National Anticorruption Conference, 14th edition, in pictures – event organized in partnership and with the financial support of the UNDP Moldova project

"The National Anticorruption Center has a huge responsibility for promoting anticorruption policies, by eliminating risks and vulnerabilities in the public system." The statement was made today by the NAC director, Ruslan Flocea, at the 14th National Anticorruption Conference. According to Ruslan Flocea, the NAC is currently carrying out a complex activity of training and assisting the state institutions in the process of eliminating the risks of corruption and the vicious practices in the system, and within this process, a number of sectors have been identified that need to adjust their working mechanisms and processes in such a way as to exclude corruption vulnerabilities.

"Year after year, the National Anticorruption Center presents the institutional progress regarding the prevention and combating of corruption in the Republic of Moldova but, despite the efforts made, our society still does not feel the full change, and the confidence in the system is far from encouraging. "As an anticorruption agency we have a huge responsibility to change this perception, and what we are able to do is to self-perfect ourselves by improving the mechanisms, by making the processes transparent, by offering the qualitative services, so that the citizen can feel the due respect from the state, "Flocea said.

The Speaker of the Parliament Zinaida Greceanii, who was present at the event, mentioned that the Republic of Moldova needs more firmness in actions. "We need surgical measures that will strengthen the state and support the efforts of the National Anticorruption Center to prevent and combat this phenomenon." According to the speaker, the priority of the authorities is to fight corruption in all its forms: petit, grand or systemic and to deliver visible results according to the objectives set out in the strategies, activity plans and national anticorruption legislation. "We will succeed if we work in a coordinated manner, with sustained efforts and with pragmatic, realistic and resolute approaches, and the involvement of society, the public and private sectors in the fight against abuses and bribes is vital," said Zinaida Greceanii.

The same opinion is also Dima Al-Khatib, UNDP Resident Representative in the Republic of Moldova, who participated today in the inauguration of the national anticorruption conference. According to the official, corruption affects all countries. "It is estimated that every year, $ 1 billion is paid in the form of bribes, while $ 2.6 trillion is stolen annually through corruption - an amount equivalent to over 5% of global GDP. These data clearly confirms - corruption slows down the development and attempts to build a better world, directly affecting vulnerable groups and contributing to instability and poverty. Or, the National Integrity and Anticorruption Strategy of the Republic of Moldova for 2017-2020, elaborated with the support of UNDP at the Sustainable Development Goals, one of them directly aimed at reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms by 2030, "said Dima Al-Khatib.

The Prime Minister Ion Chicu, who also attended the Conference, reconfirmed the Government's determination to combat the phenomenon of corruption, that is at the root of the problems faced by the Republic of Moldova. The prime minister noted that the phenomenon of corruption has long been tolerated by politicians, but also by state bodies. "For years, politicians and opinion makers have been competing who speaks more inspired about the phenomenon of corruption, who organizes larger conferences, but the intensity of public discussions has not yielded the expected results. We have to take serious care in restoring people's confidence tomorrow, and for that we must modernize the economy, industrialize the country, create jobs and increase people's well-being. "

The prime minister urged to stop aggressive attacks against people whom are expected to have progresses in fighting corruption: "If we want them to do their job better - let's help them become better." The Chief of the Executive addressed the NAC officers, as well as other institutions of the profile: "We, the Government team, count on your responsibility, objectivity and your good intention to change things in Moldova. We need your energy, inspiration and patriotism. I consider that only we can do order in our home - let's make order and build a good future here, at home. " In this context, the prime minister mentioned that he decided to set up a public institution meant to coordinate volunteering activities and to promote the broad involvement of citizens in eradicating the phenomenon of corruption.

This year's edition of the national anticorruption conference is conducted under the title "Sectorial Approach to Corruption: Progress and Deficiencies". The main objective of the Conference is to evaluate the anticorruption efforts undertaken by public entities and civil society during the current year. The conference is organized by the National AntiCorruption Center with the support of the UNDP Project "Fighting Corruption by Strengthening Integrity in the Republic of Moldova" and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The event is attended by members of the Government, representatives of development partners and sponsors.