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It is with great pleasure that I am participating, with the help of technology, due to my other unfulfilled obligations abroad, in this year's Cyprus Forum.
The Cyprus Forum has managed in a very short period of time to establish itself, I rightly believe, as an important institution and an initiative that adds fruitfully and substantially to the public debate in our country. It has succeeded in bringing together in the same place, at the same table, remarkable personalities with different backgrounds, experiences and paths, thus contributing to pluralism and the exchange of views on a variety of issues and especially the need to promote those reforms for the benefit of the whole, as well as the formulation of modern policies for their utilization by decision-makers.
The choice of the theme of this year's conference, which concerns "Transparency", is particularly apt and remains always relevant since the introduction and establishment of "Transparency" in public life is in line with a long-standing and just expectation of society not only in Cyprus but also internationally. Moreover, its absence is sometimes linked to the existence of corruption, an issue that is of great concern to Cypriot society and one of the issues that I expect to emerge through the discussion that will follow is the general perception that exists in society that all those involved in public life in one way or another contribute to or do not prevent corruption in our country. No matter how many laws and regulations we adopt, no matter how many decisions we take, if we do not overturn this perception of society we will certainly not have achieved our goal.
There is something else related to the perception of corruption that I would like to mention. Watching the indicators from time to time from the Eurobarometer, if we look over time over the last 15-20 years, it was justice in Cyprus that was never, ever questioned, the institution of justice was very high as a reaction of society to the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus in general. And, unfortunately, in recent years, even the very institution of justice in our country has been challenged.
So the fight against corruption, which is directly intertwined with the prevalence of transparency, is one of the biggest and most serious challenges facing many states around the world. In the EU, for example, it is an issue that we often discuss, and I refer here to my former capacity as Foreign Minister. There are EU Member States that face some more problems and difficulties, and some less, and it is something that is of great concern to the EU as it attempts to use relevant tools to address it.
At the same time, corruption poses a threat to the foundations of democracy and is a scourge that adversely affects every aspect of public life with economic, social, and political implications. At the same time, it causes uncertainty and irreparably affects, among other things, the business environment, undermining the country's competitiveness. In addition to what I have just mentioned - and for me this is the greatest threat, the greatest danger and the greatest challenge we have to face - it leads to the removal of the trust of citizens and society as a whole in the institutions and the state, reinforcing suspicion and doubt and distancing citizens from the electoral process and, by extension, from the political life of the country.
Everything I have mentioned makes it imperative to fight corruption which, in essence, nullifies the principles and values of a favourable state. In the same context, it is also necessary for the perception to prevail in society that such phenomena are not only unacceptable, but also that they are punished immediately and exemplarily.
Taking specific initiatives in the direction of transparency and the fight against corruption is therefore a justified demand of society and a priority for our governance. It is a great gamble which I hope we will win and we will be judged at the end of our governance.
To this end, our governance programme provides, as part of its policies for the restructuring of the State, for specific measures and specific institutional reforms, bearing in mind that the achievement of the above objective requires the implementation of rules of control and efficiency and the introduction of related policies and actions that promote meritocracy, integrity and the creation of a general climate of political and social cohesion.
To this end, our governance programme provides, as part of its policies for the restructuring of the State, for specific measures and specific institutional reforms, bearing in mind that the achievement of the above objective requires the implementation of rules of control and efficiency and the introduction of related policies and actions that promote meritocracy, integrity and the creation of a general climate of political and social cohesion. Already several of the relevant actions foreseen in the governance programme have been implemented while others are underway. Indicatively, I mention, among others, the establishment and operation for the first time, of a model internal audit unit in the Presidency, a development which is mentioned positively in the recent GRECO Commission's Evaluation Report on Cyprus, which includes useful recommendations for the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity.
Our Government's intention is to make the best possible use of both the recommendations of the GRECO Commission and the recommendations of the European Commission on the rule of law in Cyprus. I am strongly convinced that the implementation of the recommendations will promote and link the name of Cyprus with the best practices followed internationally.
Another important, decisive step in the direction of "Transparency" is the open procedures now foreseen on the basis of meritocratic criteria for the appointment of the Boards of Directors of Legal Entities under Public Law (known as Semi-State Organizations) through the operation of the newly established Advisory Council.
At the same time, in the context of the requested accountability, an equally important development is the institutionalization of the annual presentation of the Action Plans and the report of the Ministries/Sub-Ministries, thus ensuring that words and decisions are put into practice. The establishment and operation of the Secretariat for Coordination and Support of the Government Project can, through its purely supportive role, make a significant contribution to this. If the opportunity arises, I would like to mention that similar practices are followed internationally and applied in most European countries, including the European Commission, while stressing that the operation of this Secretariat will not in any way overlap with the autonomy of each Ministry/Secretary of State. Its main task is to facilitate synergies and contribute to the promotion of the necessary reforms and actions foreseen in the Governance Programme, always in full cooperation with the competent Ministries/departments that are also responsible for their implementation.
In addition, in the immediate future, in the context of the wider implementation of the principles of good governance, the adoption, for the first time, of a comprehensive Code of Conduct for the members of the Government is expected. This Code, which has already been drafted with the assistance of the Commissioner for Legislation, constitutes the roadmap on the basis of which each member of the Government must act and conduct politics throughout his or her term of office, while at the same time providing for a system of adequate monitoring and effective enforcement in case of non-compliance. The adoption and implementation of the Code of Conduct will constitute not only the implementation of a specific action of the Governance Programme but also a direct response to the specific recommendation of the Greco Commission as it emerged in the context of the fifth round of evaluation.
On the occasion of my presence here today, I would like to assure you that our political will is given and is in full alignment with what citizens rightly expect from us. I have already mentioned that for us this issue is a national stake. We are well aware that more remains to be done in the direction of transparency and restoring citizens' confidence in the institutions. To this end, we are taking appropriate action and, where necessary, we will seek coordination and cooperation with the legislature and other independent bodies.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my pleasure at the opportunity to participate in the Cyprus Forum and wish it every success in its work, confident of its added value to the public debate and its ability to offer constructive and productive conclusions and recommendations for use by the executive.
(PM/EP/SX)
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