
the elite 16 mental athletes. The tournament is aiming to break away from
the normal style of memory competition and to try something new and different.
The competitors have been chosen based on the current World Memory rankings,
making the event extremely competitive and exciting.
The Mongolian
mental team is expected to participate in the 23rd World Memory Championship in
China’s Hainan on December 7 of 2014.
The opening of
event was attended also by Kh.Khatanbaatar, a director of Mongolian
Intellectual Acamedy; S.Orgodol, a deputy chief of TDB; Ch.Bat-Erdene, a
president of Asian Draughts Association; N.Uchral, a director of Royal Academy
of Mongolia.
Mongolian
Darts Team Goes to Hong Kong
Ulaanbaatar,
March 25 (MONTSAME) Our darts team will attend the first stage of the Darts
Asian Open tournament in Hong Kong (China) on March 28-30.
The above
announcement was made Tuesday at a press conference where M.Erdene, a head of
the Mongolian Darts Amateur’s Federation and the team were present.
The Asian Open
tournament will be held as a preliminary event of the Stage 1 of the Soft Draft
World Championship 2014 in Macau (China) on April 4. The open championship will
be held in men’s five and women’s two rounds, in categories of singles and
couples.
Water
is our unvalued treasure
March 25 (UB
Post) We do not attach any specific value to water because there is plenty of
it today. However, one cannot even spend 24 hours without it. Any person who is
dying of thirst in a desert will be willing to give up whatever valuables they
have in exchange for a single cup of water. What should be done in order for
Mongolians to fully recognize the true value of this precious treasure and
start protecting and saving water? Do we need to run out of water and be
threatened by dying of thirst to realize its value?
WORLD WATER DAY
In 1992, the
United Nations declared March 22 as World Water Day and called on every nation
to spend this day analyzing and improving their consumption of water, as well
as their attitude towards water usage. Water scarcity is causing 14,000 deaths
a day (11,000 of which are children below the age of five) worldwide. It is
projected that a total of two billion people will be suffering from water
scarcity by the year of 2050. What is and will be the cause for such a scenario
to come true? On one hand, 98 percent of the total water resources on Earth is
saline water, one percent is locked up in polar ice caps, and another one
percent (which is available for human consumption) is in rivers, lakes, and
underground. On the other hand, as the world’s population keeps increasing,
water consumption is going up at even faster pace. To make matters worse, 95
percent of all the cities in the world are disposing wastewater into sources of
fresh water such as rivers.
Mongolia is not
an exception. Although no one has died of thirst so far, it is safe to say that
the train has already left the station. Ulaanbaatar, which has become the home
of more than half of our total population, is looking at its sole source of
fresh water being significantly compromised. Our groundwater levels have
dropped 15 meters while international organizations are ringing alarm bells
that our capital city will start suffering from a water shortage in 2017. Their
warning is supported by the increasing consumption of water, lower efficiency,
and reduced water reserves. Also, the infrastructure that delivers water to
residents of the city has become greatly damaged, and there is a high
probability of simultaneous pipe failures.
WHERE DO WE GET
OUR WATER FROM?
Mongolians do
not pay for water itself, but for the services it is provided by, such as its
purification and transportation. It costs 0.55 MNT per liter for the industrial
use of water whereas you pay only 0.32 MNT if you live in an apartment. Also,
it costs 7,950 MNT for a fully loaded five-ton truck to transport water to ger
districts. Water distribution points in ger districts charge one tugrug per
liter, which means a total of 5,000 MNT is collected when they finish
distributing five tons of water. Therefore, operators run a deficit of 2,950
MNT every time such distribution takes place. The Water Supply and Sewerage
Authority, which collects, purifies, stores, distributes and protects drinking
water, ran a deficit of 10 billion MNT in 2013, and is projected to have a
deficit of 16 billion MNT this year, taking the expected performance into
account. Thus, they can barely keep operating, let alone improve the city’s
water infrastructure. As the existing infrastructure is already 50 to 60 years
old, one should not be surprised if their tap water has turned yellow because
of rust. On the contrary, it is fortunate that those old pipes are still
functioning despite the excessive amount of rust that has made them narrower.
DO WE CONTINUE
USING WATER SAME WAY WE DO TODAY?
