Welcome to the Mongolian Development Club

Concluding speech by President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj at the National Consultative Meeting “From a Big Government to a Smart Government”

We are doing what we ought to do

Today we discussed and spoke about the issues we have been talking about for years. Every single Mongolian has a role to play in solving these issues. It is the duty of the decision-makers to initiate and organize such a consultative meeting; therefore we are doing what we are supposed to do. I haven’t prepared any closing speech, but let me share with my observations on the work of the 5 groups this afternoon. I am very happy that you have taken most active participation in the discussions. All five halls were full of people, full of heated discussions. The speakers, commenters were very constructive. All ideas, comments, suggestions will be collected and be presented for further in-depth discussions.

For instance, the media has picked up the property rights issue. To this date, we have not adopted a law on this issue that rests in the heart of fundamental social and economic decisions. We all assume that property rights are regulated by the Civil Code. Property rights are as natural, as sacred rights as a human right to life. We are working to remove the provision on death penalty from our Criminal Code. This is the way the whole world does. Property rights, respecting property, especially, private property must be regarded as seriously as respecting basic human right to life. Journalists during the discussions noted that our Criminal law contained many provisions dealing with “confiscating”, “seizure” of properties. I will work to eliminate such provisions wherever possible. Our businesses should do the same.

We must stop the assault on businesses, on people who own capital

We must stop the offensive against the businesses, the businessmen; instead the government must focus on fighting against criminals, corrupt officials, those, who abuse public funds, and against newly emerging crimes and offenders of the law. Our earlier laws had been produced in a spirit of holding guilty all except the government; that every citizen was a potential criminal. Now, this has changed; we make a law in order to protect our citizens’ rights. And among those rights, the most important right is the property right. Indeed, a right to hold a property is an essential right. Therefore, I urge our lawmakers to consider this right especially seriously. I am glad to hear the comments and ideas of our journalists. I was very happy to hear their calling each other “for dedicating the newspaper space and airing time not to the populists, but to the wealth creators”.

True, this is, indeed, a flaw in our media. NGOs, media play a vital role in shaping the social mindset and honing the spirit of the society. Therefore, it will be truly commendable if the media and journalists supported the wealth creators and introduced them and the changes they bring about to the broader public. The media, journalists tend to like to enter the government house in search for news. But look around – ninety per cent of social life unfolds outside the government house. Half of the media content today is about politics, the trifle with little value.

And our scholars, academia picked up the issue of protecting property rights. Maybe, some ten years ago, there was an automatic answer to the inquiries and concerns you raised today, that those rights were regulated by the Civil Code. Today, the issue was raised and discussed at every session of the 5 groups. Also, you discussed about what laws we need in order to expedite our development. We will consider and discuss many options, many laws. Let’s finalize the issue of adopting a law on delegating some of the functions of the government to non-governmental bodies.

Inarguably, we will useICT to move to a smart government

I recall it clearly, 3 people connected with me through the Twitter and Facebook and proposed that they would like to provide wireless internet to the ger districts of Ulaanbaatar at the least cost. Similarly, they shared, all of the Mongolian soums can have wireless internet at the cheapest cost. This is all feasible, they said.

To move to a smart government, we must have a good infrastructure. For a good infrastructure for a smart government, we do not need to necessarily build a power plant; do not need to build paved roads, but we must provide an opportunity to everyone to use internet. Countries with even vaster lands, countries with even more serious economic challenges than us have been able to resolve this issue successfully.

Mongolia does have an ICT agency. This agency either needs to be liquidated, or the chairman of the board needs to be removed. I have so far received some 2-3 major, serious complaints at the address of this agency. This is a bully, a tormenter agency. I was asked to put the agency under an able management. It started a program “Digital Mongolia”, but as it went on, the line was absolutely lost and is now doing something totally different.

We do have great opportunities to undertake a major reform through the fiscals.

As the Speaker has just said, in the US, when budget is discussed, on the paper they have a name of an organization and its proposed budget. If the organization doesn’t function properly, its budget is annulled. Say, an organization X was earmarked with a budget of 100 billion USD, and if that 100 billion is replaced with 0, the next day that organization is liquidated, seizes to exist. In the same way, let’s get rid of some useless, needless governmental organizations. This shows us what opportunities we have for undertaking a major reform through the budget.

The moderators have presented to us elaborately on the issues related to local governments, to businesses, to decision-makers. Let’s draw our attention to these facts and findings. Let me highlight just two points here. Let me explicitly respond to one issue raised actively among the decision-makers. For many years we have been talking about the changes and amendments to the Constitution. Speaking of which, there is one established method among our politicians to fail an issue. For instance, amidst a talk about spring, they start talking about autumn; well, as if any talk about the autumn was more preponderant and important than anything else. This is a classical way to fail an issue on the table. Nothing else.

