The Mongolian government on Wednesday announced that the year 2023 is the "Year of Fighting against Corruption."

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene ordered all relevant officials to ensure the implementation of anti-corruption measures and provide all-round support in the fight against corruption.

The move aims to shine a light on the shadow economy in order to expand the country's gross domestic product (GDP), Khishgee Nyambaatar, minister of justice and internal affairs of Mongolia, briefed media after a regular government meeting.

Within the framework of the anti-corruption year, the country is expected to take various measures, including passing a law to protect whistle-blowers.

In addition, under the framework of relevant international agreements and Mongolian laws, the country will repatriate corrupt fugitives and punish them, and uncover and return illegal funds hidden in offshore areas and foreign countries.

It is estimated that if these anti-corruption measures succeed, the country's GDP per capita could exceed 5,000 U.S. dollars for the first time.

On 27 January 2023, Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa vetoed a social media bill that legislators adopted earlier in the month, only 48 hours after it was disclosed to the public, which made it the fastest decision ever taken by Mongolia’s parliament and did not allow any public debate on the matter. The Parliament can still override the veto providing it collects the two-thirds of the votes in a coming extraordinary session planned for this month.

The social media bill, that notably includes dispositions against hate speech, children abuse, drug trafficking and online fraud, also allows the government to request Internet Service Providers to “suspend or delete accounts” and “reduce the distribution of information” of contents deemed harmful to “national unity” and disclosing “state and official secrets”. This Bill, by giving the government body – and not a judicial or independent authority – such a power, would give political authorities the ability to make arbitrary and politically motivated decisions, giving the authorities to censor any online content they dislike.

Although Mongolia broadly respects the principles of press freedom and media pluralism, its media environment is plagued by conflicts of interest that hinder editorial independence. In 2017, a few weeks before the presidential election, Mongolian television stations replaced their normal programming with blank screens in protest against plans to increase the penalties for defamation, which they feared would force journalists into self-censorship.

In 2021, Mongolia was officially invited to join the 50 countries that already endorsed the International Partnership for Information and Democracy, a process originally initiated by RSF, which aims at implementing democratic safeguards in the information and communication space.

Mongolia ranked 90th out of 180 in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index

Mongolia's annual inflation rate fell to 12.3 percent in January from 13.2 percent in December 2022, the country's National Statistics Office said on Wednesday.

The inflation rate in Mongolia peaked at 16.1 percent last June due to higher prices for imports. The figure has been gradually decreasing ever since.

There are 410 items in the landlocked country's consumer goods and services basket. More than half of them are imported, according to the statistical agency.

The Asian country has aimed at reducing its inflation rate to a single digit by the end of this year.

On February 7, the European Union organized a high-level conference to define the framework of actions for sustainable green development in cooperation with the Government of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar.

This conference is the preparatory event for the projects to be implemented in Mongolian agriculture, forestry, technical and professional training, and education sectors within this EUR 14 million non-refundable aid from the EU.

Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia Axelle Nicaise delivered opening remarks. In her remarks, she said, “The EU considers Mongolia as its main partner to promote sustainable green investment. Our partnership demonstrates the realization of value-oriented investment based on democracy. It is our duty to pave a sustainable and green future for our succeeding generations. I would like to describe the result of this conference as Partnership-Accountability-Effect.”

During the conference, N. Batkhuu, Advisor to the President of Mongolia on Environment and Green development policy gave a presentation on the “One Billion Trees” national campaign. The “One Billion Trees” national campaign initiated by the President of Mongolia U. Khurelsukh has been successfully implemented throughout the country in order to rehabilitate forests, increase the forest reserves, reduce desertification and land degradation, increase the number of green spaces in cities, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is planned to plant one billion trees in three phases. The first phase or the preparatory phase will be taking place in 2021-2024, and the second or the intensification phase will be implemented in 2024-2026, while, the third, or sustainable implementation phase is planned for 2027-2030. For the last one year, 12 million trees have already been planted and over 300 tree farms have been built.

In his presentation on the process of national campaign of “Food Supply and Safety”, Ch. Davaabayar, Advisor of the President of Mongolia on Industry and Service Policy and a Head in charge of Food projects and programs said, “With the purpose of ensuring the solid implementation of the national campaign “Food Revolution”, the State Great Khural’s Resolution No. 36 on “Measures to Ensure Food Supply and Safety” and its temporary commission’s Resolution No. 02 have been approved.

