CPSI NewsWire brings you market updates on Mongolia, compiled by CPS International, a Mongolian marketing arm of CPS Securities, a Perth, Western Australia based stockbroking and corporate advisory firm, specialising in capital raising for mining and junior stocks.
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Mongolia ends London 2012 with the most medals in history
Team Mongolia boasts two Silver Medals and three Bronze Medals
Silvers in Judo and Boxing, Bronzes in Judo, Wrestling and Boxing
Mongolia Ranks Seventh in the World in Medals per Capita
Mogi: I’ll be attending this lecture today and away from the office, but on my phone and email
Stanford professors to deliver lecture in Mongolia at the invitation of President Elbegdorj
August 8 (news.mn) At the invitation of the President Elbegdorj world’s leading theorists of democracy will soon arrive in Mongolia. They are intended to deliver a lecture at the Great Hall of the Government Palace on the topics of “Development Models After the Global Financial Crisis”, “The Quality of Democracy and Survival of Democracy” and hold a discussion with Mongolians.
The Office of the President planned to invite more than thousand people including ordinary citizens, scientists, public servants, politicians, entrepreneurs and those who interested in this lecture which is scheduled to start at 10:00 am on August 13, 2012.
The political scientists that will come to give a lecture are the famous Senior Fellows and the professors of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, California. One of the most famous political scientists Francis Fukuyama, leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies Larry Diamond and one of the most influential political analyst, best known for his studies on state sovereignty and international relations Stephen Krasner.
Professor Francis Fukuyama
Francis Fukuyama is Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), resident in FSI"s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, effective July 2010. He comes to Stanford from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University, where he was the Bernard L. Schwartz Professor of International Political Economy and director of SAIS" International Development program.
Dr. Fukuyama has written widely on issues relating to democratization and international political economy. His book, “The End of History and the Last Man”, was published by Free Press in 1992 and has appeared in over twenty foreign editions. His most recent book, The Origins of Political Order, was published in April 2011. Other books include America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power, and the Neoconservative Legacy, and Falling Behind: Explaining the Development Gap between Latin America and the United States.
Professor Larry Diamond
Over the past three decades the world has been transformed. In 1974, nearly three-quarters of all countries were dictatorships; today, more than half are democracies. Yet recent efforts to promote democracy have stumbled, and many democratic governments are faltering. Why?
Larry Diamond helps us understand why and how democracy actually progresses in his new book The Spirit of Democracy: The Struggle to Build Free Societies Throughout the World. The desire for democracy runs deep, he shows, even in very poor countries and in the turbulent Middle East. And through expanding economic freedom, civic mobilization, and the development of "liberation technology," even seemingly entrenched regimes like those in Iran and China could well become democracies within a generation.
Diamond also dissects the causes of the recent "democratic recession" in critical parts of the world, including Russia, Venezuela, Nigeria, and Pakistan. He traces many failed and failing democracies to bad governance, which disillusions publics and paves the way for authoritarian options. Corruption and misrule are in turn fostered by weak institutions and the flows of external rents, whether in the form of oil revenues or unconditional foreign aid to bad governments. Stabilizing democracy, he argues, must involve a broad campaign to strengthen institutions of political and financial accountability.
Professor Stephen Krasner
Stephen Krasner is the Graham H. Stuart Professor of International Studies, the Senior Associate Dean for the Social Sciences, School of Humanities & Sciences, and the deputy director of FSI. A former director of CDDRL, Krasner is also an FSI senior fellow, and a fellow of the Hoover Institution.
From February 2005 to April 2007 he served as the Director of Policy Planning at the US State Department. While at the State Department, Krasner was a driving force behind foreign assistance reform designed to more effectively target American foreign aid. He was also involved in activities related to the promotion of good governance and democratic institutions around the world.
At CDDRL, Krasner was the coordinator of the Program on Sovereignty. His work has dealt primarily with sovereignty, American foreign policy, and the political determinants of international economic relations. Before coming to Stanford in 1981 he taught at Harvard University and UCLA. At Stanford, he was chair of the political science department from 1984 to 1991, and he served as the editor of International Organization from 1986 to 1992.
