“It’s not Russian geopolitics. Maybe it’s Mongolian geopolitics.”
Victor Samoilenko, Russia’s ambassador to Mongolia.“I am impressed by the progress of the development work taking place at UkhaaKhudag and see it is a great example of what Mongolians are capable of achieving in the free market environment. I feel most proud of the hard work and commitment of the thousands of Mongolians taking part in the project development. I also see that the government support has become increasingly important in accelerating successful projects and undertakings like the one we see here at UkhaaKhudag.”
President Ts. Elbegdorj“I’m confrontational because there’s no other way. From the outside, to foreigners, we may look like we’re going down a democratic route. But our society is chronically ill, and it’s getting sicker and sicker.”
Ts.Munkhbayar, radical environmental activist.“The future of herding in the South Gobi is under threat as the development of extensive mine infrastructure pushes herders out of traditional camps, fragments pasture land and puts pressure on water resources.”
A report published by CEE BankwatchNetwork in the Czech Republic, Urgewald in Germany, Bank Information Centre in the United States and OyuTolgoi Watch in Mongolia, with financial assistance of the European Union.
“A lot of NGOs are exaggerating the side effects of Mongolia’s mining boom. As development takes place anywhere in any country, you’ll get some sort of environmental stress.There is some truth to the claim that mining trucks are stirring up dust, but this is not extending Mongolia’s deserts and is being alleviated as new roads are being built from major mines to China.”
Brian Thornton, Chairman, Xanadu Mines.“Such a massive undertaking as OT is bound to distort the local economy and disrupt the environment. Compared with the ninjas, the multinationals and the development banks that will help raise the largest-ever project financing for mining can at least claim to be part of the solution. But it will struggle to be popular.”
A report in The Economist.“One cannot expect high economic growth to impact one’s life immediately… So called poor Mongolian people are driving all these cars … In fact, poverty has declined. Construction companies cannot get labourers for MNT35,000 a day. We say we are poor, starving and tired yet we prefer not to work forMNT35,000per day.”
Ch.Gankhuyag,
Deputy Finance Minister. “I hope he knows what he’s talking about, but I personally think it’s all bullshit.”
L. Sumati, director of the SantMaral Foundation.“If mining is supposed to make us rich and bring us development, why is it that we don’t even have a paved road in Zaamar? See that Buddha statue built by one of the mining companies? Instead of spending money on a statue that’s going to get covered in bird shit, why can’t they dig us a couple of wells?Maybe when I’m dead, I’ll need Buddha.”
Ch. Genden, claiming mining companies have been eating away at her land, and sucking away the water table.“It takes time for infrastructure to catch up.”
David Paull, Managing Director, Aspire Mining. “Mongolians have never been very good at getting along with each other.”
B. Batbayar, or Baabar, commentator and analyst.“Mining is bound to be political because it is the main thing in the country. And the face of Mongolian mining over the past 15 years has been mostly ugly. OT has not been helped by tactless remarks made in the past by Robert Friedland, Ivanhoe’s boss, about the cash machine we intend to build, and how nice it was to have so few people around and no NGOs.”
Mrs S. Oyun, MP. “If cabinet members are from outside Parliament, it will help clarify responsibilities, rights and control systems of both parliament and government and ensure the allocation of authority.”
Ts. Elbegdorj, President.“It may sound funny to say the Mongolian economy is growing too fast, but more is not always better when it comes to growth. Growing too fast in the short run leads to significant problems, and the overheating today leads to higher poverty and lower growth in the future. This is a bad tradeoff.”
Steven Barnett, IMF Representative to Mongolia.“We sent numerous requests to the State Great Khural to reduce the budget deficit, but they continue to dole out cash. When the central bank warns the Government about possible risks, they sit back and stay silent as if they do not care. But when these risks become a reality and the economy is threatened, they begin looking for a scapegoat, and this is usually us.”
D. Delgersaikhan, Director of the International Department at the Bank of Mongolia. “It is within the full rights of Parliament to decide to give (MNT1 million) to one group of people and that much to another. However, for Parliament to set MNT1 million as the price of shares does not comply with the principles of either a market economy or of capital markets.”
B. Enebish, ErdenesTavanTolgoi Director.“A transparent government should ensure that a resources boom spurs social development. The ‘resources curse’ theory argues that in mineral-rich countries, governments do not need to be accountable because the state does not tax citizens as it has a guaranteed source of income from natural resources. Hence, this breeds corruption.”
A Global Institute for Tomorrow report on Mongolia.“The best way to control inflation is to have a more responsible fiscal policy. The extraordinary increase in government spending in 2011 and planned for under the 2012 budget are the key drivers of rising prices of goods. The public’s well-placed concern about rising cost of living should be addressed, therefore, towards fiscal policy and not the Central Bank.”
Steven Barnett, IMF Representative to Mongolia.