On 28 September, 2006, Globe International, a non-government organization organized a public discussion on state secrets and freedom of information at National Legal Center. About 40 representatives from Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, General Police Department, General Staff of Military Force participated in the public discussion and they expressed their positions on need and requirements for renovating the law on State secrets.

Kh. Naranjargal, head of the Globe International, introduced a project �State secrets and freedom of information� being implemented with financial support from the US Embassy to encourage the reform of the current state secrecy legislation through conducting complete analysis on deficiencies of the present legislation in comparison with the similar laws of other countries in transition and drafting a new state secrecy law that is consistent with the international standards of freedom of information in order to promote more transparent and open governance in Mongolia.
At the discussion Dr. D. Orosoo and M.Dorjkhand, academic staff members of the National Legal Center, held a lecture on �Reform of the state secrecy legislation: Need and requirement� while Mr G.Davaakhuu, lawyer of the Globe International, held an lecture on �Freedom of information and National Security�, and Ch.Choisamba, Ph.D professor of Mongolian National University Journalism Department, B.Galaarid, professor at the Journalism faculty of the Institute of Cinema and Art held a lecture on �State secrecy and practice.

Lawyer G.Davaakhuu stated in his report about significance of the freedom of information and how they are reflected in the national and UN�s documents. Lawyer D.Orosoo noted that the law on State Secrecy is too general and classifying and disclosing state secrets are not consistent with today�s requirements due to incorrect determination of legal understandings.

In addition, journalist B.Galaarid stressed that it is uncertain how to regulate previously classified materials if the State secrecy law takes effect upon its approval in 1995. He said that some state organizations ask high payments or various permits when journalists request information or they say all required information are available in their website but there is no useful information in it or repel each other for the information.
Participants appreciated the public discussion and expressed they positions on renovating the State Secrecy law which is the main restriction to the right of the access to the information.

Ms Bayartsetseg, expert of Open Society Forum said people pay only direct costs such as copying the documents otherwise they shouldn�t pay such high payment for the information, which accumulated by their tax payments.

Ms Altantsetseg, expert of the State Department Counsil, suggested to review all these legislation on state, organizational or private secrets in packages.

According to the law, Parliament should approve the organizational list of secret information. It should be considered whether is it suitable or not. There should be more attention that under the organizational secret the citizens rights have been violated� said Mr Ch. Enkhtur, general staff of Military force.

Source: Globe International NGO