Vice Speaker Ts.Nyamdorj brings up issue of five Mongolian ambassadors ‘trapped in their own country’

At the Parliamentary Standing Legal Committee’s meeting on Thursday, Vice Speaker of Parliament and Minister of Justice nominee Ts.Nyamdorj brought up the issue of five Mongolian ambassadors who have not been able to leave for their missions despite the consent of the state.

During the spring session of Parliament, former President Ts.Elbegdorj recalled six Mongolian ambassadors from their diplomatic missions in the US, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, France, and Germany. In their place, Ts.Elbegdorj nominated Yo.Otgonbayar for Ambassador to the USA, L.Purevsuren to Switzerland, D.Ganbat to Germany, A.Battur to France, N.Chimguundari to Canada, and G.Tenger to Japan.

Of the six ambassadors, only Ambassador D.Ganbat presented his letter of credence to Germany and officially assumed his role at the diplomatic mission in Berlin. Since the recall of the five ambassadors, the nominees have not been allowed to leave as designated ambassadors.

The fact that five ambassadors to key countries for Mongolia have not been able to assume their position has been detrimental, said Vice Speaker Ts.Nyamdorj at the committee meeting on Thursday.

All five countries have sent their approval for the ambassadors but they have not been able to assume their positions as newly elected President Kh.Battulga has not presented the ambassadors with their letter of credence and has not decreed them to assume their positions.

Reportedly, President Kh.Battulga has not presented the ambassadors with letters of credence as he hopes to replace them.

“The new President needs to determine how he will work with Parliament. We will not accomplish much if he does not. He needs to understand that the Presidential institution is under the Parliament’s authority and the Mongolian People’s Party has a 65 seat majority in Parliament,” stated the Vice Speaker.

Ts.Nyamdorj criticized the President for not allowing the ambassadors to leave for their missions.

“I told the leaders of the Democratic Party, S.Erdene and D.Erdenebat, that our work will be affected if we do not send the nominated ambassadors. If he wants to replace the nominations, it will not work. Because, the previous President nominated those five ambassadors within his full rights and we have received their approval. Even if he nominated new individuals, it will not receive backing in Parliament,” Ts.Nyamdorj added.

He added that the issue illustrates diplomatic incompetence.

Vice Speaker Ts.Nyamdorj concluded by cautioning that the Presidential institution must learn to work together with Parliament if anything meaningful is to be accomplished.