"CORRUPTION AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY" CONFERENCE RUNS

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Standing Committee on security and foreign policy organized on November 6 a theory-and-practice conference themed "Corruption as a threat to national security" jointly with the US Asia Foundation (AF), Authority Against Corruption, Women Leadership foundation and State University of Mongolia, at the State House. Present at the meeting were Vice Speaker L.Tsog, the head of the Standing Committee Ts.Oyunbaatar MP, a head of Standing Committee on justice D.Ganbat MP, a Country-Director of the AF for Mongolia Meloni Lindberg, a department head of the Corruption Combating Agency (CCA) E.Amarbat, as well as representatives of public and private organizations. The gathered discussed the obstacles faced while seeking the most efficient anti-corruption approaches and developing their implementation plans. L.Tsog thanked Ms Lindberg and other representatives and expressed a confidence that the meeting would serve as a decisive action toward combating corruption. A chairman of the Standing committee on security and foreign policy Ts.Oyunbaatar presented a paper on “Corruption as a threat to National Security”. He emphasized an importance of “A Glass Account Law” in combating corruption and improving state services. According to him, the 2012 election PR costs of the State Great Khural were quadrupled against 2008. After this, Ms Lindberg addressed the meeting and appreciated being a co-organizer of the meeting. The Asia Foundation mainly focuses on promoting democracy and good governance in Mongolia, she said. This meeting is important as the participants would reach a general understanding about high-class corruption and discover correct policy approaches. "The Asia Foundation has been realizing a project on strengthening a transparency and governance (STAGE) in Mongolia in the past two years, it became the basis of this meeting,” she added. According to B.Bat-Otgon, the head of the CCA department for prevention and enlightenment, the agency investigated 351 cases involving 693 people in 2012 and 2013, 372 of whom were from state administrations and services’ agencies. The CCA also disclosed MNT 123 billion of damage and managed to have 9.4 billion covered. The CCA issues a proposal on amending the Law against Corruption and the Law on Prevention of Crimes, and on reflecting the recommendations by this meeting to the National Strategy against Corruption. The participants also raised important matters on intensifying a prevention of corruption and enlightenment of people, risk-of-corruption assessments on drafts being discussed by the Parliament, developing a strategy program on combating corruption.