MONGOL Since 1991 the MESSENGER 500 ¥ No. 16 (1085) MONGOLIA’S FIRST ENGLISH WEEKLY PUBLISHED BY MONTSAME NEWS AGENCY Friday, April 20, 2012 ‘South S�Zorig would be 50 Gobi Sands’ Democratic leader remembered on his birthday licenses suspended B.Ooluun The Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia (MRAM) suspended all exploration and mining licenses of the “SouthGobi Sands” Company for an indefinite period. The move to suspend the activity of this company was taken in connection with an agreement of SouthGobi Resources” LLC, the head company of “SouthGobi Sands”, to sell 57.6 percent of shares to ‘Chalco’ company, a state-owned of China until conclusion and notification by the government is issued, said acting MRAM chief M.Ariunbayar. Responding to a reporter’s question at an April 16 press conference pertaining to the “SouthGobi” agreement, M.Ariunbayar stated: “SouthGobi Sands” did not sell their exploration and mining licenses to ‘Chalco’ company. It is believed an agreement on the 57 percent stake sales of “SouthGobi Resources” head company is under discussion. The existing mining law has no regulation about it, but the revised draft law includes a provision saying that licensed business entities engaged in geological and mining activities in Mongolia are obliged to inform the government and get permission on change of ownership or exploitation On April 20, family and friends will gather to pay tribute at S.Zorig’s memorial across from the Central Post Office rights. The “SouthGobi Sands” licenses in force are suspended until an B.Ooluun Mongolia’s democratic revolution state leaders that the murderers who economy and free elections. In January official government conclusion related in a peaceful way. April 20 is his killed the democratic leader are still 1990, Zorig and his fellow Mongolian to the sale or change of ownership is Every year, on two special days, birthday and he would be 50 this year. free. Democrat dissidents began staging released. We have the right for such April 20 and October 2, Mongolians Unfortunately, he was murdered on In 1989 and 1990, S. Zorig played weekend protests on Sukhbaatar suspension,” M.Ariunbayar said. remember prominent politician October 2, 1998, representing a tragic a leading role in the events that led to Square, the center of Ulaanbaatar. The Canadian ‘Ivanhoe Mines”, and democratic revolution leader loss to Mongolian Democracy. Mongolia’s adoption of a multi-party protests started small but grew into the 57.6 percent stakeholder of the S.Zorig. S. Zorig led the democratic On those two days relatives, system. On December 10, 1989, Zorig Canadian “SouthGobi Resource” revolution of Mongolia in 1990 and friends, associates and citizens lay led a group of 200 activists in a public company, agreed with the Chinese made valuable contributions to win wreaths at his monument and remind protest demanding a free-market Continued on page 5 ‘Chalco’ company to sell the “SouthGobi Resource” stock without notifying the Mongolian government or any other agencies. At a press conference on April 4, some MPs and Mongolian thwarts airborne terrorist attack economists demanded to immediately suspend the illegal deal of the biggest foreign companies to trade Mongolian Heroic act saves 216 passengers wealth between each other using On April 18, Prime Minister Continued on page 5 S.Batbold met Z.Buyannemekh, a man who saved many lives on April 16 during a flight of the Cathay Pacific Aviation Company of Hong Kong. Inside Mr. Batbold said Mongolians are 6 percent home loan available ������p3 proud of the man who saved lives of 216 passengers from a terrorist Ex-President arrested ������������������p4 person. He expressed sincere thanks to Z.Buyannemekh on behalf of himself Foreign Press on Mongolia������������p6 and the government and granted him a Letter of Gratitude and a prize. ‘Spring Construction-2012’�� ����������p8 A citizen of Mongolia Z.Buyannemekh, saved the lives Mongol Studies����������������������������p9 of 216 passengers on board while flying from Bangkok to Hong Kong Innovation projects introduced���p11 on flight number CX712 operated by the Cathay Pacific Airways Company. He interrupted the suicide attempt of Bloomberg commodity price 2012/04/19 a Philippine terrorist who threatened Price passengers with an attempt to crash the plane. GOLD USD/t oz. 1,638.400 “He was a Filipino man around 40 years old. About 20 minutes before the COPPER USD/lb. 363.100 landing, three flight attendants started screaming. When I looked, there was a SILVER USD/t oz 31.440 person struggling with the three flight attendants, demanding and trying to BRENT USD/bbl. 118.260 open the front door. I tackled him and CRUDE strangled his neck, until the second SUGAR USd/lb. 22.010 pilot came out and secured him with handcuffs,” he said. Prime Minister S.Batbold (R) presents Z.Buyannemekh a letter of gratitude WHEAT USd/bu 621.000 2 THE MONGOL MESSENGER news Friday, April 20, 2012 N E W S-IN-B R I E F–From The