Officials present anti-corruption Action Plan

BELGRADE Aleksandar Vucic says investigations into the 24 disputed privatization saw 115 persons suspected of damaging the budget for about RSD 80bn "processed." Vucic announced on Monday that by the end of the year "all the cases that the EU had also identified will be solved." Officials present anti-corruption Action Plan "The trials are only coming, but I think that this speaks volumes about the extent of the problems we are experiencing. By the end of the year all cases will be completed, and I'm afraid that the number will be significantly increased, " Vucic said during the presentation of the Action Plan for the Fight Against Corruption. The first deputy prime minister added that Serbia had conducted a systematic fight against corruption, which was "non-selective," and that this was "now clear for all to see." He further said he was "proud" that the Strategy for the Fight Against Corruption did not remain "only a dead letter," and because "it did not take months or years to create an action plan." "The fight against corruption is the biggest test for the government, the biggest problem. A country where there is zero tolerance against corruption is ideal, but also a goal, it is something we strive for," said Vucic. Vucic also stated on Monday that the anti-corruption strategy is the greatest test for the government in the country where political corruption was the greatest burden and problem and which strives for zero tolerance of corruption and crime. When it comes to political corruption, Vucic said that a process of monitoring of all incomes of public officials will be introduced, and that a system for the avoidance of the conflict of interests and a system of control of work of public officials will be established. In a debate on the action plan for the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy, Vucic said that he believes that during the next year the Serbian government will manage to create a legally organized country which implies attraction of new investments, legal security and prosperity for the Serbian citizens. Vucic believes that during the last year considerable results have been achieved, and the problems were the attempts of political belittling of the fight claiming it to be selective. However, the deputy prime minister believes that today both citizens and the international community see that this fight has been absolutely non-selective. “It does not matter if someone belonged to the ruling coalition, an opposition party or no party,” Vucic underlined. Vucic underlined that the anti-corruption fight is the first area in which Serbia has made serious results and clearly showed that it wants to keep up with the rest of the world. Vucic said that the strategy, which is a medium-term document, has to be realized in the coming five years. Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic addressed the same presentation to say that the action plan was "realistic and designed so that each chapter has clear answers to the questions who, what, how and when should be working to make the fight against corruption successful." "This is the first time we have an action plan that was proposed by the ministry, and that leaves no room for dilemmas about how it will arrive at something," Selakovic was quoted as saying. The minister further said that "150 organizations and institutions" worked to produce the plan. "The Action Plan works out in detail the fight against corruption in politics, public finance, privatization, judiciary, police, spatial planning and construction, education, sports, health and media," according to him. The action plan includes defined goals, actions to be taken, timelines, and resources needed for implementation. Thus, for example, the plan is to amend the law on party funding within six months, as well the Law on the State Audit Institution so that its audits include political parties. It is planned to amend the Law on Anti-Corruption within one year in order to regulate the business in conflicts of interest and to expand the circle of those who are obligated to submit property reports. On Transparency Internationals' corruption index, Serbia is currently ranked 80th out of a total 176 countries. (Beta) Beta Tanjug

Officials present anti-corruption Action Plan

"The trials are only coming, but I think that this speaks volumes about the extent of the problems we are experiencing. By the end of the year all cases will be completed, and I'm afraid that the number will be significantly increased, " Vučić said during the presentation of the Action Plan for the Fight Against Corruption.

The first deputy prime minister added that Serbia had conducted a systematic fight against corruption, which was "non-selective," and that this was "now clear for all to see."

He further said he was "proud" that the Strategy for the Fight Against Corruption did not remain "only a dead letter," and because "it did not take months or years to create an action plan."

"The fight against corruption is the biggest test for the government, the biggest problem. A country where there is zero tolerance against corruption is ideal, but also a goal, it is something we strive for," said Vučić.

Vučić also stated on Monday that the anti-corruption strategy is the greatest test for the government in the country where political corruption was the greatest burden and problem and which strives for zero tolerance of corruption and crime.

When it comes to political corruption, Vučić said that a process of monitoring of all incomes of public officials will be introduced, and that a system for the avoidance of the conflict of interests and a system of control of work of public officials will be established.

In a debate on the action plan for the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy, Vučić said that he believes that during the next year the Serbian government will manage to create a legally organized country which implies attraction of new investments, legal security and prosperity for the Serbian citizens.

Vučić believes that during the last year considerable results have been achieved, and the problems were the attempts of political belittling of the fight claiming it to be selective.

However, the deputy prime minister believes that today both citizens and the international community see that this fight has been absolutely non-selective.

“It does not matter if someone belonged to the ruling coalition, an opposition party or no party,” Vučić underlined.

Vučić underlined that the anti-corruption fight is the first area in which Serbia has made serious results and clearly showed that it wants to keep up with the rest of the world.

Vučić said that the strategy, which is a medium-term document, has to be realized in the coming five years.

Justice Minister Nikola Selaković addressed the same presentation to say that the action plan was "realistic and designed so that each chapter has clear answers to the questions who, what, how and when should be working to make the fight against corruption successful."

"This is the first time we have an action plan that was proposed by the ministry, and that leaves no room for dilemmas about how it will arrive at something," Selaković was quoted as saying.

The minister further said that "150 organizations and institutions" worked to produce the plan.

"The Action Plan works out in detail the fight against corruption in politics, public finance, privatization, judiciary, police, spatial planning and construction, education, sports, health and media," according to him.

The action plan includes defined goals, actions to be taken, timelines, and resources needed for implementation.

Thus, for example, the plan is to amend the law on party funding within six months, as well the Law on the State Audit Institution so that its audits include political parties.

It is planned to amend the Law on Anti-Corruption within one year in order to regulate the business in conflicts of interest and to expand the circle of those who are obligated to submit property reports.

On Transparency Internationals' corruption index, Serbia is currently ranked 80th out of a total 176 countries.