PRESIDENT AWARDED CERTIFICATE OF WHO

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ The Permanent Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) to Mongolia Dr. Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn presented a WHO's special certificate to the President Ts.Elbegdorj on Wednesday. The leader of Mongolia has been awarded as such for his appeal to all countries to create a Convention on improving the control over consumption of alcoholic beverages. "The WHO highly appreciated this initative and reflects it in its annual report, even to attract more attention, Your photo, Mister President, goes together with the initiative in this year's report," said Mr Wiwat. The anti-alcoholism fight is a virtuous deed because it saves lives of many people, and the President's initiative has an importance not only for Mongolia but also for many other countries, he said. Then he introduced the President to activities of the WHO in Mongolia and said cardiovascular illnesses, diabetes, stroke and cancers--all caused by alcoholism--are still main factors of mortality in Mongolia. In response, Mr Elbegdorj noted that he had proposed creating this international Convention on controlling alcoholism during a meeting with the UN Secretary-General, and said this Convention is similar to the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. He emphasized an importance of the WHO's assistance and support to Mongolia, and said Mongolia will cooperate with the WHO in a realization of his initiative. B.Khuder