, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jalbuugiyn CHOINHOR
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: (202) 333-7117
FAX: (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Alphonse F. LA PORTA
embassy: inner north side of the Big Ring, just west of the Selbe Gol,
Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: c/o American Embassy Beijing, Micro Region 11, Big
Ring Road, C. P. O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13; PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP
96521-0002
telephone: (1) 329095
FAX: (1) 320776

Flag description: three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side),
blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the
national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and
geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the
yin-yang symbol)

@Mongolia:Economy

Economy - overview: Economic activity traditionally has been based on
agriculture and breeding of livestock. Mongolia also has extensive
mineral deposits: copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten, and gold
account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance,
at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in
1990-91, at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. Mongolia was
driven into deep recession, which was prolonged by the Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party's (MPRP) reluctance to undertake serious
economic reform. The Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) government has
embraced free-market economics, easing price controls, liberalizing
domestic and international trade, and attempting to restructure the
banking system and the energy sector. Major domestic privatization
programs have been undertaken, as well as fostering of foreign
investment through international tender of the oil distribution
company, a leading cashmere company, and banks. Reform has been held
back by the ex-communist MPRP opposition and by the political
instability brought about through four successive governments under
the DUC. Economic growth picked up in 1997-99 after stalling in 1996
due to a series of natural disasters and declines in world prices of
copper and cashmere. Public revenues and exports collapsed in 1998 and
1999 due to the repercussions of the Asian