TS.MUNKH-ORGIL DELIVERS SPEECH AT GENERAL DEBATE OF UNGA SESSION

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On September 22, Acting Foreign Minister of Mongolia Ts.Munkh-Orgil gave a speech at the General Debate of the 72nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly held under the theme “Focusing on people: struggling for peace and decent life for all on sustainable planet”. In accordance to the occurrence of natural disasters across the globe, FM Ts.Munkh-Orgil noted that the world is in need for better national and local readiness, and a stronger regional and international cooperation. Accordingly, FM informed that Mongolia is hosting an Asian Ministerial Conference in July 2018 to effectively implement the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and briefed Mongolian Government Action Plan for 2016-2020, which is to preserve ecosystem balance, protect natural resources, ensure their appropriate use and rehabilitation, as well as promoting green economic growth. After highlighting connectivity enhancement as an urgent priority for landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), FM addressed “Mongolia acceded to the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization in 2016. This can help LLDCs integrate in to global value chains (GVCs) and transition from landlocked to land-linked.” According to FM, Mongolia is studying the feasibility of free trade agreements with the Eurasian Economic Union, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Korea, in order to further improve market access to main trading partners, and an Economic Partnership Agreement is already in place with Japan. “Mongolia is keen to further work together with our two neighbors and other partners to improve rail, road, air, energy networks and pipeline infrastructure and increase access to the sea,” he added. After that, FM Ts.Munkh-Orgil expressed Mongolia’s concern in the escalating tension in Northeast Asia and stressed “We strongly oppose the destabilization of regional security by DPRK by conducting repeated nuclear tests and launching ballistic missiles in defiance of the international community’s will and in violation of the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. As a country with a 25-year-old nuclear-weapon-free zone status, Mongolia reiterates its principled position that the Korean Peninsula must be nuclear-weapon-free. We urge the Parties concerned to refrain from actions that could heighten the tension in Northeast Asia and resolve the issue through peaceful means.” He then informed that the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security initiated by Mongolia in 2013 could be one of the avenues on the matter. The Ulaanbaatar Dialogue is an open mechanism that ensures the participation of all countries in Northeast Asia. Later on, FM Ts.Munkh-Orgil said “Mongolia is looking forward to the adoption of the Global Compact for Migration in 2018. It will provide a critical tool for the protection of the safety and human rights of all migrants, regardless of their migratory status and strengthen global governance on international migration.” Moreover, Mongolia has dispatched over 15,000 Blue Helmets to a number of hot spots. As of today, Mongolia has become one of the 30 largest troop and police contributing countries in the world. Mongolian peacekeepers are known for their dedication, skills and community-friendly behavior in peacekeeping and reconstruction activities. We intend to further enhance our contribution through providing engineering and special units to the UN peacekeeping, addressed FM Ts.Munkh-Orgil. On September 18, Mongolia co-hosted with Argentina and the European Union a high-level event to launch the Global Alliance to end trade in products used for the death penalty and torture. Accordingly, Foreign Minster we reaffirmed Mongolia’s commitment to the eradication of the death penalty, torture and other inhuman and degrading treatment as a member of the Human Rights Council. FM Ts.Munkh-Orgil finished his speech by wishing to reaffirm once again that Mongolia fully supports the Secretary-General’s reform vision to make the UN less bureaucratic and more efficient, productive and field-oriented. “After all, this is the only way the UN can become stronger and more responsive to the people it serves” FM noted at the end. B.Tugsbilig