Country Report - "SOME PROBLEMS ON REFORM IN MONGOLIAN ARCHIVES"

Chuluun Dashdavaa, Director General of State Archives Administration of Mongolia

Mongolia has ancient tradition of archives and there are 36 state archives in our country. Except 22 state archives there are several state archives under the direct administration of State Archives Administration as: State historical archives, Central archive of film, audio-visual records, Central archive of scientific and technical records, Central archive of art and literature records. In respect of world standards Mongolian archives have reached the middle level of development. But in spite of this fact I'd like to point out that we are facing many problems to solve. Until today we haven't suitable conditions for preservation of archive records.

Mongolian archives also need to improve acquisition of archive records. Because of information searching system of Mongolian archives is not developed and installation of modern technology and techniques as computers isn't carried out, we are facing difficulties in the field of making archive records more accessible. All these problems showed us that we should carry out radical reforms in Mongolian archives.

We consider that the reforms in Mongolian archives began with the issue in August of 1994 of the Direction of the President of Mongolia on the problems of Archive development in Mongolia. In order to implement this Direction the Government of Mongolia in September 1994 issued the Resolution on some measures should be taken in the sphere of archives. This Resolution has much significance for promoting the archives reform.

One of main results of reform in Mongolian archives management is the elaboration of the Project of Archives Law, which was discussed by government and presented to Parliament. The main purpose of this Law is to regulate relations among state, society and citizens in the sphere of archives in the democratic society.

Much attention was given to the reforming of main laws and juridical documents concerning archives and paperwork management. Some amendments were made by Mongolian Parliament in the Administration responsibility Law, especially in respect of administrative prosecution of persons, who violated the law and rules in the archive work. Mongolian government in April 1995 adopted two important documents: "Main rules on archive work in the state government organizations and organizations with state property" and "Main rules on paperwork management". According to the resolutions of Mongolian Government in 1995 we conducted the revision of archives and paperwork management in all ministries and organizations of the country. It was the measure of great importance in respect to determine the current level of archives development in Mongolia, to define our future purposes in order to improve archive works.

It's a pleasure for me to note that the work carried out in the sphere of archive reforms during last two years affords possibilities to coordinate the perspectives of archive activities with the strategic plans of ICA. We pay much attention to the elaboration of special policy in order to improve the activities of archive organizations in Mongolia.

I'd like to draw your attention to some problems, connected with the international collaboration of Mongolian archives.

    1. We consider that without radical improvement of preservation of archive records, it's impossible to make deep progress in the archive work.

Mongolia doesn't produce archival techniques, equipment and in terms of technical supply belongs to the underdeveloped country. In connection with it it's important to carry out the following tasks :

  1. International collaboration in the field of records acquisition of archive funds has very important significance. Mongolian archives are trying to conduct activities for searching and studying the documents connected with Mongolian history, which are preserved in archives of foreign countries. During last three years Mongolian state archives administration jointly with the Archives organization of Russian Federation conducted defenite works in the field of searching, studying and making copies of documents related to Mongolian history. As a result of such collaboration the preparations for publication of collected volume of documents "Communist International and Mongolia" are almost finished.
  2. We are interested to expand our collaboration in the field of searching of archive records related to Mongolian history, which are preserved in archives of China, Japan, South Korea, DPR of Korea as well as in the field of exchanging the archive documents.
  3. Before the archive specialists of Mongolia were trained mainly in Russia. But today such opportunities are limited. In this connection we hope that ICA, EASTICA and their member countries will give us assistance in the sphere of specialists training. It's a pleasure for me to note that seminars organized by ICA give much help to Mongolian archivists in the field of improving their professional scill. I'd like to express our gratitudes to the archive organization of China, who gives us much assistance in the sphere of specialists training.

We hope that ICA actively will conduct activities in the field of organizing seminars and meetings on specialists training as well as in the field of exchanging archive specialists.

Thanks for your attention.