KRI closed the week -3.03% to C$0.16
Khan Files Third Quarter 2012 Financial Results
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 10, 2012) - Khan Resources Inc. (CNSX:KRI) ("Khan" or "the Company") announced today that it has filed its financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2012 on SEDAR and has posted these documents to its website www.khanresources.com.
Highlights for the quarter include:
· On July 26, 2012 the Tribunal hearing the Company's $200 million international arbitration action against the Government of Mongolia ruled entirely in Khan's favour on matters of jurisdiction and has dismissed all of Mongolia's objections to the continuance of the suit. The action will now progress to the phase in which the panel will rule as to the merits of the arbitral claims and the amount of damages suffered by Khan arising from the Mongolian Government's expropriatory and unlawful treatment of Khan in relation to the Dornod uranium deposit located in northeastern Mongolia.
· On June 30, 2012, the Company recognized non-cash impairment losses of $15.9 million that have reduced all of the Company's tangible assets to their estimated recoverable values as at June 30, 2012. The Company concluded that it is highly unlikely that the exploration and mining licenses for the Dornod deposit will be renewed and returned. In conjunction with this determination, the Company also decided to close the Dornod Project Camp.
· On Monday, May 14, 2012 the Company's common shares commenced trading through the facilities of the Canadian National Stock Exchange ("CNSX") under the symbol "KRI".
· Regarding the $300 million lawsuit against Atomredmetzoloto JSC ("ARMZ"), the Company announced on April 20, 2012 that it has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal for Ontario in relation to the March 12, 2012 decision of the Ontario Superior Court in favour of ARMZ. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on September 11, 2012.
· On April 19, 2012, the Company announced the closing of a non-brokered private placement financing resulting in the issuance of 13,600,000 common shares at a price of $0.17 per common share for gross proceeds of $2,312,000. The Company plans to use the proceeds of the offering to advance the international arbitration case against the Government of Mongolia, for the lawsuit against ARMZ and for general corporate purposes.
· The Company's interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS") and in Canadian dollars ("CAD"). Comparative statements, previously prepared in US dollars under Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"), have been adjusted for changes in the functional and reporting currencies of the Company and its subsidiaries and other IFRS adjustments.
NUMBER OF MSE COMPLIANT BROKERS REACHES 26
August 10 (MSE) The number of members that met the requirements set by the new trading system is increasing day by day. Consequentially, the number of compliant members has reached 26.
1. "ZERGED" LLC
2. "MERGEN SANAA" LLC
3. "BDSEC" JSC
4. "ALTAN KHOROMSOG" LLC
5. "BULGAN BROKER" LLC
6. "DARKHAN BROKER" LLC
7. "MONSEC" LLC
8. "TULGAT CHANDMANI BAYAN" LLC
9. "TAVANBOGD" LLC
10. "DELGERKHANGAI SECURITIES" LLC
11. "FRONTIER" LLC
12. "DCF" LLC
13. "MICC" LLC
14. "TENGER CAPITAL" LLC
15. "MIBG" LLC
16. "FINANCE LINK GROUP" LLC
17. "RESCAP SECURITIES" LLC
18. "TDB CAPITAL" LLC
19. "STANDARD INVESTMENT" LLC
20. "TUUSHIN INVEST" LLC
21. "GRANDLINE" LLC
22. "GOLOMT SECURITIES" LLC
23. "PROGRESS PARTNERS" LLC
24. "MASDAQ" LLC
25. "BUMBAT ALTAI" LLC
26. "GAULI" LLC
Therefore, the number of members that contributed to the Settlement Guarantee Fund has reached 44; the number of members that concluded a revised agreement with MSE has reached 53, as well as the number of members that placed the collateral has reached 27.
