By U.BATCHIMEG

Newly appointed Chief of Anti-Corruption Authority N.Ganbol has given an interview to “Undesnii Shuudan” newspaper.

-Mongolia has received damaging condemnation in this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index. Many Mongolians are questioning the effectiveness of the Anti-Corruption Authority.
-Transparency International is a global coalition that issues a corruption index once a year. The report details over 200 countries, assessing political and lawful corruption. The report reveals that Mongolia is experiencing increased levels of ongoing corruption.
Mongolia’s resource sector is attracting a lot of attention from internal and external investors and this raises questions about the way that resources are divided among citizens. As people’s lives become more difficult, they begin to ask “Why should I live like this, in this country with such great resources?” They become upset and frustrated.  
The 2011 Corruption Index focusses on this sentiment. We’ve taken actions towards eliminating corruption such as establishing a commission to fight corruption as well as joining the UN Convention against corruption in 2005. We also formulated a national program against corruption that will be launched from 2010 to 2020.
Timing is a big part of this, it has to be implemented and operated thoroughly. People are rushing to achieve their dreams and when they don’t happen, they become frustrated and critical.
-Can you work towards revealing the illegal actions of high level authorities?
-I cannot answer that question. People expect a lot from this authority and they expect it to work fairly, impose justice and reveal bribers and corrupters. However this authority can not do all this by itself.
We should work together to make that happen. From the Government to the citizens, people and authorities together should fight against corruption and make an environment that resists corruption. If we work together, we can reach this goal.
-When the Anti-Corruption Authority was first established, people were very grateful. However, their trust and faith has lessened. Many claim the authority is only scrutinizing middle level authorities, ignoring upper level authorities including government members.
-People’s opinions are different. I was appointed the Chief of the authority not long ago. I’ve not been introduced to some of the workers and chiefs, therefore I don’t want comment about the authority’s past.
I respect the previous chiefs and there’ve been great achievements made so far. For example, people were once reluctant to put forward their income statements, Today over 50,000 civil servants give income statements nationwide.
-The press has claimed that you and B. Khurts  have been laying off workers at the Anti-Corruption Agency. Is it true?
-It’s not true. I spoke with the Mongolian President, Parliament Speaker, and Prime Minister after I was appointed as the Chief and I gave my opinions on the organization of the authority. My opinion was to have six main structures, at the moment it has four.
An Anti-corruption agency needs staff that have a wide knowledge and education. Particularly a knowledge of economy. Mongolia has great resources and staff here need to have a good knowledge of economy.
-Then it’s not true that you and B.Khurst sacked eight workers?
-There were job cuts. We are considering the future of those eight workers. They will be granted six-month salary according to the laws of State Service, and Labor.
-There is a procedure about hiring workers through selections. The authority has been criticized for evading this procedure.
-We are not hiring people who are not related. And we are exchanging some of the workers according to the procedure of the state.
- The Anti-Corruption Authority has been granted a budget of 8 billion MNT annually. Your predecessor was accused of embezzling from the budget. Can you guarantee to work without these complications?
-Mongolia went through many political systems. Every person thinks about living in a great environment and having a redundant amount of money.
I worked as a policeman for my entire life and have had no right to dream about those things. Serving as a policeman gives you endurance and backbone.
They became accustomed to living off their salary. However, life goes on and there is family behind you. So I do some small business as well as my job.
- The Anti-corruption Authority had two chiefs. One of them passed away and the other was sentenced. Do you have similar concerns, or fears?
-It is very vulnerable question. One chief passed away after working very hard at this authority. One made a mistake. I respect both of them as they worked hard.
It is not fear, but I feel vulnerable. I’ll speak frankly; I have concerns about whether I can do the job people are expecting me to. I am a person like everybody else.
-After you were appointed in this position, people were saying that you were asked to be M.Enkhbold’s Deputy Minister. Which offer did you get first? Did you have enough time to consider this position?
-No, I had small amount of time. I cannot say who offered me the position first.
The President had many people to consider for the chief role of the Anti-Corruption Agency and he made his choice from those candidates. I have no right to comment on his decision.
I am a civil servant and I have no reason to reject the offer personally. I said, “Since you are giving me your faith, I will do my best”.
-You do not want answer the question about you being an associate of M.Enkhbold?
 -I worked in Ulaanbaatar for ten years from 1996 to 2006. I worked as the Chief of Police in Ulaanbaatar for eight years. I worked in several organizations and I still have contact with the workers I worked with.
-In last couple of years, you were working in Moscow, Russia. The chief of any organization tends to have bad reputation, but you have a good reputation. This reputation may be related to your ancestors, parents, upbringing and knowledge you have gained.
-My mother is 80 years old and lives with my siblings. My siblings run a business and my wife runs a small business as well.
-Rumor has it that you don’t really get along with your deputy chief B.Khurts.
-As far as personality, we are pretty much different. I am more of an easy and flexible person. B.Khurst is bit different. But we know each other as we worked together at the General Intelligence Agency of Mongolia.