Prime Minister S.Batbold has said people need to be convinced that the Government and other authorities are serious about eradicating corruption and that “our words are not empty rhetoric”. He was speaking at a seminar on methods of implementing an anti-corruption plan with people’s participation.

The event was jointly organized by the Cabinet Secretariat; the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC), and The Asia Foundation. Among the participants were officials from state administrative organizations, the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar and provincial governors.

“There is much talk and many plans. It is not that nothing has been achieved, but the measures adopted have to be much more effective,” the Prime Minister said, and called upon administrative officials to give the leadership in any anti-corruption campaign. However, he made it clear the responsibility was not limited to State organizations only. NGOs, others in the civil society and individual citizens also have to get actively involved.

Saying that bureaucratism and lack of transparency in administration nourish corruption, Batbold called for “glass walls” behind which nothing could be hidden.