Mongolia Acts to End Legacy of Communism

BEIJING — Mongolia took another step toward democracy Monday in shedding 70 years of Marxism, adopting a constitution allowing private ownership of land, guaranteeing human rights and dropping the country’s Communist-era name.

The official New China News Agency reported from Mongolia’s capital, Ulan Bator, that the Communist-dominated Parliament adopted the new charter on a 321-7 vote, with two abstentions.

The constitution replaces one from 1960 that included a guarantee of power for the Communist Party. That clause was deleted from the constitution in 1990, and opposition parties and free elections were allowed after mass pro-democracy demonstrations that were sparked in part by reforms in Eastern Europe.

The Communist Party has said it accepts democracy and proposals for a free-market economy in the nation of 2 million mostly nomadic people.

Effective Feb. 12, the country’s name will be changed to “State of Mongolia” from “Mongolian People’s Republic,” the news agency reported.

A new national flag and emblem also were adopted, but the agency did not describe them. The new constitution also includes broad guarantees for human rights.

After the vote Monday, President Punsalmaagiyn Ochirbat told Parliament that Mongolia will develop full relations with its two neighbors, Russia and China, the agency said.