The Standing Committee on State Structure on Wednesday discussed a Government protocol that would bestow city status on numerous population centers in the country.

The committee approved further discussion of the protocol in Parliament. It would designate Darkhan, Erdenet, Khovd, Choibalsan, Sukhbaatar, Kharkhorin, Choir, and Zamiin-Uud as cities. Some aimag centers would also be named cities.

Some members opposed naming aimag centers cities. G.Bayarsaikhan said some aimag centers should not be named cities because of their small size and population. G.Bayarsaikhan said the centers would be cities in name only, and only regional centers should be named cities.

S.Lambaa said that not all aimag centers should be named cities, because that would increase the size of the state administration and the number of state officials. He said there might be problems if all aimag centers are named cities and that the Government should address the issue carefully.

D.Damba-Ochir said that if Darkhan and Erdenet were designated cities, the population density of the capital could be reduced, and development in the countryside would be increased.