Ulaanbaatar, May 8, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The Prime Minister of Mongolia, L. Oyun-Erdene, presented the draft amendment to the Law on Regulation of Public and Private Interests and Prevention of Conflict of Interest in Public Service and addressed the Parliament session on May 4. We present the summarized transcript of his speech for your perusal:

"As we gather today, we are reminded of our historical responsibility to rebuild trust in government and by protecting the reputation of the fundamental pillars of democratic governance - the legislative, executive, and judiciary powers. It is our duty to put an end to the mistakes and corruption of the past 30 years, to respect the interests of the people, to truly fulfill the right of citizen representation, and to usher in a new era of ethical leadership for the next 30 years.

We, as members of State Great Khural, belong to the people, and we must lead by example. Ethical, disciplined, and responsible leadership should begin with us, in this hall. If we cannot hold ourselves to the highest standards, how can we ask government officials and citizens to strictly follow the adopted laws and regulations?

The Government of Mongolia has declared 2023 as the "Year of Fighting Corruption". This includes exposing corruption crimes through “whistleblow” operation, wiping “parasites” from public offices through “wipe-out” operation, and bringing back overseas escapers through "WASP" operation. The "5W" program has also been implemented to "transfer" illegal funds hidden in offshore areas and foreign countries to ensure the transparency of Government institutions.

It is clear that the giant oak tree of systemic corruption, which have been rooted deep into the soil, will not collapse in the blink of an eye. Those who benefit from corruption will do everything in their power to protect their interests, by using false information and creating an organized system to protect against theft. We must be vigilant and persevere in the fight against corruption.

As information becomes more transparent and citizens become more informed, the corruption system will continue to crumble. We must do what is right, and the truth will prevail. This is the advantage of Democratic Government.

Under the framework of the New Revival Policy, an anti-corruption legal reform has been launched and during this spring session, we will discuss and approve the Law on the Legal Status of Whistleblowers, the Law on Judiciary, and the National Anti-Corruption Program and amendments to the Constitution, the Law on Regulation of Public and Private Interests in Public Service and the Prevention of Conflict of Interest, and the Code of Conduct for Civil Servants.

Today, the draft amendment to the Law on Regulation of Public and Private Interests in Public Service and Prevention of Conflict of Interest, have been submitted to the State Great Khural.

Upon the passage of this law, all high-ranking government officials including President of Mongolia, Speaker of the State Great Khural, Prime Minister of Mongolia, members of the Parliament and Government, Governors of aimags and the capital city, as well as their spouses, cohabitants, children and any related party will be prohibited from participating in any form of procurement activities funded by the government, state-owned companies, and international organizations' projects and programs, jointly implemented by the government during their tenure in office. Furthermore, they will be precluded from receiving any concessional loans, grants, or guarantees during their tenure in office, as the draft law stipulates.

In addition to the officials mentioned above, the prohibition clauses apply to chairperson of political party which holds seats in the State Great Khural, members of the Constitutional Court, the Chief of Justice and judges of the Supreme Court, the State Prosecutor General, members of the Civil Service Council, as well as heads and deputies of organizations that report to the Parliament and the Government, including the Bank of Mongolia, the General Election Committee, and the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, National Police Department, Customs General Administration, National Emergency Management Agency, General Department of Taxation. Other agencies covered by the law include General Authority of State Registration, General Authority for Social Insurance, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Mineral Resources Authority.

By passing this law, we will establish clear boundaries between politics and business, marking the point of an ethical boundary where the state and business operate detachedly. I am confident that this law will serve to prevent and protect many politicians and civil servants from potential corruption risks in the future. Going forward, we will engage in active public discussion to implement basic reforms for making public service efficient and "doing more with less" by transforming the recruitment of civil service, transferring state property and workforce to the private sector, and introducing a unified system for civil servant salaries that is based on their productivity and results.

Thank you for your attention to this matter."