PRESIDENTS OF MONGOLIA AND AUSTRIA ABOUT THEIR MEETING

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ Being in Austria with the official visit, Mr Ts.Elbegdorj together with his counterpart Mr Heinz Fischer called a press-conference after their official talks in Vienna on Tuesday. Mr Fischer underlined an importance of the Mongolian President’s visit and he is “happy that the Mongolian President attaches a great importance to the relations with Austria”. He noted that he visited Mongolia 12 years ago being the president of parliament, “since then our relations, especially the economic ties, have been expanding”. The human right is a vital matter for Austria, "we have touched upon it and have highlighted a decision of Mongolia on putting a moratorium on the capital punishment,” he said. “We have also talked about recent visits of China and Russia state heads to Mongolia, a Mongolia-Russia-China trilateral meeting in Dushanbe, and approaching early November meeting of landlocked developing countries in Austria, which will bring together the UN Secretary-General as well as delegates of Mongolia,” he said. In turn, Mr Elbegdorj expressed a satisfaction with visiting Austria and underlined that both Mongolia and Austria have unique traditional culture and history, “and we cherish human rights, freedom, justice and democracy”. “Austria was one of the first countries to establish the diplomatic relations with Mongolia and to set up commercial ties. Our countries could cooperate in many spheres such as energy, agriculture, tourism, education and culture,” Mr Elbegdorj said. The Mongolian President noted that the two countries support each other at international arena. “Mongolia is doing important steps towards a good governance. Mongolia joined the International Anti-Corruption Academy in 2013, Mongolia also managed to reduce its corruption in the last two years by 27 places,” Mr Elbegdorj emphasized and invited Mr Fischer to visit Mongolia. After this the two dignitaries answered questions. Q: How does Mongolia consider Russia’s position over Ukraine? Does Mongolia want to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)? A: Mongolia has been running big reforms in its politics, society and economy since late 1989, Mongolia is the most liberal country in its region in terms of politics and socio-economy. I studied in Ukraine for five years. The matters regarding Ukraine are multi-sided, have deep reasons. Being in Mongolia with a visit, the President of the Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward a peace initiative on tackling the Ukraine’s issues. In general, I think that Russia and western countries can negotiate this matter, and that this approach is supported by Russia and its President. Regarding the Eurasian Economic Union (former Eurasian Customs Union), I would say that we can run economic talks with it, but do not intend to join it.” After this the Presidents answered a question about cooperation as the landlocked nations. “A group of landlocked countries do not have united stable position, which is may be explained by geographical locations. Main objective of the forthcoming meeting of the landlocked countries in Austria is to determine spheres where their interests may cross, for instance, economy or environment matters, but not to shape up a united political direction or policy,” Mr Fischer emphasized. In turn, the Mongolian President mentioned about a foundation of the International Think-Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries by the UN Secretary-General in 2007 in Ulaanbaatar and then said Mongolia will send its delegates to the upcoming international meeting for the landlocked countries. “Main issue of the visits of the Presidents of China and Russia to Mongolia was the transit transportation. Mongolia has established an intergovernmental agreement with China, and is working on make same agreement with Russia. I see that Mongolia is fully possible to take specific privileges,” he said. Mongolia has two neighbours and considers the whole world, the European Union and Austria as its “Third Neighbour”. In case of reaching mutual understanding with the neighbours on the transit transportation issues, Mongolia will settle its path to the “Third Neighbour”, Mr Elbegdorj said. When asked about the settlement of issues between Rio Tinto and the Government of Mongolia, the President expressed his belief that the issues can be settled. Mongolian journalist asked Mr Fischer about Austria’s neutrality in foreign relations, and its pros and cons. To this Mr. Fischer noted that the neutrality was first initiated in Austria by a federal president after the end of World War II, and was taken after the neutrality of Switzerland. The second step toward the neutrality was taken when the contingents of the USSR, France, the UK and the USA left this country, “because there was a suspicion that Austria would become a member of NATO,” he added. Austria enacted the Declaration of Neutrality after adopting its constitution and signing agreements with the above countries whose contingents left Austria, and yet it has taken 10-15 years to determine the country’s neutral policies on international stage, he went on. “Looking back, we never regret the decision. I am confident that 85 percent of the population will vote for keeping the neutrality, if a poll is conducted”, and noted that the four most powerful political parties in parliament support the neutrality. A journalist asked our President about the achievements made by Mongolia on combating corruption, as the President had mentioned earlier, and about possibilities of assistance from Austria to Mongolia in this combat. Many have failed in obtaining freedom and lost their way, among the new and restored democracies since 1974, because of bad governance and bribery, said our President. Combating corruption is not only a matter of good governance but is also associated with the country’s independence and security, in respect of the view that a country’s security is more likely to be eroded by corruption from inside, he stressed. He also mentioned plenty of activities performed by Mongolia on this matter such as adopting of new programs and laws on jurisdiction, ratification of the UN Convention Against Corruption, and pending ratification of European convention on the issue. “The people’s commitments and support for the State in establishing good governance and eliminating corruption have always inspired me”, he said and stressed that Mongolia’s biggest achievement is two-digit decrease of the last three years in corruption indexes by “Transparency International”. “Protecting the democracy is a continuous process that we should demise for generations. Mongolia is going to intensify the actions against corruption,” said Mongolia’s leader. B.Khuder B.Amarsaikhan