AMBASSADOR TO UK GIVES BANQUET

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mongolia to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Mr B.Altangerel gave a banquet on Wednesday on occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Mongolia-UK diplomatic relations. Co-organized by Mongolia's Embassy in London and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the banquet attracted G.Tsogtsaikhan, the State Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of Mongolia; diplomats of Mongolia's Embassy; Mr William Hague, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; officials from the British parliament, government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and ministries; former Ambassadors to the UK; and delegates of businessmen and Mongolians living in the UK. Mr Hague underlined that the UK is the first country among western nations to establish the diplomatic relations with Mongolia, and then said the Great Britain highly values a development and achievements of Mongolia in many spheres since the diplomatic relations. Mr Hague expressed satisfaction with expanding of the bilateral friendly relations based on common principles of democracy and human rights and values. He also hoped that he will visit Mongolia this year. During the banquet, the Ambassador Mr Altangerel granted state prizes to those British who made big efforts to develop the bilateral relations, at a decree of Mongolia's President. The "Polar Star" Order went to Jean Barker, Baroness Trumpington, and to Mr Michael Howard, members of the House of Lords. B.Khuder