Public investors lose in Mongol mining battle
August 10 (Breakingviews, Reuters) Mongolia’s treatment of the Chinese bid for coal-producer SouthGobi (TSX:SGQ, HK:1878) shows that the state which birthed Genghis Khan has lost none of its warlike spirit. Politicians seem determined to spike an offer from China’s state-owned Aluminium Corp of China (Chalco), which also involves mega-miner Rio Tinto and China’s sovereign wealth fund. A truce is possible, but public investors look likely to lose out.
Chalco’s $925 million offer for a 60 percent stake in SouthGobi in April produced an unfriendly response: a new investment law limiting foreign companies to 49 percent ownership of mines. More insidiously, Mongolia has dragged its feet over renewing some of SouthGobi’s licences, scaring away customers and squashing production. SouthGobi’s shares now trade at less than half the value of Chalco’s April approach, which stands until September.
For a tiny country, Mongolia has picked some hefty targets. Rio Tinto indirectly holds a controlling stake in SouthGobi, through its controlling position in Toronto-listed Turquoise Hill (TSX:TRQ, NYSE:TRQ), known until last week as Ivanhoe Mines. China Investment Corp also owns 13 percent of SouthGobi, bought at around the level of Chinalco’s bid – and now deep underwater.
Mongolia’s protectionism looks short-sighted, but its opponents are unlikely to fight back too hard. Rio Tinto won’t want to jeopardise its 66 percent interest in world-class Mongolian copper mine Oyu Tolgoi and many Chinese steel mills depend on Mongolian coking coal.
There is room for compromise. Mongolia needs capital and customers – and China controls its main trade routes. That makes it risky to boot Chalco out entirely. The Chinese miner could turn a crisis into an opportunity, lower its offer price and settle for less than half of the company in return for some certainty of supply. It might also buy out some of CIC’s shares too to mitigate the fund’s losses. Without Chinese control, Mongolia’s nationalists should be happy to leave SouthGobi in relative peace.
Negotiating with the Mongolians is easier now than in Genghis’ day. A likely resolution would leave everyone with something – except the many investors who bought in back when SouthGobi shares were almost double their current price.
Mogi: some very serious and grave factual errors here
Mongolia gets new PM, ends weeks of uncertainty
August 10 (by Michael Kohn via Reuters) - Norov Altanhuyag of the Democratic Party (DP) was confirmed as Mongolia's new prime minister on Friday, ending weeks of political uncertainty after the party failed to win enough seats in a June election to form a government on its own.
The transfer of power from the former ruling Mongolian People's Party (MPP), which is in favour of nationalising resources, (Mogi: the author seems to be mistaking MPP with MPRP) raised hopes of a friendlier investment climate and a tougher stance on graft, especially after last week's conviction of MPP leader Nambar Enkhbayar for corruption. (Mogi: Enkhbayar is not leader of MPP, but of its splinter party MPRP)
In a note to clients, private equity firm Origo Partners called Altanhuyag's confirmation as the country's 27th prime minister "a positive development", adding it viewed Enkhbayar's conviction "a landmark event" for stronger anti-corruption regulatory enforcement.
The DP's moderate stance will be a departure from the MPP, which had demanded to renegotiate mining contracts with a view to limiting foreign ownership of the country's mineral wealth. (Mogi: again seems to be mistaking MPRP with MPP)
One of the targets was the massive Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project, which is set to start production later this year and is 66 percent owned by Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill Resources, with the remaining stake held by the Mongolian government. (Mogi: same confusion here)
"The newly established government will welcome foreign investment, we will guarantee them a stable legal environment we will try to fulfil our party agenda," MP Chimed Saikhanbileg told Reuters in a telephone interview.
The DP won 31 of the 76 seats in the June 28 vote, forcing it into a coalition with four smaller parties, including the MPP which is the second largest party in the new lineup. DP members are expected to comprise 75 percent of the new cabinet. (Mogi: MPP won 2nd most seats but DP is forming a coalition with 3rd largest bloc the MPRP-MNDP Justice Coalition. DP and CWGP combined will form 75%)
Mongolia is gripped by a mining boom that is set to transform its tiny economy, but political uncertainties have threatened to overshadow efforts to attract foreign investment needed to develop mines and build essential infrastructure.
