The Embassy of Mongolia in Washington, DC, and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Ulaanbaatar were contacted for information; neither was able to respond within the time constraints of this Response.

According to information found on the Website of the Government of Mongolia, the correct names of the organizations are the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Labour and Social Welfare Inspection Agency (MoHSW n.d.; LSWIA 30 Apr. 2000). At last report the Ministry had 68 official positions, 26 per cent of them senior managers (MoHSW n.d.).

A 14 January 1999 Xinhua report identified Sodovin Sonin as the "health and social security minister."

A 5 September 2000 report in the Ulaanbaatar-based E-Mail Daily News identifies P. Nyamdavaa as the "Minister for Health." A report in the same publication a month earlier described Pagvajavyn Nyamdavaa as the current and former (1990-1996) Minister of Health, and since 1998 a social policy advisor to the president as well (10 Aug. 2000). The same report identifies Shiylegiyn Batbayar as the Minister of Social Welfare and Labour (ibid.). A third report in the same publication describes R. Jadamba as the newly appointed state secretary for the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour (17 Aug. 2000)

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

E-Mail Daily News [Ulaanbataar, in English]. 5 September 2000. "Minister Interviewed on Nation's Health." (BBC Summary 7 Sept. 2000/NEXIS)

_____. 17 August 2000. "Cabinet Approves New State Secretaries, Rejects Three Nominations." (BBC Summary 18 Aug. 2000/NEXIS)

_____. 10 August 2000. "Cabinet Introduced." (BBC Summary 12 Aug. 2000/NEXIS)

Labour and Social Welfare Inspection Agency (LSWIA). 30 April 2000 (last update). http://www.pmis.gov.mn/health/lswia/default.htm [Accessed 27 Oct. 2000]

Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW). n.d. "Introduction." http://www.pmis.gov.mn/health/INTRO.htm [Accessed 4 Oct. 2000]

Xinhua. 14 January 1999. "Mongolia's New Government Established." (NEXIS)

IRB databases.

LEXIS-NEXIS.

World News Connection (WNC).

Two oral sources contacted.