President meets UNEP Executive Director

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ The State Head Ts.Elbegdorj received Monday Mr Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Thanking Mr Steiner and accompanying him delegation for visiting Mongolia, the President expressed hope that the ties between Mongolia and the UNEP will widen, and said he will support any initiatives and activities related to environment protection. "Our government is ready to collaborate with You in this matter," he added. "Mongolia is the open and democratic country, we always receive people's opinion and views on the environmental issues. My core policy focuses on two main directions that are the people and environment, so we draw up all policies and strategy based on the civil opinion," Mr Elbegdorj said. In turn, Mr Steiner noted that Mongolians attach a great importance to the environment protection matters, and expressed satisfaction with it. "Green development and policy of Mongolia are already recognized by the world. Mongolians are distinguished by their nomadic culture and custom. Probably, by this reason Mongolia faced difficulties in transferring into sedentary civilization and in developing its economy," Mr Steiner said. He said that the UNEP is closely cooperating with the Mongolian government and appreciated the Mongolian government's attention to environmental issues. In response, the President expressed0 confidence that the bilateral cooperation will activate. "Mongolian green development has a big future because Mongolia has big reserves of renewable energy. We have purposed to become a leader in exploitation of renewable energy in the region," the President said and thanked the UNEP for choosing Mongolia to celebrate the World Environmental Day.