The MPP was previously known as the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP). (Mogi: the only sentence that 100% correct)
Mayor Bat-Uul Appoints His Deputies
August 10 (news.mn) Ulaanbaatar city Mayor Erdene Bat-Uul appointed his deputies. N.Bataa, director of “Shim” company appointed as Deputy charge for Financial and Economic Affairs. Another Deputy to the Mayor Yo.Gerelchuluun will work as Head of State administration unit in the City Administration.
The Mayor directed to finish all road reparation work with high standard before the cold.
Mongolia looks to tourism to diversify its economy
Madrid, Spain, August 2012 (World Tourism Organization) --
The President of Mongolia, Elbegdorj Tsakhia, has pinpointed tourism as a means to diversify the Mongolian economy and outlined plans to increase international tourist arrivals to the country (Ulan Bator, Mongolia, 23 July 2012).
“Not only should we focus on our mining industry, which is booming, we should also diversify our country’s economy through sectors such as tourism,” said President Tsakhia.
The President further expressed his intention to boost tourism related infrastructure, raise public awareness of the importance of tourism and build “a dedicated and stronger administration for the sector”.
President Tsakhia made the remarks at a meeting with UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, who applauded the President’s recognition of tourism’s contribution to economic growth, job creation and development.
“Tourism is the oil that never runs out,” said Mr. Rifai. “While other economic sectors generate short and medium-term gains, tourism, when sustainably planned and managed, has proven to stimulate economies over the long-term.”
“By placing sustainable tourism higher in its national agenda, Mongolia looks set to continue benefiting from the income generated by visitors for years to come,” he added.
On the occasion of his visit, Mr. Rifai presented President Tsakhia with an Open Letter from UNWTO and the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) on the importance of tourism to global growth and development. The Letter calls on Heads of State and Government to prioritize the sector higher in national policies in order to maximize its full potential.
Mr. David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, said: "Mongolia has a rich culture, offering a unique and powerful experience to travellers. Mongolia has truly arisen as a destination and I am delighted that the country's leadership fully recognises the importance of Travel & Tourism as a vehicle for job creation and sustainable economic growth. In 2011, the industry directly employed 34,500 jobs (3% of total employment) and sustained, both directly and indirectly, 9% of GDP in Mongolia. Long term growth forecasts are extremely positive with Travel & Tourism's contribution to the country's GDP set to rise by 6% per annum over the next ten years. With government support this figure could be boosted even further and today's acceptance of the Open Letter by President Tsakhia sends a strong signal of support to the Travel & Tourism industry, both within Mongolia and internationally."
PRESIDENT BAMBANG OF INDONESIA TO VISIT MONGOLIA
August 10 (InfoMongolia) The President of Mongolia Ts.Elbegdorj received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the Republic of Indonesia to Mongolia Mr. Imron Kotan yesterday on August 09, 2012.
The Ambassador Imron Kotan congratulated Mongolia upon electing the new Parliament and forming the new Cabinet and wished further success. “The President of Indonesia is very delighted to be paying a visit to Mongolia upon the invitation placed by you the President of Mongolia and laid the honorary and duties to organize this high level visit upon me. Indonesia will be attaching a high priority in expanding mutual partnership in the aspects of mining, economy and trade sectors”, said the Ambassador.
“We are grateful that the President of the Republic of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is to pay an official visit to Mongolia. I believe that during this visit Mongolia and Indonesia would successfully broaden bilateral social and economic relations and besides would cooperate in developing democracy”, noted the President Ts.Elbegdorj in response.
Mongolia and the Republic of Indonesia have established the diplomatic relations on December 22, 1956.
FABLESS MANUFACTURING TO BE DEVELOPED IN MONGOLIA, TOKYO UNIVERSITY TO ASSIST
August 10 (InfoMongolia) The Speaker of the Parliament Z.Enkhbold received the Director of the Design and Education Center of the University of Tokyo Kunihiro Asada today on August 10, 2012.