Mongolians who
live in an apartment use 276 liters of water a day on average, which is quite a
luxury. It is two to three times more than the water use of an average
household in a developed country. On the contrary, people living in ger
districts carry their water from a well to their home themselves, and one
person has an average daily water use of 8-10 liters, which is very small.
Factories and
plants use water for industrial purposes mostly, but they currently do not sort
out and clean the water that is too polluted, or treat the water used to wash
and process animal skins and wool. Due to malfunctioning equipment, some
companies send toxic water to the central wastewater treatment system and
interrupt its normal performance.
The central
wastewater treatment facility is too overloaded and is pumping domestic and
industrial wastewater into the Tuul River without proper treatment. People who
live in the Yarmag and Songino areas are falling victim to the pollution. They
do not know what to do except complain about thick smog in winter and an
unpleasant smell in the summer.
The water that
isn’t properly treated changes the color and smell of the Tuul River, which
flows a distance of about 100 kilometers. As a result, our beloved Tuul has
become one of the five most polluted rivers in the world. Every time senior
officials from the government, as well as the city management, visit the river,
they react with fake surprise and promise to resolve the issue before escaping
in their huge jeeps. Many government administrations have been aware of the
problem, but none of them have ever acted upon it. It appears that they not
only are incapable of solving such a problem but also have their hands tied by
corruption.
LET US CHANGE
OUR ATTITUDE!
On World Water
Day, we should follow international practices and look at the way we are using
water and the attitude we have towards this treasure of ours. Before the
inevitable water use restrictions in three years time – whether those measures
might be extensive or not – we must start taking action and demand that the
government do the same. It has been many years since the Tuul River dried up
every spring, causing fish to die in large amounts. We, the residents of the
capital, might encounter the same fate those fish faced. Among all animals,
fish are the only ones that keep silent when they are caught and killed. We
have not become like them yet, so we must make our voices heard. It is time for
us to unite under a common goal and do something about our nation’s water. For
instance:
1. As there are
no other choices, we should accept an increase in the price of water used
domestically and industrially. This way, the Water Supply and Sewerage
Authority can operate efficiently, which will allow them to improve the city’s
water infrastructure step by step. Also, we need to have citizen
representatives present at their Board of Directors meetings for the purpose of
public scrutiny.
2. We should
raise awareness so that people will realize the value of water, change their
attitude, start using water in a sustainable way and adopt a culture to save
water.
3. Other
measures we should take include: using our fresh water for human consumption
only, treating water for other uses, making the best out of water from rainfall
and snow, developing comprehensive plans for each of the city’s districts, and
demanding that the factories that process animal skins treat the water
resources they pollute. If such factories are moved to more rural areas, it
should be required that they pump the water they use back into the central
system.
4. In
accordance with the 2013 decision to increase the tax on groundwater used for
mining and industrial purposes, half of the revenue from such tax now goes to
local government. But we have to make sure that the local governments use that
money to increase drinking water reserves. For example, half of Umnugobi aimag’s
13 billion MNT, Zavkhan’s 10 billion, and Ulaanbaatar’s three billion should be
spent to fulfill that purpose.
5. Reservoirs
should be built wherever possible in the country to catch and contain 20
percent of the water from flowing rivers. We need to build a dam that spans the
Tuul River east of Ulaanbaatar and accumulate fresh water. Also, a modern beach
and resort should be newly established.
My fellow
Mongolians, it is time for us to love our water, which is the very foundation
of our happy and healthy life. In recognition of World Water Day, we must treat
our water dearly!
Translated by
B.AMAR
Two
IMAX theaters coming to Mongolia
March 25 (UB
Post) IMAX Corporation and New Tour Safaris Co., Ltd., operator of Urgoo
Cinemas, the largest theatrical exhibition and entertainment company in
Mongolia, announced on Friday an agreement to install two IMAX theaters in
Ulaanbaatar. With the agreement, IMAX will now have a presence in 58 countries
worldwide.
“We are
delighted to join forces with the nation’s top exhibitor to bring IMAX to
moviegoers in Mongolia – one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a
market which we believe holds tremendous potential,” said Andrew Cripps,
President of IMAX EMEA. “With the rapid expansion of our international theater
network and an increased number of local-language films, we are now more
globally diversified than ever and today’s agreement underscores our continued
focus on globalization.”
