EU official: Entire state must fight corruption

BELGRADE Head of the EU delegation in Serbia Vincent Degert stated on Thursday in Belgrade that combat against corruption was not a one-man struggle He added that it needed to be fought by the entire state apparatus. EU official: Entire state must fight corruption During a public discussion on the draft national strategy for the fight against corruption, Degert commended the Serbian government and its Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on efforts they invested to this end so far and added that the results of the fight against corruption needed to be confidential so that the authorities could inform the public as to the activities carried out in the sector. “The citizens want to be sure that tangible results have been reached in the fight against corruption and this can be achieved by closing the cases in courts and not just by reports in the media and tabloids,” Degert said. According to him, the concept according to which nobody is above the law has to cover the entire system and not just top officials, and the key factor for the success of the process lies in independent judiciary and a responsible public administration. “When we open talks on Serbia's EU membership, it will be important for the country to be able to explain to EU members that it is committed to the fight against corruption and that it is achieving sustainable results that would make the country fit for EU membership,” Degert noted. He concluded that corruption constituted the challenge in all countries and that, just like in other countries, the fight against corruption in Serbia had to rest on a change in the cultural model. Degert promised that he would continue monitoring the fight against corruption in Serbia in the future and assisting the government by transfer of knowledge and training for the bodies in charge of countering corruption. (Tanjug) “Government consistent in combat against corruption” UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante said that the Serbian government had in the past six months showed consistency in combat against corruption and commitment to the implementation of the zero tolerance principles. “It has been consistent in the rule of law and support to the rule of law and following processes,” he stressed. According to him, the government has supported combat against corruption by opening relevant cases. “We have seen cases being open, both against public workers and figures and against private citizens and persons from various political parties and that proceedings against them are underway,” Infante noted and expressed belief that the prosecution would take all necessary measures to complete the proceedings. He added that the combat against corruption did not only mean taking cases to court and that all citizens were obligated to implement ethical principles that were typical for advanced societies and to have integrity in everyday life. Tanjug

EU official: Entire state must fight corruption

During a public discussion on the draft national strategy for the fight against corruption, Degert commended the Serbian government and its Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić on efforts they invested to this end so far and added that the results of the fight against corruption needed to be confidential so that the authorities could inform the public as to the activities carried out in the sector.

“The citizens want to be sure that tangible results have been reached in the fight against corruption and this can be achieved by closing the cases in courts and not just by reports in the media and tabloids,” Degert said.

According to him, the concept according to which nobody is above the law has to cover the entire system and not just top officials, and the key factor for the success of the process lies in independent judiciary and a responsible public administration.

“When we open talks on Serbia's EU membership, it will be important for the country to be able to explain to EU members that it is committed to the fight against corruption and that it is achieving sustainable results that would make the country fit for EU membership,” Degert noted.

He concluded that corruption constituted the challenge in all countries and that, just like in other countries, the fight against corruption in Serbia had to rest on a change in the cultural model.

Degert promised that he would continue monitoring the fight against corruption in Serbia in the future and assisting the government by transfer of knowledge and training for the bodies in charge of countering corruption.

“Government consistent in combat against corruption”

UN Resident Coordinator in Serbia William Infante said that the Serbian government had in the past six months showed consistency in combat against corruption and commitment to the implementation of the zero tolerance principles.

“It has been consistent in the rule of law and support to the rule of law and following processes,” he stressed.

According to him, the government has supported combat against corruption by opening relevant cases.

“We have seen cases being open, both against public workers and figures and against private citizens and persons from various political parties and that proceedings against them are underway,” Infante noted and expressed belief that the prosecution would take all necessary measures to complete the proceedings.

He added that the combat against corruption did not only mean taking cases to court and that all citizens were obligated to implement ethical principles that were typical for advanced societies and to have integrity in everyday life.