The Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Special Representative on Anti-Corruption, Ms Irene Charalambidou, held meetings in Moldova yesterday, in the framework of her visit to the country with the Special Representative of the Polish OSCE Chairmanship for Anti-Corruption, Ms. Anita Ramasastry. This is the first joint visit of representatives of intergovernmental structures and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Separate meetings were held with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova, Mr. Vladimir Cuc, the Deputy Minister of Justice Mr. Eduard Serbenco, the Vice President of the Moldovan Parliament Mr. Mihail Popsoi and the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments and Immunities Ms. Olesea Stamate and members of the Committee. Meetings were also held with the Head of the OSCE field mission to Moldova Ambassador Kelly Keiderling, the European Union (EU) High Level Adviser on Anti-Corruption and the EU High Level Adviser on Justice and the Deputy Director of the National Anti-Corruption Centre.
Ms. Charalambidou expressed her appreciation for the willingness of the Moldovan authorities to discuss the challenges related to the issue of anti-corruption. She stressed that, through the commitment of the country's authorities and the active participation of parliamentarians, civil society and the media, it is possible to enhance the transparency needed to create a strong accountability system.
The OSCE CSO Special Representative on Anti-Corruption also underlined the paramount importance of ensuring public access to the necessary information in the context of efforts to strengthen good economic governance. Ms. Charalambidou noted that Moldova, like all OSCE participating States, has made specific commitments related to preventing and fighting corruption, which provide the basis for promoting a sound business environment and ensuring political stability, and stressed that the existence of political will is a key prerequisite for achieving the desired goal.
Ms. Charalambidou and Ms. Ramasastry also had a discussion with NGOs operating in Moldova. Current legal and practical challenges were discussed, as well as possible ways for the OSCE to further support reform efforts in this context. Noting the positive steps taken in this direction, Ms. Charalambidou underlined the need for the fight against corruption to remain a priority issue. In this context, the need to strengthen international cooperation on asset recovery was stressed.
Finally, Ms. Charalambidou and Ms. Ramasastry participated in a discussion with representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises, chambers of commerce and other relevant stakeholders in the country, on addressing good governance challenges and creating a favourable investment climate in Moldova.
Ms. Charalambidou underlined the importance of ensuring the implementation of best practices to promote government policies to facilitate business activity and fight corruption. Ms. Charalambidou concluded by stressing that promoting transparency and ensuring accountability are key conditions for creating a favourable business and investment climate, which in turn will lead to greater growth, political stability and security.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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