In a speech in Parliament on Wednesday on the occasion of the 18^th anniversary of adoption of the State Constitution, Speaker D.Demberel said setting up “a humane and democratic society” according to the Constitution was by itself no guarantee that all the country’s problems would be solved. The special Parliament meeting was attended by the President and the Prime Minister.

Mr. Demberel’s speech was full of introspection. “Justice has not fully prevailed. Social and economic differences are increasing because of wrong policies on distribution of national wealth and state property privatization. Some 35.2 percent of the population are poor and this percentage is not decreasing significantly with the years. Security of life, health care, alcoholism and crime worry the people,” he said.

Asserting that the people “despise the political bureaucracy, corruption in public life, and bickerings based on self-interest”, Mr. Demberel said he found it “natural that people are trying to stand against injustice and illegal actions”. This is seen in the way “citizens express their opinion, in the demands from civil society organizations, and in criticism in the media”, said the Speaker.

The Constitution adopted on January 13, 1992 represents “the great heritage of Mongolian law, politics and social understanding that has 2,000 years of history behind them,” he said and recalled that it welcomed the idea of developing the country in a democratic way. Respect for human rights and freedom are its two dominant principles. “We have adhered to the parliamentary form and electoral democracy. Transparency marks our international relations. Legal reforms are stressed. Outdated laws that governed economic, political and social relations have been changed. Thanks to economic reforms, the private sector is thriving and basic banking, financial and economic activity has been following market economy standards,” he added.