ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT KHALTMAAGIIN BATTULGA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 856TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF CHINGGIS KHAAN-NATIONAL PRIDE DAY
On the occasion of the 856th Birth Anniversary of Chinggis Khaan–National Pride Day, a tournament of 128 wrestlers began in the Buyant-Ukhaa Sport Palace today. President of Mongolia Khaltmaagiin Battulga addressed the people of Mongolia on this occasion.
The President began his speech saying, “Chinggis Khaan, who is the pride of the Mongols and who was born with a destiny from heaven, came into the world on the first day of the first month of winter in 1162 or the Year of Water Horse of the third sexagenary cycle of the lunisolar calendar. Today is the 856th Birth Anniversary of Chinggis Khaan–National Pride Day.
As we all know, Chinggis Khaan was named the Man of the Millennium. Based on a study of the Carnegie Institution, the United States, Chinggis Khaan was dubbed as “history’s greenest conqueror”. There is no conqueror like Chinggis Khaan whose legacy has been prominently remembered not only in Mongolia but across the globe for eight hundred years. Chinggis Khaan was a remarkable ruler who demonstrated true leadership and exemplified efficient governing abilities, thus planting the seeds for his everlasting glory.” President Battulga then quoted several historians and researchers, including Plano Carpini, Juzjani, Ata-Malik Juvayni, and Paul Ratchnevsky about Chinggis Khaan and his legacy.
He continued, “When we celebrate the birth anniversary of our great king, we must reflect on his principles and wise words and remember to follow them. Chinggis Khaan believed that losing the trust of people is the biggest sin, therefore, imposed harsh punishment on those who did so. We must always remember his words: “If a man neglects his state duties and seeks his own pleasure today, after having been entrusted with power yesterday, it contradicts the state order of this generation and shall transfer misconduct to the future generations.”
Today, even the highest legislative organ has broken the trust of the constituents by creating advantages for themselves and stealing the opportunities of the people. This is an offense and perversion that must be detested and given harsh punishment.
The widespread disregard for and violation of the law by bodies starting from the highest legislative organ to a non-government organization is a harmful practice that can’t be tolerated. An example of that can be mentioned about the fact that we can’t hold a wrestling tournament in the Wrestling Palace, the construction of which was financed with government funds and public donations. The Government of Mongolia allocated MNT 800 million funds from the state budget for the construction work of the Wrestling Palace which required MNT 1.1 billion finance in total. State-owned companies donated MNT 142 million while the rest of the finance came from citizens who love wrestling. The Wrestling Palace was thus built with public investment in a real sense. However, it has been owned, used, and exploited by a few people who treat it like a private property and who have now divided wrestlers and wrestling lovers and halted the functions of the Palace.
At the root of this wrongful doing is the same neglect towards the rule of law and perversion and misconduct among few groups driven by narrow interests. According to the principles and ideology of Chinggis Khaan, it is a crime that deserves harsh legal punishment. The decomposition and perversion of the political system continues to leave such consequences in the society. The public has started to feel the urge to demand and make an immediate reform.
Let me remind you again that it is time we remembered the words and principles of Chinggis Khaan on state and fair ruling on his birth anniversary and gave serious consideration to the thought of building a just government with the help of the thinking of the public.
When Chinggis Khaan said,
“If my body weakens, let my body weaken, but do not let the state collapse
If my body suffers, let my body suffer, but do not let the country distress,” I am sure that he meant well-being of the public and development of the nation with the words “state” and “country”. Today, the people who have been entrusted with state power and the people who entrusted them with the power must follow the words of Chinggis Khaan and unite under one cause that is for Mongolia.
Dear fellow Mongolians and Mongolian ethnic groups around the world,
I would like to extend auspicious wishes for your well-being and health and cordial greetings on the birth anniversary of Chinggis Khaan.
May the glory of the great ruler shine!
May the mightiness of the great king blossom and Mongolia prosper under the Eternal Sky!”