At the meeting the sides have exchanged opinions on developing fabless manufacturing in Mongolia and held discussions on conducting joint researches and investigation within the sphere, training professional specialists, creating brand produces, supply the international market with the brand products and on opportunities upon continuously receiving supply orders from foreign companies.
Fabless manufacturing is the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips. The Speaker Z.Enkhbold said that Mongolia was planning to establish a research center next to the National University of Mongolia which would be similar to the Design and Education Center of the University of Tokyo. Thus, the sides further talked on funding needed for the establishment of the center, product sale marketing and management issues.
“Mongolia shouldn’t only rely on its natural recourses. We have a potentiality to develop the fabless manufacturing. In order to do so it is important to practice a policy to promote and sustain the sectors that requires ones intelligence and academic skills”, underlined the Speaker further adding, “Cooperating in developing the sector and exchanging experiences will be beneficial for both of our countries. Japan’s knowhow will be greatly needed for Mongolia. It is essential to have mutually beneficial and fruitful partnership and compete in the market with other countries". As an example the Speaker talked about the project by Japanese “Softbank” and Mongolian “Newcom” company on exporting solar and wind generated energy to Asian market, informed the Press and Media Department of the Parliament Office.
Capital City – A Development Hobble
By Jargal de Facto
August 10 (UB Post) You can consider yourself lucky if you spend no more than an hour to go three kilometers from the Three Dogs circle to the west junction of Narantuul market. Also, it takes two hours to go the same distance from the Officer’s Palace to the Eastern Crossroads junction.
People from Sharga Morit summer place are wasting the fresh air they got at night because of car fumes in traffic jams and are getting stuck in traffic losing their precious three hours, one in the morning and two in the evening. You can see the same scenario on the roads of all directions in the city.
Likewise, hundreds of thousands of people are wasting their time in their cars burning fuel, which is deteriorating labor productivity of Mongolians and is having a negative impact on economic efficiency. Therefore, Ulaanbaatar’s traffic jam has already become a hobble that restricts development of Mongolia.
Even though city authorities blame the increasing number of cars for this problem, the actual reason is that our urban planning is poor, the implementation is worse and those who entered the city administration in any way they could are acquiring unlawful gains from public property by conspiring to sell land licenses.
Is there any urban planning?
Although a Master Plan for Ulaanbaatar does exist, it is said that they are having the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) revise it because the plan did not predict the sharp increases of population and number of vehicles and expansion of ger districts ten years ago.
Urban planning of any city should define its long-term development objectives, provide residents with proper environments to work and relax, build a good public transportation system and ensure sustainable development that keeps the balance between economy, society and environment.
Furthermore, zoning has to be implemented so that land will be divided into zones with certain ratios in accordance with its usage such as roads, green areas, industrial areas, service areas and housingareas.
Sources of finance needed for the implementation of the plan have to be clearly stated: real estate tax, business profit tax, personal income tax and bonds.
We understood it well that if the city fails to collect taxes and issue bonds, all the planning turns into a mere wishes. If the urban planning of Ulaanbaatar is made using a planning of a city from Canada, Finland or the United States that is similar to Ulaanbaatar in landscape, weather and climate, it will be cheaper and faster.
The Master Plan for Ulaanbaatar must be a law, not a government resolution, so that those who violated it can be held responsible.
Implementation of plan
Any plan; no matter who is in charge of it, turns into an empty talk if it fails to be implemented. Constructions are started after carefully planning the location of buildings, industries, services and trade centers, transportation junctions and major roads and other infrastructures connecting them. However, Mongolians build first them and try to resolve infrastructure problems next, which is why it costs so much.
The road in front of an automotive supplies market called Uguumur, which is located in the east of Narantuul, originally has six lanes. However, two of the lanes were turned into a parking lot and auto tires and oil replacing spots. Therefore, traffic congestions occur because the other four lanes cannot handle the traffic flows of two directions. Should not we place markets of this kind in more remote areas further from the city?
