U.KHURELSUKHVISITS CONSTRUCTION SITE

The Secretary-Generalof the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) U.Khurelsukh gotacquainted Monday with a course of erecting the Palace of Independence--the newheadquarters of the party.

                Todate, 70 per cent of the construction has been completed. According to directorof "Ondor Buyant Holding" company, an executor of the construction,the "Soyombo" shaped 11-storey building will give a shelter to themonument to D.Sukhbaatar as well. The party's leading board and officials willoccupy a right wing, whereas some enterprisers, organizations and lessees--aleft wing. The building will also have conference halls, sports hall,restaurant and press room. Some 10 thousand supporters of the party havedonated MNT 14.7 billion to the erecting of the party's building.

Source: Montsame Agency

SPEAKERMEETS VISITING UN OFFICIAL

Parliament Speaker D.Demberelreceived Ajay Chhibber, UN Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administratorand Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, and told him hisvisit just a year after the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon indicatedthe great importance the UN pays to Mongolia.

"Our government, Parliament andthe people are grateful to the United Nations Development Program for all itsassistance to Mongolia," Demberel said. He expressed satisfaction at thesuccessful implementation of the Mongolia-UNDP cooperation program in 2007-2011,and at the setting up of a working group to draw up the next phase of theprogram for 2012-2016.

The Speaker said Mongolia expectsits economy to grow with expansion of mining but poverty and unemploymentremain a problem, and animal husbandry and the manufacturing sector need to bedeveloped. He hoped the second stage of the cooperation program willsignificantly contribute to the development of Mongolia.

Chhibber said Mongolia's adherenceto democratic principles was an object lesson to many countries. The UNDP plansto increase its activity here. He noted that the good level of gender equalityin most spheres in Mongolia was not reflected in politics and hoped thesituation would change before long.  He offered the UN's help in puttingmineral resources into economic circulation and in proper use of the revenuefrom them.

Also present at the meeting wereD.Tsogtbaatar, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;D.Davaasambuu, advisor to the Speaker; Ts.Narantungalag, head of the Foreign Relationsand Cooperation Department of the Parliament Office; Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu,Permanent Representative of the UNDP to Mongolia; Shoka Noda, AssistantPermanent Representative of the UNDP to Mongolia, and other officials.

After the meeting, Minister forEnvironment and Tourism L.Gansukh told reporters that about 80 percent ofprojects in environmental and tourism field have been implemented, includingthose against desertification, encouraging biological balance and improvingcivil participation.

Source:www.news.mn

MILLENNIUMDEVELOPMENT GOALS WILL NOT BE REACHED IN STIPULATED TIME

The3rd national report on realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)conclude that despite steady progress, it will be difficult to achieve them by2015.The report was presented at a ceremony on Friday in the Ministry ofForeign Affairs. It was attended by Ajay Chhibber, the UN Assistant Secretary-General,Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and thePacific; G.Zandanshatar,  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia;Ch.Khashchuluun, head of the Committee of National Development and InnovationCommittee; and D.Tsogtbaatar, State Secretary of the Ministry of ForeignAffairs.

Amessage from President Ts. Elbegdorj was read out. Representatives ofBangladesh, Vietnam, Laos and China then held a meeting to assess the reportsand concluded that Mongolia "reduced its poverty rate by only 1.4 per centin the 14-year period and this is not a satisfactory indicator".

The report consists of five parts.The first of these refers to the goalst, job execution, statistical figures,government policies, challenges and solutions and other information. The secondpart includes the millennium development challenges, long and mid-term policyplanning and financial connections, while the third part includes the executionin regions, advertisements, and public participation. The fourth part revealsMongolia's poverty picture and the fifth includes monitoring, controlling andevaluating MDGs.

ABOUTVISIT OF UN ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL

The State Secretary ofthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia D.Tsogtbaatar called Monday a pressconference on the visit of Mr. Ajay Chhibber, the UN Assistant Secretary-General,Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and thePacific paid to Mongolia on August 5-9.