“We are committed
to delivering premium entertainment experiences and IMAX will serve as an
extension of this strategy, which we are confident will both strengthen our
business and set the stage for a new era in movie going in Mongolia,” said
Anandbazar Tsogt-Ochir, Chairman & CEO of SOD Mongol Group the parent
company of New Tour Safaris. “With the world’s biggest blockbuster titles in
the world’s most immersive format, we are proud to be the first to introduce
The IMAX Experience to the country and look forward to expanding our
partnership in the future.”
IMAX’s network
is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms
for major event films around the globe.
IMAX is
headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London,
Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of December 31, 2013, there were 837 IMAX
theaters, 701 commercial multiplexes, 19 commercial destinations and 117
institutions, in 57 countries.
Urgoo Cinema is
the leading and largest theatrical exhibition and entertainment company in
Ulaanbaatar. The cinema opened with the design standards consultation of Warner
Bros International Cinemas in April of 2009.
Related:
IMAX To Open First Theaters
In Mongolia – news.mn, March 25
8,800
tons of seeds to be imported for spring sowing
March 25 (UB
Post) Mongolia is planning to sow grain on 315,000 hectares of land, wheat on
304,000 hectares of land, and potato on 15,400 hectares of land this spring.
Regarding the
spring sowing, the parliament of Mongolia decided to exempt 20,000 tons of crop
seed from customs tax and value added tax (VAT).
Seeds will be
imported from Altay Prefecture in China and Buryatia in Russia.
The state is
allocating quotas for the seed importing businesses. The Fund on Supporting
Crop Farming has therefore planned to import 8,800 tons of seeds this spring.
Spring sowing
will start in late April and will end by May 10, according to the preliminary
plans of the Ministry of Industry and Agriculture.
E.Tushig-Erdene:
The judges were surprised, as it’s rare for a girl to play contrabass
March 25 (UB
Post) A Mongolian female musician won the
Grand Prix award at the International Music Festival in the USA. Her name is
E.Tushig-Erdene, and she is a tenth grader studying at the Music and Dance
College of Mongolia. E.Tushig-Erdene won the award in the contrabass category
while competing at the International Music Festival for the first time.
The following is an interview with
E.Tushig-Erdene about her amazing achievement.
-Congratulations! There probably
wasn’t any other Mongolian to ever compete in the contrabass category in
foreign competitions. Who proposed to you to enter this year’s International
Music Festival in the USA?
-Thank you. At
first, I didn’t know that I was participating in this sort of competition. Our
specialized instructor L.Baasankhuu only said that he’ll send my video for a
competition. So I played my instrument. At the very end, I found out that my
video was sent to the International Children’s Music Festival organized in the
USA.
-How was the selection process conducted?
Which piece did you play?
-I played a
piece about Russian folks titled Krestiyanckii Tanets (Peasant Dance). This
musical piece has a very good and lively rhythm. International judges judge
videos sent to for the competition and selects participants. Then, they
send replies via email. In this competition, apart from me, many other
Mongolian children took part. We received quite a lot of credit from the
competition.
-Did you play your instrument in the USA?
-I did. Many
children from countries all around the world came to compete. In the
competition, participants had to play their instruments and were judged
according to orders we received. Participants who received prizes, performed on
stage during the award ceremony.
-Is the competition held annually? How many
children from how many countries took part in the competition?
-Children from
Germany, America, Australia, Japan, Korea and China participated in the
competition. Children from different countries competed in different age
categories. Other than contrabass, there are categories such as piano, string
instrument, violin, violoncello and flute that children can participate in.
-How did you feel when you went on stage to
perform? How did the audience and judges receive your performance?
-For the first time,
a Mongolian representative participated in an international music festival in
the upright bass violin and came in first place. The audience, especially the
judges, were surprised to see me perform as female musicians rarely play
contrabass.
-Did you bring your own instrument for the
competition?
-I don’t have a
contrabass. It’s a very expensive instrument. It costs around three million
MNT. I only play the one in my school. When I went to the USA, I didn’t take
the instrument with me. It’s very heavy. I rented the theater’s instrument when
I went on stage to perform. It costs 70 USD to use it to perform just once.
-Have you performed at international
competitions before?
-No. This was
the very first time for me. In Mongolia, I participated in the music
competition named after Chuluun two times. However, I was hardly able to make
any achievements as it isn’t solely for contrabass. The competition is for
violin, violoncello and contrabass.
-On stage, contrabass is commonly seen
played by men. Why did you choose to play this instrument?