Having more supporting roads can accelerate traffic flow and additional junctions besides major ones. However, there is no space left in Ulaanbaatar for support roads, as it is not even possible to widen the main roads. There is a law that bans constructing buildings in a 50-meters range of roads and requires drainage lines or other infrastructure lines under the roads and pavements above them. But no one obeys the law.
When it rains, water is left on the surface of roads leaving big holes where small cars drown because the new roads being built in Ulaanbaatar do not have drainage lines.
The most suitable vehicle to the roads of the capital city of Mongolia has become all terrain military vehicles, not a Toyota Land Cruiser.
The roads are being fixed every single year. Furthermore, it has become so common that cars go up to the road construction spot and turn back causing traffic congestions because no body never puts up road block signs.
An interest to tarnish the law
Interests to ignore and tarnish the law or pass self-advantageous laws have long been existed in every level of public governance starting from the locals to the state.
They have every interest to keep public property unattended and to steal from it. “Urt tsagaan”, Urgoo hotel, the famous building of “printing factory”, high school campuses and playgrounds have been embezzled.
Allowing both the mayor and the district governor to give land licenses is an intentionally invented tool to embezzle. They used the very same tool to own mountainside land. Ulaanbaatar has become a sum of six cities, not six districts. They are defending their greedy intentions claiming that every district governor has the right to give land licenses because every district is an administrative unit that has its own territory.
A district is a structure that reflects people’s participation more than a city does. However, it is not supposed to have more authority than the city possesses. Even though a cadaster database came into existence in Mongolia, our governance is not interested in using it.
Organizations that pass and implement laws are not capable of strengthening as an institution and there is lack of interests to do so. As a result, an order of a governor is still more powerful than an article of law today.
Last month people were finally done with putting up with the city administration who had been leading the city with no certain planning and they chose the Democratic Party, which is replacing a political party that had managed Ulaanbaatar for almost a hundred years.
Even though there has been a month since the election, the former administration is still doing its job. During last month, fences have been built in many parts of the city and construction of many new buildings began on public roads and parks. Furthermore, public project tenders that have been waited for so many months have suddenly begun to take place one after another and huge purchases of government are being done.
Apparently, there is no law against doing certain jobs when the administration is being changed.
Anyway, the Democratic Party is about to take over a city like this. Residents of the capital city are expecting their new administration to fulfill their election promises, do a proper planning, have clear sources of finance, undertake tasks according to the plan, introduce a registration system for city properties and privatize some of them in tenders without having themselves in or turn them into public companies.
Alaska National Guardsmen deploy for international peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia
CAMP DENALI, Alaska, August 12 (DVIDS) — Approximately 80 Alaska National Guardsmen are slated to participate in the U.S. Army Pacific exercise, Khaan Quest 2012 (KQ12), a multinational training exercise held at the Mongolian Armed Forces Peace Support Center near Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Aug. 11-23, 2012.
Khaan Quest 2012 is a U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) sponsored exercise designed to strengthen the capabilities of U.S., Mongolian, and other international forces in the Pacific region, to enhance peace-support operations, training, and increase interoperability and planning capabilities among the participating nations.
“Khaan Quest is a phenomenal exercise that contributes to regional peacekeeping, while strengthening the Alaska National Guard state partnership program with Mongolia,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Katkus, Adjutant General of the Alaska National Guard. “Alaska National Guard members will participate in training events that bolster military-to-military cooperation, while developing interpersonal relationships with service members from Mongolia and other Asia-Pacific countries.”
This year’s Khaan Quest exercise consists of a Battalion-Level staff exercise, Platoon-level Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Training, Field Training Exercise Lane Training, Military First Responder Training, Engineer Subject Matter Expert Exchange and a Medical Humanitarian Civic Action Outreach Project.
KQ12 will host more than 1,000 soldiers from 10 countries to include 276 U.S. personnel and international participants from South Korea, India, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, France, United Kingdom and Germany. Kazakhstan, Russia and China will send observers to the exercise.
