Izvestia: "Vladimir Putin Will Hit the Silk Road"
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin paid a working visit to Mongolia yesterday. In Ulan-Bator he had talks with all the country's key leaders, visited an exhibition of agricultural machinery and, bumping in the street into Russian explorer Fyodor Konyukhov, immediately dispatched him on another expedition in the company of horses and camels, promising to join him later.
This alone might have been reason enough for the Russian Prime Minister to come to Mongolia. But the visit pursued serious political goals. As soon as news of Putin's approaching visit reached Mongolia the local opposition claimed that "Moscow is trying to support the incumbent President Nambaryn Enkhbayar on the eve of the May 24 presidential election".
Allegedly Moscow does not want to see the current president lose out to the pro-American candidate of the Democratic Party of Mongolia and is going out of its way to prevent another "colour revolution". In light of such allegations, the Mongolian Foreign Ministry saw it fit to issue a special statement denying any interference and any link between Putin's visit and the elections.
Putin's motorcade drove from Genghis Khan Airport through dusty vacant lots, abandoned tenement houses along a potholed road lined with soldiers and gawkers. "As we drove I saw the friendly reaction and smiles on people's faces," Mr Putin told his Mongolian counterpart Sanjaagiin Bayar, who greeted him at the State Palace.
Following the talks a couple of interdepartmental memorandums were signed in the presence of the two Prime Ministers as well as an agreement on the creation of a joint venture between Russian Railways (RZD) and the Mongolian companies Erdenes MGL and MTZ. The cost of infrastructure work at the first phase is estimated at $7 billion. Bidding farewell to Bayar, the Russian Premier headed for a meeting with President Enkhbayar. The President welcomed him in the same palace, in a yurt (nomadic tent) pitched in the grand hall on the fifth floor.
Sitting together with Enkhbayar in this bizarre yurt may be perceived as the main manifestation of support for him ahead of the elections. Be that as it may, the President said that Mr Putin "has made a tangible contribution to the development of friendly relations with Mongolia," and presented him with a state decoration: the Erdeniin Ochir (Precious Staff) Order made from pearls.
The programme of Putin's working visit to Ulan-Bator had a colourful finale in the city's central square. Outside the exhibition of Russian tractors Fyodor Konyukhov in Mongolian garb and the well-known Kalmyk descendant of Genghis Khan, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, were awaiting him. Until September Mr Konyukhov will work as a stable man and camel driver: apparently tired of oceans he decided to walk along the Great Silk Road from Ulan-Bator to Elista.
After telling Putin about his route, Mr Konyukhov bowed his shaggy head to the Prime Minister and the latter, putting his arm around his shoulder, speeded him on his way. "He promised to join me in Altai in June," Fyodor Konyukhov kept repeating after Putin's motorcade drove off. We'll give him the best camel. And he is a good horse rider; I've seen him on television."
"How far will he go with you?" I asked. Mr Konyukhov shrugged and looked thoughtful.
By Alexander Latyshev
