After a local newspaper reports that the Mongolian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, might have been sold, the director of the Department of Law and Treaty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, B.Mandakhbayar, spoke to the newspaper.

-Local reports say that the Mongolian Embassy building II might have been sold. Do you have anything to say on this issue?

-The Mongolian Embassy to Russia owns a number of properties in Moscow. The building that is being claimed to be sold was formerly the Trade Mission house whose current address Spasoleskovskii Pereulok 7/1is being rented for 10 years under the permission of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia and the State Property Committee in 2007-2008. Former Ambassador L.Khangai signed the agreement during the term of former Prime Minister S.Batbold.

This is a valid agreement in accordance with both countries laws. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, L.Bold has considered the issue and introduced the agreement to parliament and established a working group to review the issue. The State Secretary, G.Tsogtsaikhan, heads the working group and I am working as secretary of the working group. We have studied every document related to the terms and conditions of the agreement.

-Do you mean the building was not sold? What is the Russian stance on the issue?

-The building still belongs to Mongolia. It has not been sold. There is no involvement of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia on the agreement. This is an agreement between the Mongolian Embassy and a private Russian company.

-Why did the Embassy rent the building?

The number of diplomats and other staff in the Mongolian Embassy in Moscow was small at that time. The Russian “Tsentr Region Estate” runs in the building.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will get the building back and expand the structure and use the property efficiently.