The office of the President of Mongolia, Public Relations & Communications Division

www.president.mn

2010-07-21

President Elbegdorj Joins the Appeal to Protect the Lake Baikal and Nature

Citing from Russian marine scientists, Russian newspapers reported “It has become a crucial event for the history of our scientific work that Mongolia’s President Tsakhia Elbegdorj dived in Mir-1 submersible in Lake Baikal during his acquaintance to submersibles Mir-1 and Mir-2 which are being used for research in the Lake.

On July 16, President Elbegdorj dived with “Mir” inventor and the Head of “Mirs on the Baikal” scientific expedition Mr. Anatoly Sagalevich, Hero of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Mikhail Slipenchuk, Head of Metropol Group in “Mir-1” submersible to 437 meters deep underwater to the bottom of the Lake. Thus, President Elbegdorj has become the first President who joined the appeal by the Government of the Republic of Buryatia and a project to protect Lake Baikal.

Also, Buryat scientists of Eastern Siberia and Mongolian scientist T.Gan-Erdene dived in Mir-2 submersible in the Lake.

“Mirs on the Baikal” expedition to explore the Lake Baikal began in 2008. Russian Metropol Group finances the expedition. Mr. Slipenchuk said “The main objectives of the expedition are to study geological history, marine biology such as plants and living organisms, underwater volcanoes and their structures and contents.”

“Mir” submersibles can dive up to six thousand meters deep underwater. They are for research purposes, and are used to collect samples of stones, rocks, and plants at various levels underwater. The two of the only four submersibles in the world are being used in the Lake Baikal. “There has not been any hesitating occasion for the safety of the submersibles. There is no other submersible in the world that dives deep as Mirs,” Russian Hero Mr. Sagalevich explained.

After his dive to the bottom of the lake, Mr. Tsakhia Elbegdorj, President of Mongolia shared his feeling and answered questions of Mongolian and Russian journalists. President Elbegdorj said “Although I did not fly to the space, I thought that when people see the beauty of the world from the space, they have the same feeling. In the deep underwater, it is magnificent and inspiring. Astronauts who saw the lake from the space underlined that the Lake looked like the blue eye of the Planet Earth. Thus, we should take care of the Lake Baikal just like we do about our eyes.”

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin dived in “Mir-1” submersible in the Lake Baikal on August 1 of last year.