PARTS OF SPEECH

“We have high goals in front of us. Our focus must be on governance, and government regulations need to be clear. Our strategies cannot be based on a wish list but on research, and the development must be sustainable and direct to the people. We will eradicate corruption and clearly define the boundaries between state and private sectors. Last year, these issues were like a half-killed snake.”

S. Batbold, Prime Minister.

“Citizens and investors are calling for the government to deliver on reforms so that this investment boom does not end up wrecking the economy. Good governance is just a catchphrase in Mongolia. There is need for speed. We have become too comfortable with the revenues from mining and must go deeper into the economic issues.”

S.Demberel, CEO of the Mongolian National Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.

“Mongolia is a country that really is sitting on a pot of gold. The challenge is going to be getting it out. Much progress has been made but it is still in transition to a market economy. This is evident both from the debate between the ‘new’ breed of politicians that embrace globalization and the still-strong nationalists that believe in protectionism and full state ownership of assets, and in the underdeveloped legislative infrastructure to support a free market.”

Edison Research.

“We have waited one year for action on the agreement signed between some MPs representing Parliament and leaders of the civil movement but since Parliament has not kept even a single one of its promises, we have decided to resume our protest. The betrayal makes us wonder whether Members of Parliament have any credibility left. If this is how MPs treat those whose interests they are meant to represent, we can only conclude that we live in an oligarchic State where the life of ordinary people will continue to deteriorate”.

Ms.G.Uyanga, General Coordinator of the

Movement for Solidarity, Sovereignty and Justice. “Parliament is a legally constituted body and cannot be dissolved on demand. Similarly, there are well-defined procedures leading to the Government’s resignation or dismissal.”
 

J.Sukhbaatar, head of the Standing
Committees on State Structure.

“I was really shocked that E. Bat-Uul, was in the oligarchy list. I have my reservations about some others also among the top 15 names that the People’s Assembly listed, but I see this as the people’s way of asserting that they want a radical change in the overall system.”

M. Enkhsaikhan, former Prime Minister and
now leader of the New National Party.

“Yes, I supported the idea of a coalition as that would expedite decisions on large mineral deposits. But, with that achieved, we now need adequate monitoring of projects and an alert opposition is essential for this. The prevailing atmosphere in Parliament is very strange, with MPs making deals with one another all the time on appointment of officials, on which draft laws will be supported, and such things, instead of working to meet the needs of people. It’s all quid proquo.”

E.Munkh-Ochir, DP MP.
 

“Corruption is spreading in all state services as the taxpayer’s money is spent without any fear of being checked or challenged. Some sort of serious public monitoring of how budget money is spent is essential. I suggest giving the responsibility to representatives of some corporate houses or the employers’ union or trade union organizations or reputable NGOs. We do not see this monitoring as a formal audit, though.”

S.Ganbaatar, President, Confederation of
Trade Unions.

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