The Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms Anita Demetriou and the Vice-President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE CSC) Ms Irini Charalambidou held a press conference today on the International Conference of the CSC. OSCE International Conference on "Fighting Corruption, Defending Democracy: the Role of National Parliaments", which will be hosted by the Cyprus Parliament in Nicosia on 27 and 28 May 2022.
The Speaker of the Parliament referred to the three thematic sections of the Conference, which concern the contribution of National Parliaments in the fight against corruption, the role of independent institutions and the media, as well as the discussion of new practices that can contribute to the effective promotion of transparency and accountability.
The purpose of the Conference, Ms Demetriou said, is to be informed both by renowned invited speakers and parliamentarians from 57 OSCE participating States and other OSCE partner countries on the legislative and institutional framework as well as best practices in place in other states. Through the Conference, she stressed, it will facilitate the creation of the necessary synergies with other Parliaments and with competent international organizations, with the aim of further strengthening the protection net for our citizens.
Ms Demetriou noted that the hosting of this Conference of the C.C. will facilitate the creation of the necessary synergies with other Parliaments and with competent international organizations.
Ms Demetriou noted that the hosting of this Conference of the C.C. will facilitate the creation of the necessary synergies with other Parliaments and with competent international organizations. OSCE, was immediately accepted by the Parliament, as the fight against corruption at all levels and the strengthening of transparency and accountability are permanent policy objectives, which are institutional and have been prioritized as high priorities.
The Speaker of the Parliament stressed that cooperation with the entire political spectrum is essential and that the fight against corruption should not be approached as a field of confrontation and blame-shifting, as such an approach undermines the political will needed to make progress on such serious issues.
Finally, the Speaker of the Parliament thanked Ms. Charalambidou for the initiative to organise the conference, stressing that the role of parliaments is crucial. We must all rise to the occasion, so that the reforms have the desired practical impact, in order to strengthen the role, authority and autonomy of the House of Representatives, Ms Demetriou concluded.
Ms Charalambidou expressed her thanks to the President of the Parliament for her continuous and multi-level support both for the organization of this Conference and to her as Special Representative of the CS. OSCE Representative for the Fight against Corruption. He also thanked the Chairperson of the JC. Ms Margareta Cedefrelt for the confidence placed in her, the Secretary General, as well as her colleagues in the OSCE CSO and the House of Representatives.
Ms. Charalambidou stressed that within the framework of her mandate as Special Representative she is making continuous efforts to strengthen the political will to fight corruption and that the upcoming Congress is part of this framework. OSCE noted that the Conference is the result of intensive contacts and consultations it has held with relevant international organizations and other bodies such as, inter alia, the OSCE executive structures, GRECO, Transparency International, the World Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, among others, whose senior officials will participate as speakers. He also noted the participation of Cypriot officials, including Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Auditor General Odysseus Michaelides, as well as experts and investigative journalists.
The Conference, Ms. Charalambidou stressed, provides an opportunity to showcase the image of the Cyprus we envision, free of corruption practices that plunder our national wealth and damage democracy.
Subsequently, Ms Demetriou and Ms Charalambidou answered journalists' questions.
(MB)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
Source[/P]