Make your decision, let those organizations which are entitled to control exercise control, do not evade the problem

Sometend to disavow, well, the issue is associated with the Constitution. Even so, do not set aback, discuss and adopt the law. There is a court which checks on the Constitution, the Constitutional Court. Why, after all, was it set up? If the Constitutional Court rules to invalidate your decision, the law, just know that it was not consistent with the Constitution, that it was beyond the Constitution. There is no point to politicize the issue, try to avoid the issue, and encroach upon the Constitution. As you see, some 180 decision-makers have gathered here. Most of them voted to change the Constitution. This is the only way to distract the attention and divert from the issue discussed here today.

How does an issue of instituting a law on holding an MP, a Minister accountable, relate to the Constitution? Of those ten-plus issues raised at the Parliament, many are not related to the Constitution at all. So, make the decisions, and let the relevant body place control and check for lawfulness.

Another issue that I would like to note. The Speaker of the Parliament is aware of it. All Members of the Parliament are aware – a slightly more than a year ago a Working Group to develop changes and amendments to the Constitution was set up, and it is working. You please work in the Working Group, with the Group. And just try to make those changes and amendments. The late Mr. Chimid had initiated the Law on Making Changes and Amendments to the Constitution and had made it approved. First, you must read that law. Our folks have not even read the law.

That law prescribes, tells you the phases and stages of amending the Constitution. So, first read the law. The Working Group is there. If indeed changes and amendments are necessary, let that Working Group work; who is preventing, restraining its work? Beware, most importantly, changes and amendments to the Constitution must be approved by three/fourth of the Parliament Members. So the three/fourth of 76 makes some 57, doesn’tit?

Let’s first get settled with the seven changes and amendments made to the Constitution earlier, and then let’s go on

Well, when we come together and discuss Mongolia’s problems and issues, eventually we end up discussing global matters. Ok, when agreed to discuss global matters, we end up trying to fix problems on the Mars, on the Moon. Let us stop this. What I am asking to discuss all together is to talk about our home, cleaning the mess at home.

My position is very clear. I have no fear of anyone not to support, of anyone to conspire. Well, we have the Working Group in place with a clear mandate. I think, we can review the 7 changes and amendments to the Constitution. Let us first resolve it once and for all. And here is a dispute going on: some say that it was wrong to amend, that it made the situation worse, some prove that it was right, was needed. Then, first, let’s scan it trough and settle with them once and for all. I am ready to choose that way.

We table our issues, problems, we discuss them all together. I am ready to bring the issues back if all agree to discuss them again. But let us be alert, while discussing one major, serious issue, let us not forget about other, pending ones too. Remember, this is a method to make things forgotten. Therefore, I state it firmly that I will be pushing ahead those other issues as well on our immediate agenda.

I am glad that the concept to move to the smart government is thus being supported by you

I am truly happy that all of you, all of the participants of our group sessions support the concept I am introducing today, the topic we discussed for many years, the idea to move to a smart government.

We have tried to decently prepare for this meeting. We have made the list of the people to invite, and the entire list is in the records in my office. All of us here in this hall are forming, in essence, a voluntary club, the Mongolian Development Club. We do not need to register it with the Ministry of Justice, we do not need to have a seal, finance, elect the president, no need for all of that. If you are invited, please do come and join. If you are not invited, you are excluded. If you are invited to thematic sessions and miss its sessions once or twice, you will no longer be invited. There are many other people who care for Mongolia more than you do.

The doors of the Club are open to everyone, every single citizen of Mongolia who has a say for Mongolia, who sees his or her own role in Mongolia’s development, who needs to be heard of his concern and voice for Mongolia. So all on all, with those who arrive and leave, assuming that the club will have on average 500-600 active members, we could flexibly organize our activities under 5 thematically identified groups.

Our media group can be expanded with more people from the social and culture intelligentsia such as writers, artists etc. We have many scholars, researchers, businessmen, decision-makers here, all to form these subgroups within the Club. Let us just think that we have this structure, national consultative structure to discuss our life, our issues and plans. Let us meet from time to time for fine-tuning, for exchanging and sharing.

The issues must be discussed at every organization, each soum, each aimag.

The main goal of the sub sessions was to exchange ideas freely. Much follow-up work needs to be done. Let’s issue a resolution at the Parliament, is necessary. You are all given my presentation, and the first thing we will do is we will produce more copies and shall distribute them through bookstores. Let everyone who is interested get a copy. Now, these developmental challenges, the issues we discussed today need to be discussed at every organization, every soum, every aimag. We will resolve the associated costs. In the brochure, we will also have the comments, ideas, proposals made by you at the group sessions.

