OSCE Centre helps promote international anti-corruption standards in Kazakhstan

BOROVOE, Kazakhstan, 24 June 2010 - A conference on international best practices and tools to combat corruption and enhancing Kazakhstan's legal framework started in the resort town of Borovoe near Astana today.

The two-day conference brings together some 60 participants from European and Central Asian countries, including representatives of ministries, law enforcement agencies and other national institutions, civil society and international organizations, as well as diplomats accredited in Kazakhstan, to discuss best practices and review Kazakhstan's practices and experiences in the fight against corruption.

"Kazakhstan has made noticeable progress in joining international anti-corruption networking initiatives, including the OECD Istanbul Action Plan in 2005, and it ratified the UN convention against corruption in 2009," said Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana. "Recently the country expressed a desire to join the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), and is prepared to ratify the Council's anti-corruption conventions. The OSCE Centre in Astana welcomes and supports the host country's efforts to build on its anti-corruption strategies and standards in line with best international practices and frameworks."

During the conference, participants will discuss Kazakhstan's progress in implementing the UN convention against corruption, practical steps and procedures to become a member of GRECO, which was established by an alliance of countries against corruption, and ratification of the Council's legally binding anti-corruption instruments.

"We are committed to following and complying with international standards in our anti-corruption policy. We demonstrated this last year by ratifying the UN Convention against Corruption. By taking part in such initiatives and activities, Kazakhstan is committed to strengthening international co-operation, improving its anti-corruption mechanisms and providing and receiving mutual legal assistance from European and Asian countries," said Kairat Kozhamzharov, the Chairman of Kazakhstan's Agency on Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes.

The conference is organized by Kazakhstan's Agency on Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police) with the support of the OSCE Centre in Astana, the UN Development Programme in Kazakhstan and the non-governmental organization Transparency International Kazakhstan.