In order to implement Resolution No. 36, a total of MNT 1.7 billion is required, which will be contributed by the state budget, foreign aid, and loan and credit guarantee fund, each 48%, 34%, and 10%, respectively. This year, 70 projects for the food industry, trade and services, animal husbandry, veterinary clinics, agriculture, light industry, small and medium industries, services, cooperatives, and research are going to be implemented and MNT 521 billion is required for funding these projects, of which MNT 222.7 million has been included in the state budget. To that extent, the office of the President of Mongolia has been taking required measures to accelerate the implementation of the respective resolutions, ensure the coordination between stakeholders, and to make the funding sources clear and optimal.” At the end of his presentation, he pointed out that the office of the President would welcome any initiatives and cooperation proposals aligned with the “One Billion Trees”, “Food Supply and Safety” and “Healthy Mongolian” national campaigns.

The next presentation was given by T. Munkhsaikhan, Advisor of the President of Mongolia on Health, Sports, and Social Policy. He presented, “The ‘One Billion Trees,' ‘Food Supply and Safety’ and ‘Healthy Mongolian’ are well-coordinated and closely-aligned national campaigns. The focus of our health sector has shifted from improving the quality of healthcare services to eradicating the factors causing diseases. To that extent, we are focusing on four main areas, which are to create a healthy living environment for people, to provide our people with healthy foods, to promote healthy and proper lifestyles, and, lastly, to provide education on health and well-being to citizens stage by stage.”

Representing the education sector, a head of the Professional Education and Training Department of the Ministry of Education and Science D.Bilguudei said, “I presumed that the EU would implement projects in highly inter-related sectors such as agriculture, environment, and professional education while identifying these sectors as its priority areas. The Department of Forestry has released a study stating that an average of 3,000 professional personnel will be needed in the coming year in connection with the “One Billion trees” national campaign. As of today, vocational training centers in Orkhon, Selenge, Zavkhan, and Khentii aimag are preparing professional personnel for the agriculture sector. In the framework of the projects to be implemented, it is planned to conduct fundamental research and develop the content and curriculum of the training in a way that meets international standards. To this extent, it is required to enhance the coordination between the curriculums of the Mongolian University of Life Sciences and other vocational training centers. In other words, other required arrangements will be made to enable professors of the MULS to teach lessons on theories to vocational center students, and in turn, the students of MULS to do field internships on the training basis of these centers. For our Ministry, we deeply realize our responsibility to prepare highly skilled personnel who will play a vital role in ensuring the successful implementation of these projects.”

During the conference, in response to the question about her expectations for the Mongolian side with reference to the sustainable development goals, Axelle Nicaise, Ambassador of the European Union to Mongolia said, “We, the EU, will support the Mongolian Government’s mid and long-term policy and goals. Mongolia has made commitments to shift away from coal as much as possible and reduce greenhouse emissions on global arena. However, there is no way that Mongolia will have managed to fulfill its energy needs only with renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and water in one day. This is a transition process that requires time and effort. We will fully support this transition and Green development policies and initiatives of Mongolia.”

2 new COVID-19 cases were registered in Mongolia in past 24 hours.

2 of them are contacts in Ulaanbaatar. No cases were recorded in the regions.

Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya visited Mongolia February 5-8 and met with Parliament Speaker G. Zandanshatar, Minister of Foreign Affairs B. Battsetseg, Independent Authority Against Corruption Chief Commissioner Z. Dashdavaa, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Kh. Nyambaatar, and National Security Council Secretary J. Enkhbayar. She also met with a range of civil society and religious leaders.

Under Secretary Zeya affirmed the United States’ commitment to deepening U.S.-Mongolia ties, anchored in our shared values, including the commitment to democracy. She also highlighted the need for continued progress in promoting good governance, rule of law, and human rights. The Under Secretary underscored U.S. appreciation of Mongolia’s role as a democratic leader in the region.

Robust U.S.-Mongolia partnership includes efforts to fight child trafficking, strengthen law enforcement and civil society, combat corruption, and protect human rights such as freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression. The United States pledged $5.5 million in support for the U.S.-Mongolia Child Protection Compact (CPC) Partnership, which is a commitment between the United States and Mongolia to strengthen efforts to prosecute and convict child traffickers, provide comprehensive trauma-informed care for child victims, and prevent child trafficking. Under the CPC, Mongolia has, in the last year, opened three child-friendly spaces, which support child trafficking victims and other children during investigations, and launched two more spaces during Under Secretary Zeya’s visit.

Since 2018, the United States has also provided $13 million in technical assistance, equipment, training, and exchanges for Mongolian criminal justice agencies, ranging from the National Police Agency to Mongolia’s Supreme Court, including a $1 million project with the International Development Law Organization to improve transparency and combat corruption, in partnership with the Independent Agency Against Corruption, prosecutors, police, and civil society.

