President Co-chairs roundtable discussion on civil society

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Within the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj a roundtable discussion themed "Civil Society Participation in Developing Countries" ran Monday alongside the President of the United States of America Barack Obama and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson. The discussion attracted state leaders and high-level officials from member states of the Democracy Caucus in the United Nations. From the Mongolian side, Minister of Foreign Affairs L.Bold; Advisor to the President on security and foreign policy L.Purevsuren and other officials attended the event. In his opening speech President Obama noted "Civil Society is a voluntary association of people by their beliefs and convictions. In Mongolia civil society organizations are not restricted and their voices are heard. That is why I invited President Elbegdorj to share his experiences on consolidation of the civil society. Civil society protects right of individuals. State protects public interests. These two combined, factor a genuinely harmonious society". Then Mr Obama congratulated Mongolia on its successful chairmanship of the Community of Democracies (CoD) and organizing the 7th CoD Ministerial Conference in Ulaanbaatar last April. Addressing the discussion’s participants, the Mongolian President emphasized an importance of civil society’s role in developing democracy, and said Mongolia fully backs the CoD’s general programme, adding that civil society is a partner of this.