Our journalist talks to Minister of Defense and MP L.Bold on the occasion of The Day of Mongolian Soldiers that was observed on March 18.

What is the present state of the Mongolian military?
Our armed forces personnel have taken the reputation of Mongolia to new heights. The UN has expressed its formal appreciation of the contribution of Mongolian soldiers to its peace keeping operations.

What happened to the reported request for Mongolian soldiers to help keep the peace in the Ivory Coast?
The Government has approved the request but some high state officials’ bureaucratic attitude is stalling any further action, to the dismay of the Ministry of Defense. We can send a large contingent of 1,500 soldiers to help in peace keeping there but officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are sitting on the issue. The UN request came more than a month ago, but no reply has been sent.

Can the two Ministers not resolve the issue?
The Ministers reached an understanding at the Government meeting but officials are not cooperating.

What new things have happened to the military?
Mongolia does not have enough workers in the construction sector and foreign workers have to be brought in. We have now set up construction units in military divisions, where soldiers learn not only military strategy and skills but also how to work in construction. Altogether 500 soldiers acquired construction skills in 2010 and construction companies are happy to employ them, because of the quality of their work and their sense of discipline. We plan to extend the scheme to train thousands of soldiers in construction.