It was a happy reunion day yesterday when more than 30
members of the previous five Parliaments mingled with those of the present one
at Government Hall, to mark the 20th anniversary of parliamentary government in
Mongolia. In these years, about 200 individuals have been elected to Parliament
and all of them were awarded a commemorative medal.

The first Parliament (1990-1992) was called The State Conference (SC) and 30 of
its 56 members attended yesterday’s special meeting. Former Prime Minister
S.Bayar was the head of a Standing Committee then and greeted his colleagues
from 18 years ago. President Ts.Elbegdorj presented certificates to them. The
recipients included P.Sampilnorov, the Secretary of the Redress Committee;
diplomat O.Ochirjav; lawyer B.Chilkhaajav; Honored Lawyer and framer of the
Constitution B.Chimed.

In his speech, Parliament Speaker D.Demberel recalled the days of the SC and
how it worked to revive a sense of national pride and justice that had been
corroded by corruption, financial wrongdoing, and abuse of power.

President Elbegdorj’s 30-minute speech was a strong indictment of the prevalent
political culture that threatens to alienate the Government and Parliament
members from people. It would be a mistake, he said, to think that people
clamored only for monetary promises to be fulfilled, when their larger demand
was for social justice and employment with dignity.