-When I played
contrabass at the International Music Festival held in the USA, the audience
and judges were surprised because I was a girl. In fact, I was learning
dulcimer at the Mongolian Children’s Palace. In sixth grade, I auditioned for
the Music and Dance College of Mongolia with dulcimer but the dulcimer class
was full. Only classes for yatug (plucked zither) and shanz were available. I
didn’t want to enter any of them and was contemplating on which class to choose
when instructor L.Baasankhuu came and told me that I was suitable to play
contrabass since I’m tall. He also said that it’s a very beautiful classical
instrument and that I needed to think on a global level.
Most
importantly, contrabass is played by tall people. The instructor gave me a week
to think about the proposal. My mother advised me to choose on my own. This is
how I first entered the contrabass class.
-Contrabass is a huge instrument. How did
you feel when you first saw a contrabass?
-At first, I
was frightened and a bit anxious. As time passed, I got used to it. It weighs
approximately 10 kg.
-Are you able to lift the instrument with
ease now?
-Of course. The
main characteristic of contrabass is that it’s used for classical and jazz
music. I’m glad that I chose this type of music.
-At the Music and Dance College of
Mongolia, how many children are learning this musical instrument?
-You can start
entering from sixth grade of general education schools. There are around ten
children from six to eleventh grade. There are hardly any girls.
-Can you tell us about your family? Is
there any member of your family that have artistic and musical background?
-I live with my
grandparents and my older brother. My mother said that she wanted to become
someone that works in the music sector when she was young but ended up with a
different profession. She sings very well. My older brother is an actor. He
participated in a TV talent show named “To be or not to be” of USB television
and was one of the top ten participants. In 2008, my grandmother participated
in the National Reciting Competition and became the Most Talented Person of
Folk Arts. She recites stories for about four hours. The stories my grandmother
recites isn’t just any ordinary tales. They are poetic stories that begin with
the same letter or vowel. When listening to my grandmother reciting, she gives
off a very pleasant feeling as if she’s singing a song.
-You are going to graduate this year. Will
you continue to study contrabass and become a professional musician?
-I’m thinking
of learning to sing. My mother advised that it’s better to study abroad. I will
graduate from the Music and Dance College and learn to sing abroad. I’m
interested in becoming a pop singer. My instructor on the other hand, advised
me to become a classical or opera singer. He told me that all the best singers
such as Celine Dion majored in opera singing.
-I wish you the best of luck on your goals.
-Thank you. By
the way, children participating in foreign competitions pay for their own transportation
expenses. I’d like to say thank you to my mother’s friends who supported me
when I went to the USA to participate in the competition.
Kakuryu
M.Anand becomes fourth Mongolian Sumo Grand Champion
March 25 (UB
Post) Mongolian professional sumo wrestler, Ozeki (second highest rank) Kakuryu
M.Anand won the spring tournament and was granted the title of Yokozuna, Grand
Champion of Sumo, after winning his 14th victory on Sunday.
After winning
the tournament, M.Anand fulfils the conditions to become the fourth Mongolian
and 71st Yokozuna in Japan’s sumo history.
The spring
tournament took place in Osaka.
Before the
spring tournament began, the Japan Sumo Association promised to promote Kakuryu
M.Anand to Yokozuna if he wins the tournament with 13 or more victories.
Kakuryu had a
successful record of 14 victories and one defeat in the spring tournament.
On the last
day, he beat Ozeki Kotoshogiku of Japan who had won bouts against Mongolian
Yokozunas Hakuho M.Davaajargal and Harumafuji D.Byambadorj consecutively in the
tournament.
Related:
“Kakuryu”
M.Anand to become Yokozuna – Montsame,
March 25
Lead
singer of Kharanga recieves State Honor
March 25 (UB
Post) Top contributors of various sectors received the High Order of the State
on March 21.
Lead vocalist
of the Kharanga band Kh.Lkhagvasuren received a State Honor, along with poet
and director of the State Puppet Theater Ts.Khulan, composer D.Tsetserleg and
singer N.Tumurkhuyag.
Kh.Lkhagvasuren
said, “I am very happy. I want to thank the state, my father, mother, wife, children
and everyone. I have been singing for 25 years. The 25th anniversary of
Kharanga is occurring this year. I love Mongolia. I found out only two days ago
that I will receive the State Honor. My wife told me, and I am very happy.”
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