Mongolian Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg told RIA Novosti reporters Dmitry Vinogradov and Daria Labutina about whether her country will join various integration structures with the participation of Russia and why, explained why Ulaanbaatar has a hydroelectric power station on the tributaries of the Selenga River, which, according to the Russian side, can threaten the Baikal ecosystem, what are the prospects for Russia’s participation in the construction of railways in Mongolia, and how the Mongolian side intends to attract Russian tourists.

– What is the main purpose of your visit to Russia? Who are the meetings scheduled with? Are there any plans to sign any agreements?

– My current visit is timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Russia. Both sides have adopted an extensive plan to celebrate this momentous date. As a minister, I am making my first foreign visit to the Russian Federation, which is of great symbolic importance. We plan to discuss a wide range of issues of bilateral relations with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. For example, regional and international issues should be considered. Special attention will be paid to the coordination of contacts between the heads of our two countries in the future. We plan to discuss the schedule of contacts at the highest and highest levels, mutual visits, as well as the implementation of the plan, which is timed to coincide with the centenary of diplomatic relations.

The Mongolian presidential election will be held soon – on June 9. So we plan to discuss contacts between the leaders of the two countries. After the elections, our Foreign Ministry will develop the foreign policy agenda of the new president of the country, where an important place will be given to the development of relations and cooperation with Russia.

In addition, I will take part in the work of the SPIEF, meet with representatives of the parliament, the government and business structures. A Memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Department of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Mongolia and the Federal Corporation for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises of Russia.

I hope that the results of my visit will have a positive impact on the further development of Russian-Mongolian relations.

– You mentioned that you will discuss visits at the highest and highest level with Lavrov. When can they be expected?

– After the election, the inauguration ceremony will take place on June 9, which coincides with the centenary of the Mongolian People’s Party, the Mongolian People’s Revolution. All the celebrations will take place in July, where we invited Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. Russia is an important partner for us, and we expect that your country will be represented at these events at a very high level.

Whoever the Mongolian people choose, we are quite confident that the new president will support the course of development with the Russian Federation. High-level contacts are planned during some international events, for example, at a meeting of the Council of Heads of the SCO member states. We think that contacts at the presidential level will take place within this year.

– Continuing the conversation about the SCO, Mongolia is an observer country. Is it possible for her to join this organization?

– Mongolia has long been an observer at the SCO. We participate in all meetings at the highest level and at the level of heads of government, at the level of various departments. With the accession of India and Pakistan to the SCO, the importance of this international organization has grown. We consider it one of the most important ways for cooperation in the Central Asian region. We also participate in the SCO trade and economic projects that exist within the framework of its activities. We are interested in cooperating with the organization on trade and economic issues, agriculture, transport, infrastructure projects, and educational and humanitarian issues.

Mongolia considers the SCO as one of the channels for establishing cooperation with Central Asia. On the part of the SCO members, we are invited to increase the level of our participation, to become a permanent member of this organization. We are studying the fundamental documents of the SCO and other documents regulating the activities within this organization. In recent years, our researchers, scientists, and government decision-makers have conducted a massive public discussion of this issue and have come to the conclusion that maintaining the current status in the organization is optimal.

– Mongolia also considered the possibility of joining the EEU or creation of free trade zones with the EAEU. What is the current stage of these negotiations? Can we wait for the launch of the free trade zone and when? Is it possible for Mongolia to join the EEU and when?

– Relations between our countries are developing at the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. But there are still many untapped opportunities. Our countries need to tighten trade and economic cooperation. Here we have some problems. In the old days, the total volume of trade reached two billion dollars, but 90% of it was made up of imports from Russia to Mongolia: petroleum products, consumer goods, machinery and technology. But exports from Mongolia to Russia are minuscule. This is a very strong bias. This condition has been going on for many years. High customs tariffs and a large number of non-tariff restrictions play a role. In order to resolve these issues, we believe it is necessary to develop cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Commission in order to sign a free trade agreement with them in the future. A joint study group was established between the Government of Mongolia and the Eurasian Economic Commission to study the feasibility of adopting a free trade agreement. We hope that by the end of 2021, this group will come to some kind of assessment, and we will be able to start negotiations on the development of a free trade agreement before the end of this year. I hope that the conclusions will be positive.

– Can we expect that the agreement will be signed this year?

– No, we won’t have time to sign the agreement this year. First, you need to investigate whether it is appropriate to have such an agreement. This is what the research group was created for. Based on the results of their assessments, we will think.

– If Mongolia is so worried about the low level of its imports to Russia, then maybe it should join the Customs Union? Then you will be able to deliver your goods without duties.

– We cannot discuss trade conditions only with Russia, because it is a member of the Customs Union. That is why we are negotiating with the EAIS in order to increase the volume of our exports not only with Russia, but also with other members of this union. So far, Mongolia is not considering participation in the Customs Union.

– Another integration structure is the CSTO. Is it possible for Mongolia to join it?

– The concept of national security of our country stipulates that our country will not participate in any military-political organizations if there is no direct threat to our security from other countries. Fortunately, we are not threatened, we have no direct threats. Therefore, we do not need to join military-political organizations, such as the CSTO. On the other hand, we cooperate very closely and well in the military-technical sphere with the Russian Federation. We have a very deep and thoughtful cooperation. Russian military universities train military specialists. Russian military equipment is being delivered to our country. Representatives of the Armed Forces of Mongolia participate in Victory parades. Our country is located between Russia and China, and this situation has difficult moments: there is no access to the sea, and third partners must be reached by transit through the vast territories of Russia and China. But there is also a strong side – we feel safe. Mongolia is more interested in participating in trade and economic projects, and this is more in our interests.