               Inframes of the visit, Mr. Chhibber participated in a ceremony of introducing thethird national report on the implementation course of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) and a seminar themed "Issues of the MDGs'implementation and reducing poverty and ensuring gender equality" heldAugust 6 in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and delivered a related report.Mr. Chhibber concluded that Mongolia has determined its level, achievements,challenges and ways of tackling these matters thanks to introducing the 3rdreport on the MDGs' implementation.

               Co-organizedby the government of Mongolia and the United Nations Development Program(UNDP), the seminar brought together representatives from Laos, Vietnam and Bangladesh.They shared views on their experiences to realize the MDGs and on reducingpoverty and ensuring gender equality.

                Ina scope of the visit to Mongolia, Mr. Chhibber has been received by D.Demberel,the Parliament Speaker.
                Atthe meeting, Mr. Demberel underlined that the Mongolia's government, parliamentand the people always thank the United Nations for assisting Mongolia, andexpressed a willingness to continue the cooperation with the UN.
                Mr.Chhibber emphasized that Mongolia is successfully implementing the goals ofdevelopment of democratic governance and strength of human rights pursuant tothe 9th goal of the MDGs, and said Mongolia is an exemplary country in theregion for developing democracy.

                TheSpeaker gave a report to Mr. Chhibber about measures to create job places, toimprove skills of people and to improve the social welfare and service, andrequested the UNDP to render assistance and support. Moreover, Mr. Demberelnoted that Mongolia is paying an attention to promoting women's participationin legislative level, and the parliament intends to approve the law on genderequality.

                TheMinister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Mr. Zandanshatar met with Mr. Chhibber.They shared opinions on the Mongolia-UN relations and cooperation.

                Mr.Chhibber said that the UNDP confirmed to render policy and technical assistanceto strengthening the Research Center for Landlocked Countries which was establishedat an initiative of Mongolia. In addition to it, the UN expressed a willingnessto cooperate with Mongolia in improving skills of Mongolian peacekeepers,organizing training on human rights and implementing the "One UN"program. The sides also agreed to realize important measures to be taken inframes of the 50th anniversary of joining of Mongolia with the UN to becelebrated in 2011.

                TheMinister of Environment and Tourism L.Gansukh met with Mr. Chhibber. Theyexchanged views on results of projects and programs implemented in Mongolia bythe UNDP.

Source: Montsame Agency

PRIMEMINISTER URGES PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH IDEAS

PrimeMinister S.Batbold was in Khovd province on Thursday as part of his extendedtour of the western provinces. At a meeting with citizens, he gaveinformation on the progress of exploiting mineral deposits, developing smalland medium industries, and on agriculture, and reforms in education andbusiness sectors.     

Thepeople offered several proposals for the Government's consideration. Theyincluded one on tackling the financial problem blocking construction of theSeniors" Palace, and others on granting remote regions special allowances,reducing tuition fees on universities and institutes, providing insurance coverfor traders and herdsmen, increasing salaries of doctors and medical workers,repairing the province's thermal power station, improving roads, regulatingbank loan interests etc.

ThePrime Minister announced that the 21.3 km paved road in Khovd city would beextended to 32 km by 2012 and that 80 new programs will be taken up in theaimag. The government would support all big construction work, provided it istaken up in an open and fair manner.  

Khovdprovince provided 418 people with jobs last year, and so far this year, some600 people have got full-time or part-time employment. This figure is plannedto reach 2,000 by the end of the year. The dzud and other natural disasters ledto the loss of 467,000 animals in Khovd, at an estimated loss of MNT16 billion.The province has so far received MNT1.5 billion from the government anddomestic and foreign organizations as assistance. So far 803 families havereceived MNT 264 million to replenish their herds.

Batbold asked herders to work amongthemselves and suggest ways of improving their condition. He promised carefulconsideration of any good idea coming from people.

Source: www.news.mn