“The planning effort by our staff leading up to this overseas training deployment has been outstanding. My compliments go out to everyone who has been involved in organizing and coordinating this multinational event," said Col. Michael A. Thompson, 297th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade Commander, Alaska Army National Guard. Thompson is this year’s Exercise Director in charge of all U.S. Army forces for USARAPC. “Our soldiers are enthusiastic about training in this intriguing nation with our Mongolian partners, and also with other participating nations’ militaries. We’re looking forward to it.”
Since 2003, the Alaska National Guard and Mongolia have been forming a relationship and partnership as part of USARPAC’s Theater Security Cooperation Program which focuses on security and stability of the Pacific.
“It’s an extraordinary opportunity to increase interoperability among participating nations, and we’re proud to continue our strong partnership with our Mongolian friends during Khaan Quest 12,” Katkus said.
This exercise marks the tenth anniversary of this regionally significant training event. Media interested in covering this exercise should contact the exercise public affairs officer, Capt. Amy Slinker, at amyslinker@gmail.com.
Multinational peacekeeping exercise begins in Mongolia
ULAN BATOR, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- The 10th "Khaan Quest" multinational peacekeeping exercise started in Mongolia on Sunday.
More than 1,000 soldiers from 10 countries, including the U.S., South Korea, India, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, France, Britain and Germany took part in the exercise.
China, Russia and Kazakhstan sent observers to the exercise at the Five Hills training center, some 50 km to the southwest of the capital Ulan Bator. This year's maneuvers consist of various training courses including battalion level staff exercise, platoon level counter-improvised explosive device training, field training and medical outreach to the civilian population of Ulan Bator.
The Khaan Quest 2012 focuses on multinational peacekeeping operations intended to improve interoperability among U.S., Mongolian and other international forces, Michael Thompson, exercise director of Khaan Quest 2012, said in a welcome letter.
He said training together could improve the participating forces' operational capability to provide security and to deter hostile threats affecting populations around the world.
President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Tsakhia Elbegdorj, Chief of the General Staff Tserendejid Byambajav and military officials, diplomats from China, the U.S. and Japan attended the opening ceremony.
At the ceremony, Mongolian paratroops and cavalry put on performances for soldiers and military officials from the participating countries.
The Khaan Quest exercise is sponsored by the U.S. Army and hosted annually by the Mongolian Armed Forces.
Misc
Beatles tribute ‘The Bootleg Beatles’ to perform in Mongolia
August 10 (UB Post) The Bootleg Beatles, which is a famous Beatles tribute band, is going to perform a concert in Mongolia at the beginning of this September. Member of the Ulaanbaatar City Council G.Gankhuu, who has invited the band and organizing this concert, has answered the following questions.
-How did The Bootleg Beatles receive your invitation?
-The 50th anniversary of the Beatles – the legend,is occurring this year. Two members of the band are deceased so the band is not able to perform as the old formation. But the Bootleg Beatles band, which imitates everything of the real Beatles, from their hair and dress style to even their voices, is performing their remarkable song for fans. As one of the fans of the Beatles, I invited them saying, “Please come and perform in Mongolia. The Beatles hold a big position among Mongolians. The Beatles were a big sensation among youngsters in Mongolia in the 60s and 70s. Their songs brought great change to the ideology of Mongolians,” and they received it very responsively.
-When and where will the concert take place? How much does the ticket cost?
-The concert will be performed with charge at Sukhbaatar Square on September 9. Also, ‘Shar Airag’ band will perform with the Bootleg Beatles. I was elected as the member of the Ulaanbaatar City Council this year. This is my gift from the heart to the people who voted for me and supported me.
-How much did it cost to bring the band to Mongolia? Could you tell where the backing is from?
-The Bootleg Beatles said that they heard Mongolia was a remarkable country and allowed us to pay half of the price they charge to perform in other countries which is 60 thousand USD. I am financing this money with the help of some fellow friends.
-There are many loyal fans of the Beatles in Mongolia. Are there any surprises prepared for them?
