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Anti-corruption workshop held in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
SARAJEVO 5 December 2000
SARAJEVO, 5 December 2000 -The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina funded an anti-corruption workshop in Banja Luka on 1 December. The aim of the event was to assess the interest and the possibility for establishing a Transparency International (TI) chapter in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A representative of the Berlin-based Transparency International secretariat, as well as representatives from TI Croatia, attended the event. Participants included members of local NGOs and representatives of the media. The workshop was co-ordinated by an independent group of citizens who have been involved in different anti-corruption activities and that have established contacts with TI.
"TI is willing to work with us on establishing a country chapter for Bosnia and Herzegovina," according to Sverre Johan Kvale, Director of the OSCE Mission's Democratization Department. "It is our intention to work to get broad, country-wide support for such an endeavor."
The aim of the workshop was to gather all civil society representatives and NGOs who have been actively advocating an anti-corruption campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and look into possible ways of organizing in the future. More recently, there have been direct contacts between organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Transparency International and it has come to a stage whereby a chapter could be formed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such a step would require better co-ordination of various local NGOs and individuals and setting up of the TI's country structures.
Participants echoed the refrain that combating corruption was the most important issue in the country because if confounds progress in other vital areas of development and normalization. Previously there has been no NGO dedicated strictly to anti-corruption activities. However, Transparency International may represent the start of such an NGO in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For further information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Henriette Schroeder at ++ 387/(0) 33 292 153 or at ++387/(0) 66 165 038.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.
"TI is willing to work with us on establishing a country chapter for Bosnia and Herzegovina," according to Sverre Johan Kvale, Director of the OSCE Mission's Democratization Department. "It is our intention to work to get broad, country-wide support for such an endeavor."
The aim of the workshop was to gather all civil society representatives and NGOs who have been actively advocating an anti-corruption campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and look into possible ways of organizing in the future. More recently, there have been direct contacts between organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Transparency International and it has come to a stage whereby a chapter could be formed in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Such a step would require better co-ordination of various local NGOs and individuals and setting up of the TI's country structures.
Participants echoed the refrain that combating corruption was the most important issue in the country because if confounds progress in other vital areas of development and normalization. Previously there has been no NGO dedicated strictly to anti-corruption activities. However, Transparency International may represent the start of such an NGO in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
For further information please contact OSCE Deputy Spokesperson Henriette Schroeder at ++ 387/(0) 33 292 153 or at ++387/(0) 66 165 038.
The OSCE established its present Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 18 December 1995. In accordance with the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP), the OSCE Mission activities are to: promote Democratization and the building of a vibrant civil society, foster the development of professional journalism and monitor the rights of journalists, monitor and advance the Human Rights situation, supervise the conduct of Elections, and encourage Regional Stabilization through arms control and confidence and security-building measures. The OSCE Mission continues to work closely with other international organizations and local institutions to implement the Dayton Peace Accords.