President meets “Democratic Transitions in Asia” participants

Politics
en_amarsaikhan@montsame.mn
2016-03-23 15:14:38

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ President Ts.Elbegdorj received March 22 the delegation from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), who took part in the “Democratic Transition in Asia” international seminar, held March 21-22.

The delegation included Yves Leterme, the IDEA Secretary-General; Leena Rikkila Tamang, the IDEA regional director for Asia-Pacific; government officials and representatives of civil societies from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Myanmar, East Timor, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Laos.

They asked the President about Mongolia’s practices in strengthening democracy, achievements and challenges faced throughout the past 26 years, and the actions taken to share them and cooperate with other transitioning countries.

Y.Leterme noted that, for the last two days, delegates from over 10 countries shared experiences in developing democracy and exchanged views on electoral lessons and ways to organize fair and transparent elections.

Delegate from Afghanistan was speaking highly of democracy in Mongolia for its rapid and consistent growth.

Ts.Elbegdorj congratulated the participants and stated that Mongolia is becoming a role model in the region for its democracy history, legal grounds for free election and electoral system. “Democracy is favorable for Mongolia people’s interest. Mongolia’s ways of thinking is different than those of its two great neighbors. For instance, the mentality in China is that the state should be powerful in order for the people to have power, while Mongolian mentality is that the power of a nation can only be achieved with powerful people”, he said.

He also highlighted some of the recent democratic achievements of Mongolia, such as the “glass account” regulation of transparency in public sector, the fingerprint registration of citizens, as well as the sharing of electoral experiences with Kyrgyzstan and other new democracies. 

 

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