Larson in BPK Goražde: Cantonal Law on Prevention of Corruption Being Prepared

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The fight against corruption and the establishment of the Office for the Fight against Corruption in the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde were the topic of today's meeting between the Prime Minister of the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde, Aida Obuća, and Erik Larson, Senior Advisor for the Fight against Corruption and member of the US Embassy in Sarajevo.

“The US Government supports a full and strong fight against corruption at all levels of government, including the establishment of cantonal offices for the fight against corruption, and that is why we are here today” – these are the words of Erik Larson, who hopes this is the beginning of a period of many meetings on this topic.

The commitment of the Government of the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde to more active and aggressive implementation of anti-corruption activities was expressed to the representatives of the American Embassy at today's meeting by the Prime Minister of this canton, Aida Obuća.

The Government of the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde will continue to provide unequivocal and full support to the Body for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption in the coming period, through which it implements a whole range of anti-corruption activities (establishment of registers of employees and appointed persons, verification of diplomas, control of the legality of financial operations, constant coordination with the prosecutor's office, police, and inspection bodies), all with the aim of strengthening and restoring public trust in government institutions. In our anti-corruption activities so far, we have had significant support from the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, for which we are extremely grateful. We hope for such support in the future, both from the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina and from other international institutions and embassies of countries that have decisively supported Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde to date” – said the Prime Minister of BPK Goražde, who also informed the participants of today's meeting about the Government's next plans and activities aimed at a more efficient fight against corruption.

The Government of the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde, with the support of international institutions and partners, plans to initiate the procedure for adopting the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, the Law on the Allocation of Budget Funds to Associations and Non-Profit Organizations, and the establishment of a Register of Public Procurement and a Register of Allocated Transfers to Associations. Their adoption will be a confirmation of our determination and commitment to more intensively continue with the implementation of anti-corruption activities through the Body for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption, which will ultimately certainly yield results and make our canton a place of safe and pleasant living” – said the Prime Minister of BPK Goražde, Aida Obuća.

The meeting in Goražde was also attended by Political Advisors from the US Embassy in BiH and the OSCE, Dragana Gluhović and Lejla Kablar Sarajlić, as well as Nataša Danojlić, Minister of Justice, Administration, and Labor Relations of BPK Goražde, and Elmir Pilav, President of the Body for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption of the Government of the Bosansko-podrinjski Canton Goražde.