-I think that the Bootleg Beatles coming is a big surprise in itself. But also there will be a special concert for these fans on September 8. The place is yet to be announced.
What do the Olympics mean for Mongolia?
August 10 (UB Post) Mongolia had never before competed at an Olympic event until 1964. The idea of winning a medal must have seemed like a distant dream. Yet the Olympics is now a dominant presence in several sports, particularly freestyle wrestling and Judo. The number of athletes from Mongolia competing has increased considerably in recent years, with the London games playing host to the largest ever Mongolian contingent. Two gold medals were won in Beijing while a bronze and silver have already been achieved in London. In the words of the head of the Mongolian Olympic committee, the Mongolians are a ‘rather sporty bunch’.
Huge and densely populated countries such as India have not experienced nearly as much success in the Olympics, as India won its first ever gold medal in Beijing. Indeed, for a country with fewer than 3 million people, Mongolia punches well above its weight, as noted by TIME Magazine. Its Beijing achievement gave it the sixth highest ratio of medals per capita. So, why do sports flourish in modern Mongolia, and where do they fit in with the country’s social and cultural history?
Mongolia’s sporting successes can be viewed as very much the consequence of the strength of the modern Mongolian nation. While other nations are in recession, Mongolia is experiencing an economic boom. The recent growth of its economy (17% last year) has allowed its sports to receive an increase in funding.
But far from being the fruit purely of modern Mongolia, representing a departure from its ancient culture, Mongolia’s sporting successes in fact stems from, and fits in with, its historical infrastructure and traditions. Naadam nurtures an environment in which sports are cherished. The country’s traditional nomadic livelihood similarly fosters athleticism: as Makhbaatar points out, ‘when you get up at dawn to milk the camels, it builds a natural fitness. Nature is harsh and it breeds endurance in us ’.
The nomadic lifestyle, then, is conducive to athletic success. Tuvshinbayar credits his success to his upbringing. Like many nomadic herders, he grew up wrestling and only started formal training at eighteen.
Sports are something which unites Mongolia’s country and city dwellers—past and present. Naadam pays homage to the excitement and interest with which Mongolians view sporting events. The Olympics similarly hold sway over the imaginations of the country’s inhabitants. The reaction of members of the Mongolian broadcast team following the success in judo bears to the sense of patriotism these games inspire in the country’s people. Mongolia’s jackets were worn, the flag was hoisted up, and the crew danced in the aisles, a reaction which surpassed even that of the home broadcasters in Britain.
The judo outfits and boxing gloves sold in Ulaanbaatar after the 2008 Olympics demonstrated the enthusiasm and patriotism that the Olympics inspired in the people. Satellite television reaches the most remote ger. One British journalist remarked upon the fact that, in the Gobi, she met several nomads who had a working knowledge of the NBA and NHL. Sports are something the entire nation can share in and enjoy as its benefits are all-encompassing, as noted by TIME Magazine.
The Olympics should be heralded as a testimony both to Mongolia’s current successes, and to the integrity of its traditions and history. Without the present prosperity of the Mongolian economy, there would not be the funding available to support the training of athletes. Equally, without the nomadic traditions which privilege and foster athleticism, the abilities and inspiration of the Mongolian athletes would not be in such abundance.
As the judo coach, Khurelbaatar, states, ‘by succeeding in the Olympic we are demonstrating to the world the success of Mongolia in its development, its culture and its economics’. The games transcend their status as a sporting event but rather represent the coming together of Mongolia’s past and present, the fusion of its modernity and traditions.
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"Mogi" Munkhdul Badral
Senior Client Manager / Executive Director
CPS International LLC
Telephone/Fax: +976-11-321326
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Email: mogi@cpsinternational.mn
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CPS International is a marketing arm of CPS Securities in Mongolia. CPS Securities is a Perth, Western Australia based AFSLicense Holder. To trade ASX and international stocks, feel free to contact me at mogi@cpsinternational.mn or +976-99996779.
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