TS.ELBEGDORJ MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OF SWITZERLAND

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia /MONTSAME/ While participating in the 67th session of the UN General Assembly, the President Ts.Elbegdorj met on Wednesday with his counterpart from Switzerland. Saying she is happy to meet with Mongolia's State Head, the President of the Swiss Confederation Ms Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf asked Mr Elbegdorj about a situation with human rights and freedom in Mongolia. The leader of Mongolia replied that new cabinet and parliament have been formed after the June parliamentary election, local elections will take place this November. Mongolia started its democratic revolution 23 years ago, now it has reached achievements, "we are making steps to transmit into the direct democracy from the representative democracy to give people more power, a control over budgets, for example," he said and added that Switzerland has a rich experience in the direct democracy. The Mongolian President said he is glad to see that the Swiss scholars and researchers arrive to Mongolia to meet our people and to cooperate with them in spreading the democracy values, for example, a Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Martin Dahinden visited Mongolia last summer to see an implementation of some projects realized by their agency. He hoped that the two countries will reach big success in propagandizing the direct democracy at international arena. Saying Mongolia is focusing a great attention on educating of its people, Mr Elbegdorj expressed a willingness to expand the ties with Switzerland in the education sector. Then the dignitaries discussed issues of cooperating at regional and international levels. Ms Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf congratulated Mongolia on success and achievements in human rights and democracy, and said she will support Mongolia's efforts to transmit into the direct democracy. B.Khuder