VISIT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT CANCELLED

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ An official visit of Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, has been cancelled. It has happened due to the bloc's efforts to resolve the financial crisis in Cyprus, the EU leaders announced late Friday evening. Mr Barosso would have visited us March 23-24 and then head to Japan to meet Monday Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, with negotiations toward a free-trade agreement atop the agenda. "We reiterate the importance of EU-Japan strategic relations and would like to thank Mr Abe for expressing his understanding," the EU leaders said. Mr apologized to the President Ts.Elbegdorj in a personal telephone call. "I explained that the on-going efforts to find a solution for the financial situation of Cyprus require my presence in Brussels," Barroso told the Mongolian leader. Within the two-day visit, Mr Barroso would have been received by Mr Elbegdorj and held expanded talks with the Prime Minister Mr Altankhuyag. In addition, the sides were to sign the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and a contract on financing project on supporting Mongolia in refining a standardization system. B.Khuder