BUDGET FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION DRAFT LAW APPROVED

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ A meeting of the Standing committee on budget backed Tuesday afternoon a budget proposal for a draft law on cultural heritage protection. Introducing the draft, the Culture Minister Ts.Oyungerel MP highlighted an urgent need for full protection, restoration and monitoring of cultural heritages of the country that homes 80% percent of rock painting heritages of the world. After privatization of a responsible authority twenty years ago, restoration jobs of rock paintings has not been done properly, leaving them unprotected to rain, ground waters, sun and wind, said the Minister. She also urged better legal environments and organizational reforms in order to deter ongoing theft and transnational crimes related with cultural heritages. The draft advises establishment of two independent entities responsible for protection of national heritages. A cultural heritage authority will employ 200 contracted workers, while 115 employees will be provided with permanent jobs at a state-owned restoration shop. The Committee backed the draft and agreed to submit their evaluation assessment on budget issues of the draft to the Standing committee on social policy, education, culture and sciences in separate.