Source: The President’s Office                 Date: 27 October, 2010

Much of President Ts. Elbegdorj’s long speech at last week’s ceremony to observe the 20th anniversary of Mongolia’s adoption of parliamentary democracy was devoted to corruption in Mongolian public life, insensitivity of political leaders to people’s needs, and their arrogant refusal to be accountable to the electorate. The State apparatus’s unabashed self-service, instead of serving the people, is getting out of control. Most of what the government produces is reaped by the government itself.

Referring to leading politicians’ claims that they listen to the people, Mr. Elbegdorj read out from a letter he had received from a citizen: “They listen to what they want to hear, advise what they please to advise and take their own thoughts as the only ultimate truth.”

The agency to combat corruption has become an agency to comfort corruption and MPs’ failure to decide on dismissing the Anti-Corruption Authority chief Sangaragchaa even in three months has caused anger and frustration among people and damaged the reputation and honor of the State. Parliament is a bridge of accountability between the people and the Government, but it has been made into a screen, a wall of rock between the two, the President said.

He said he has no wish to meddle in government actions, but only wants to fulfill his constitutional obligations. A country falls apart as much from aggression from outside, as from corruption, red tape and unlawful practices at home. His efforts to cooperate with Parliament and the Government have been met with constant resistance. He still hopes for cooperation and is “ready to walk in front and hold the fire”.

Asserting that “there is no civil society without civil participation”, Mr. Elbegdorj said the euphoria created at “the return to Ulaanbaatar, thanks to the democratic revolution, of the powers and rights of the Mongolian people that had been kept in Beijing during the Manchu period and in Moscow during communism” has evaporated as they “are now stuck in the pockets of Parliament and the Government”.

He was confident of a bright future for the country and its people. The greatest strength of a society lies in people who believe in themselves, who share common values and interests, who appreciate the essence of a free society and who know their positions in that free society, he said.