PM hails Gov’t anti-corruption efforts at presentation of EU-recommended Bureau
The Georgian PM on Friday addressed an event dedicated to the official presentation of the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday commended his Government's efforts in combating corruption at an official presentation of the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, launched as part of the European Union conditions for granting its membership candidate status to the country.
In his comments, the head of the Government highlighted the bloc’s condition outlining the strengthening of anti-corruption mechanisms in the country, adding the new agency, proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party last year, served the goal of fulfilling the recommendation, the Government press office said.
The PM said the Bureau was bringing together “all main anti-corruption functions under one umbrella”, along with defining an anti-corruption policy “in strong coordination” with relevant state agencies.
He pointed out the agency enjoyed “a high-level of independence” - including financially - and was responsible “only to the Parliament of Georgia and the Interagency Anti-Corruption Council” through presenting annual reports.
Pointing to the country’s progress on its European integration path over the past decade, since the Georgian Dream authorities took office in 2012, the PM highlighted the new office would “further encourage” Georgia’s integration into the bloc, ahead of the EU’s forthcoming decision on its membership candidate status later this year.
He stressed the current authorities had ensured "all genuine progress" for the country’s EU integration, which included the signing of the Association Agreement with the bloc in 2014, free trade and visa-free travel agreements, and last year’s “historic decision” on granting it a European perspective.
This ia loud recognition of the centuries-old aspirations of the Georgian people, and at the same time, the beginning of a new historical era”, said the PM.
Bureau created while Georgia “among leaders” in combating corruption
Razhden Kuprashvili, the newly appointed Chair of the Bureau, said he was happy the body was being created while Georgia was among leading states in its anti-corruption achievements.
Georgia is now ahead of 14 EU and 11 NATO member countries in combating corruption”, he said.
Kuprashvili noted his agency’s statute had been approved a few days ago and was based on the “best European practices”.
He said the Bureau was expected to be “one of the most successful institutions in combating corruption”, adding the support of all state agencies was also “important”.
Prevention, cooperation with foreign partners, domestic organisations a “priority”
Kuprashvili said his office would offer an analytical unit that would work on corruption prevention and conduct the studies that as he said would be “important and useful” both for domestic state agencies and the country’s foreign partners.
The Bureau will also have an international direction, and the training centre for its employees that will also be open to training for other public servants”, Kuprashvili noted, adding “cooperation with local non-governmental organisations will also be important”.
Bureau “ready” to support “all political parties” to enforce law
In his comments, Kuprashvili pledged support for “all political parties in every possible way to enforce the law”.
If necessary, our training centre will also be available to them”, he said.
In other notes, Kuprashvili said his office had recruited additional five employees to monitor property declarations of public servants and officials “more effectively”.
The Georgian Government on Wednesday published the list of qualifications for those interested in applying for the position of the Chair of the recently established Anti-Corruption Bureau, an institution formed as part of efforts to fulfil European Union’s conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday met Razhden Kuprashvili, the new Chair of the country’s recently established Anti-Corruption Bureau, who was selected for the position by the Government head from candidates shortlisted by a selection commission on Monday.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Friday said the creation of the Anti-Corruption Bureau was “important” for the country's institutional development, in addition to being a part of the European Union conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
The ruling Georgian Dream party on Wednesday initiated a bill proposing the creation of an anti-corruption bureau, as part of efforts to fulfil the European Union’s conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Friday claimed President Salome Zourabichvili had "strengthened the false campaign” of the opposition United National Movement party with her address to the Parliament on Friday.
Strengthening the cooperation within the framework of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership was discussed on Friday in Brussels in a meeting involving the Georgian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Teimuraz Janjalia and representatives of the European External Action Service, the European Commission and the countries of the Eastern Partnership.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said he hoped Georgia would become a member of the bloc, noting the outcome would “bring enormous benefits to the country”.
The Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, Grigol Liluashvili and Razhden Kuprashvili, the Chair of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, on Saturday discussed bilateral cooperation.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday congratulated civil servants across the country on their professional day by calling their contribution to the development of democratic institutions in the country as well as economic, social, political progress “invaluable”.