The UN Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres is paying an official visit to Mongolia from 8th to 11th of August at the invitation of the President of Mongolia H.E. Ukhnaa Khurelsukh.
Foreign Minister H.E.Ms. Batmunkh Battsetseg held an official meeting with the UN Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Antonio Guterres followed by a joint press encounter.
Below are the remarks made by Foreign Minister H.E.Ms. Batmunkh Battsetseg
Mongolia became a fully-fledged member of the UN in 1961. Last year in 2021, we solemnly celebrated the 60th anniversary of our membership in the organization, summed up the results of six decades of cooperation, and set out our priorities within the UN.
The current visit of the UN Secretary General to Mongolia coincides with the 20th anniversary of its participation in UN peacekeeping operations and the 30th anniversary of the declaration of its territory as a nuclear weapon-free-zone and therefore, we view the visit as a token of appreciation of Mongolia’s contribution to achieving international peace and security.
Mongolia is a democratic country that respects human rights, including women’s rights to equal rights without discrimination. To this end, Mongolia will continue to take active part in the UN peacekeeping operations, and pursue a policy to increase the number of female personnel participating in peacekeeping operations to 15 percent by 2027, in accordance with UNSC Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security” adopted in 2000.
Mongolia declared its territory a nuclear-weapon-free zone in 1992. Today, the importance of Mongolia’s nuclear-free status is of growing importance amid the intense situation in the international peace and security.
Last December, Mongolia ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and; we are willing to continue our contribution to the efforts of the international community towards nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
Mongolia believes that ensuring stability on the Korean Peninsula is extremely important for strengthening peace and security in the Northeast Asian region.
In order to promote confidence building in the Northeast Asian region, in 2013 Mongolia launched the “Ulaanbaatar Dialogue” initiative on Northeast Asian security issues. In June this year, we successfully hosted the 7th international “Ulaanbaatar Dialogue” conference.
Mongolia welcomes and supports the key proposals and measures envisaged by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in his report “Our Common Agenda” as timely and important initiatives to strengthen multilateral cooperation in order to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of development goals and programs.
Mongolia will continue its cooperation with the UN to make the International Think-Tank on Landlocked Developing Countries, established at the initiative of Mongolia, an effective excellence center for advancing our common agenda to implement both the Vienna Program of Action and the Agenda 2030 fully and effectively.
The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh has put forward the “Billion Trees” initiative and launched national movement in order to make a tangible contribution to solving the challenges of climate change, desertification, and environmental degradation facing the world. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will participate in the tree planting event in the National Park today in support to this initiative.
Furthermore, Mongolia will host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 2026.
In accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2023-2027 signed between Mongolia and the UN in May of this year, we have committed to cooperate in 5 strategic priority areas, including human development, green, inclusive sustainable growth, people-centered governance, rule of law and human rights in line with the national development goals. In particular, we believe that the assistance and support of the United Nations will play an important role in the implementation of the goals of Mongolia towards reforming education, becoming a “Digital Nation” and making renewable energy the main energy source.
Thank you for your attention.
Ulaanbaatar, 9 August 2022