MONTSAME AGENCY Prince Michael of Kent visits Mongolia lOn Friday, the prize named after the President of and M.Batchimeg, an advisor to the State Head of On April 14-18, His Royal Highness Prince Mongolia was given to young medical doctors. The Mongolia. Michael of Kent of the United Kingdom paid prizes were presented by D.Battulga, a head of the Within the event, the trainees will visit historical sites a visit to Mongolia at the invitation of Prime Presidential Office; R.Bold, an advisor to the State of Mongolia. Minister S.Batbold. Head; and N.Tumendemberel, the State Secretary lOn April 12-13, the Office of President and the Open On April 16, Prince Michael visited to of the Health Ministry. The President’s prizes were Society Forum co-hosted training for investigative the Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE). He awards to S.Bulgamaa, a physician from Uvs Aimag; journalists. opened the trade of stocks and got acquainted G.Otgontuya, a physician at the Central Clinical The training was led by a member of the National with the process of reforming the Mongolian Hospital; and B.Enkhzaya, a physician from Zavkhan Commission for Human Rights of the European stock market. Afterwards, His Highness held a Aimag. Union, and by E.Maria, project regulator of the meeting with Kh.Altai, Executive Director of the lOn April 13, the United Nations Development Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. The training MSE; D.Bayarsaikhan, Head of the Financial Programme and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gathered correspondents from 30 TV channels, radio Regulatory Commission (FRC); B.Daajamba, and Trade of Mongolia signed a project that aims and E-journals. the FRC’s deputy head; the Executive Director to improve civic engagement of Mongolia’s youth The trainees took lessons on reporting trials, of the Mongolian Securities Clearing House and because their political participation has been steadily methodology of writing about court decisions, on Central Depository LLC; and other officials. declining in the country. the experience of the European Union and other Creation of democratic space and civic engagement of countries in these issues, on human rights, freedom of On April 17, Prime Minister S. Batbold youth is becoming “more important than ever in the journalists to express positions and views, immunity of received His Royal Highness Prince Michael of current context of the country, where high economic individuals, on the importance of getting familiar with Kent of the UK. Prime Minister S.Batbold said growth has not yet translated into prosperity and equal cases, and so on. that Mongolia is focusing on its relations and opportunities for all”. “Youth are the future of any lOn April 17, G.Monkhbayar, Mayor of Ulaanbaatar cooperation in the economic and investment His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent and country. They need the knowledge and opportunity to city received a delegation led by Mr Daumantas sectors with the United Kingdom (UK). The PM S.Batbold (R) be fully engaged in political participation at all levels,” Lapinskas, Lithuania’s Vice-Minister of Economy. Prime Minister also expressed thanks to the said Sezin Sinanoglu, UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Lapinskas highlighted that the Republic of Prince, and then underlined the importance to who has signed the project document with G. Lithuania wants to expand ties not only with western seek new opportunities in bilateral relations. Zandanshatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. countries, but also with those with who his country has The Prime Minister also noted the cooperation The overall objective of the USD 300,000 project, to be traditional relations including Mongolia. He pointed between the Stock Exchange of Mongolia and the carried out from 2012-2014, is to develop democratic out that a big business delegation, headed by the leader London Stock Exchange (LSE) and successful skills of Mongolia’s 15-24 year olds, especially in of the Chamber of Business Development, has arrived introduction of the Cambridge educational the areas of problem-solving and decision-making. in Mongolia. program in primary and secondary schools in New education materials will be created for school The Mayor got acquainted with the composition of the curriculum, and teachers will be trained in civic business delegation and said the two countries have big Mongolia. Then, he hoped that His Highness education. Activities will also include dialogues opportunities to cooperate in many spheres such as an Prince Michael will contribute to widening between youth and policy-makers on improving international tender for founding a garbage recycling Mongolia-UK relations. community life, and social media will be used to plant. In turn, Prince Michael expressed satisfaction engage youth groups in discussions on peace, freedom, Mongolia and Lithuania established the diplomatic with his very first visit to Mongolia.