Elixir Energy Ltd., Adelaide, has reached pilot production of 100,000 cu f/d of gas and stable and low water rates of 180 b/d from its coal seam gas pilot project in the Nomgon IX production sharing contract in the South Gobi basin of Mongolia.

The two-well pilot program (Nomgon-8 and Nomgon-9) began in November 2022 and has been in operation for 83 days.

Nomgon-9 began producing gas from the first day of pumping with flow rates increasing steadily over the period, Elixir said. It has now reached 80,000 cu ft/d. The produced water has remained steady at 160 b/d.

Nomgon-8 experienced initial technical difficulties, necessitating a workover to flush and clean the production interval. Production has reached 20,000 cu ft/d of gas and water flow of 20 b/d. Elixir believes the flow rates will steadily increase.

The company has started interpretation of the ongoing Nomgon-9 production history and hopes to assess project commerciality in the coming months.

Elixir’s exploration and appraisal program for 2023 at Nomgon is expected to begin in this year’s second quarter. It will comprise drilling a minimum of nine wells (four appraisals, five exploration).

Buyant-Ukhaa International Airport, February 7, 04:34 AM - Deputy chief of National Emergency Management Agency, Brigadier-General B. Uuganbayar, his rescue team of 35 search and rescue specialists and two search dogs headed to Turkey.

Today, plane carrying 1.500 woolen blankets, 10 tonnes of meat, 2 tonnes of candles and other aids leaves Mongolia to Turkey and Syria.

S. Amarsaikhan, Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister, and Head of the State Emergency Commission met with the team and reminded the team that the Turkish government sent help to our Mongolian herders during the harsh winters in 2010 and 2016, also said, “Wishing you nothing but the best on your mission. Please come home safe.”

The Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey, Zafer Ateş extends his warmest appreciation to the Government of Mongolia for its valuable support and solidarity.

Pope Francis has announced his intention to visit Mongolia later this year.

The landlocked Asian country might seem an odd destination for a papal visit. There are only about 1,300 Catholics in Mongolia—probably not as many as in your home parish—accounting for just 0.04% of the country’s population. But the Pope has taken a keen interest in the missionary territory, choosing its only bishop, Giorgio Morengo, to receive a cardinal’s red hat last year. And surely no one would deny that the faithful Catholics of Mongolia deserve the pastoral attention of the Roman Pontiff, just like the Catholics of any other nation.

Still, the plan for a trip to Mongolia sharpens one of the mysterious questions about this pontificate. As he approaches the 10th anniversary of his election, why hasn’t Pope Francis visited his homeland? Among all his travel destinations, why hasn’t he ever chosen a trip back to Argentina?

For many of his 40 trips outside Italy—which the Vatican categorizes as “pastoral voyages”—Pope Francis has chosen to visit many countries where Catholics, and even Christians, are a tiny minority, such as Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Turkey. Yet he hasn’t been back to Argentina, where 92% of the people are counted as Catholics. He has traveled to east Asia; he has only recently returned from sub-Saharan Africa. But he hasn’t made it home

The omission of Argentina from the Pope’s travel dockets is even more curious, when one considers that he has crisscrossed South America, hopping around neighboring countries without touching down. In 2013 he was in Brazil; in 2015, Ecuador and Bolivia and Paraguay; in 2017, Colombia; in 2018, Chile and Peru. Any one of those trips could have allowed for a stop in Buenos Aires, where he was born and raised—where he served, as auxiliary bishop and then as archbishop, for over 20 years.

While he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the future Pontiff was known for avoiding foreign travel. When church business took him to Rome, he returned home as quickly as he could—unlike the many prelates who take every opportunity to lengthen their stays in the Eternal City. In fact when he reported to Rome for the conclave of 2013 he had every intention of returning to Buenos Aires as soon as the new Pope was elected. Ten years later, he still hasn’t returned.

Pope John Paul II, elected in October 1978, made it to Poland by June of the following year, despite the marked reluctance of the country’s Communist leaders to allow a papal visit. Pope Benedict XVI was in Germany less than six months after his election in 2005 (although the World Youth Day event that brought him to Cologne had been scheduled long before his election). Before them, of course, since the advent of air travel made foreign trips feasible, every Pope had been Italian.

To date, then, Pope Francis is the only Roman Pontiff in history who, having the ability to fly back to his native country for a visit, has not taken that opportunity. I have no theory to explain why he has not traveled home. But as the years go by, and the list of papal voyages lengthens, the mystery grows more intriguing.

Philip F. Lawler