President’s leadership is of paramount importance

Shift to a smart government can be undertaken as a large-scale, comprehensive campaign, with goals and tasks ranked in priority order. Assuming that our job complete totals to 100 per cent, one third of it will be building and harnessing a political consensus, dialogues and discussion, this is a must. This is our number one priority. Second important part is leadership. I said that before – in Mongolia there is just one single person who has the least conflict of interest, if not at all, whose term in service is set – that is the President of the country, myself. I have a single interest – to accomplish a good during my term that makes good to Mongolia, that makes Mongolia better off. The interest to support my people’s desire to succeed. On top of that, I serve the solidarity, consensus, unity of my people. This is the mandate I carry forward. Therefore, I think the President’s leadership is vital in this cause. I will provide the leadership whether or not I am asked to do so.

I have one straightforward, clear message to all of you. Please support and do discuss your roles at local governments, at businesses, at academia, at media, in successfully carrying out this major nationwide campaign for a smart government.

Just to clarify, on the proposed ten laws, I introduced only the main ideas and tenets. You can change, add, cut on those ideas. We all can now work on drafting these laws. I expect the National University to form its team on that project. Our ICT companies can initiate laws they deem necessary and submit your early draft, ideas to the MPs, or submit to my office, to me. If there are issues difficult to be submitted in the Parliament, difficult to be resolved in the Cabinet, I am ready to take over that load, as the President of the country.

There are many laws that can serve as models, on internet. Look out for them, translate into Mongolian, adapt and tailor to Mongolian needs and realities. We have made one observation in the past 20 years – all ideas voiced around are good and correct, yet the most difficult thing is to turn into a concrete action those ideas we talk about. We talk and talk over and over again, yet they are never put on paper. Instead of criticizing, bring in the solutions, your alternatives. Here I have just demonstrated it by myself, what laws, what ideas, what concepts we need. So please bring in the laws, developed consistently with the legal and lawful requirements and standards. We do have in our government the structures to discuss, submit them and have ratified.

Alas, Mongolia, Mongolians is more leaning toward just void chit-chat, shallow criticism, inaction, inactivity. Therefore, let’s be active, let’s discuss solutions. This will depend on all of you. You, the citizens have to push the decision-makers, who otherwise, will sit idle. And that time is today, now. Otherwise, tomorrow, these politicians will be busy with other engagements, with other meetings. You can never find a politician who has spare time, they do know the trade of making themselves busy. So be sure to bring to them the issues they need, amidst their busy schedules.

Indeed, we must push for making the pending and immediate decisions, otherwise, we might end up in a situation when we will have to abandon our political system. Hope, that will not happen. Yet, let’s first make key decisions that would lead to economic growth. Let’s first attend nothing else than the country’s development, economic growth. Concurrently, let’s fix, let’s mend our government. We have enough to do in the coming 2-3 years on these two fronts.

I have submitted a draft law to separate the Parliament membership from the Cabinet membership. The decision-makers, all except the Cabinet members, are close to agree on one issue – have this law adopted and enforce starting January 1, 2014. But that means, no work will be done. My enforcement date for this law is July 1, 2016. After the next Parliamentary election. Let the incumbent Parliament do its work. Otherwise, they will start weeping over an onion that because of the change in the legal environment, they were forced to change the government. A whole drama will be played among the politicians to last for 6 months, for a year, but we cannot afford to lose time. Just only these days we seem to be over finally with settling our structures and organizational matters. Some ministries still have on-going law suits and court processes – well, one person was fired, and that turns into a tragedy of the nation, or a soap-opera type of drama. Let us stop this chaos.

My position is clear. I will fully support the decision to ban for good for a Member of Parliament to be a Member of the Cabinet. This is a law initiated by myself. If this draft is submitted to the Parliament to become authentic before July 1, 2016, I will veto it. Only if so.

The incumbent Parliament must hold some irresponsible Ministers accountable. Who has tied your hands up to prevent this? You must not escape from resolving the pressing issues citing the pretext that you are in the power, or that some major changes need to be made in the Constitution. Just know what you ought to do. Prioritize the issues, work on the solutions and draft your resolutions. This is my clear-cut, straightforward message to you on these two very important issues, often misinterpreted by yourselves.

With this, we wrap up our meeting today. Accountability, responsibility issues must always be attended. Agencies are free to hold their offenders of law accountable. No one is shielding and patronizing such people. I urge all of you to undertake similar discussions at your organizations, aimags, provinces, districts. I expect and wish for concrete results, solution from those meetings. I announce the meeting closed, and let me bid goodbye with a wish for meeting you again.