Skopje, 22 November 2024 (MIA) – Finding modalities to further strengthen the cooperation and fight against corruption within the three key institutions and their full alignment in terms of procedures and mutual support in the anti-corruption fight is in the focus of Friday's roundtable on "Cooperation with Institutions in the Fight against Corruption" with representatives from the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the State Audit Office, and the Public Prosecutor's Office, organized by the U.S. Embassy, ​​through the Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) program of the U.S. Department of Justice and USAID.

Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy, Nicole Varnes, said that corruption cannot be fought alone and success in this endeavor relies on cooperation. 

"Corruption affects every nation, and of course, it's also here in North Macedonia. A lot of progress has already been made, but the public continues to wait for meaningful results. Corrupt actors exploit various methods - public procurement, fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice... This predatory criminals must be held accountable, your citizens demand that and they deserve that," Varnes told the roundtable. 

She pointed out that the global cost of corruption is staggering, adding that the United Nations and the World Economic Forum estimate that nearly 5 percent of the world GDP is lost to corruption. 

"But this cost is not merely financial. Corruption disenfranchises young people, it is stifling to economies and to social progress, and it deprives North Macedonia of their potential contributions. The fight against corruption is not easy, yet your presence here today is a step toward building a healthier system of governance. North Macedonia can meaningfully combat corruption in every institution if these institutions are empowered and fully engaged," said Varnes. 

Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski said that decisive steps taken in the fight against corruption have already given results, noting that the Public Prosecutor's Office has begun the process of major reorganization of forces in order to enable appropriate dynamics of criminal prosecution and provide all evidence that will ultimately result in effective verdicts. He pointed out that perpetrators of crimes are constantly improving the way they undertake criminal activities, changing communication channels and using the latest technological tools to conceal their illegal actions. Therefore, he added, we must keep up with them, even to be ahead of them.

"A detailed financial investigation will be conducted in every serious case where unlawfully acquired property benefit is determined, especially in cases handled by the Prosecutor's Office for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption, not only against the perpetrators of the crimes, but also against all persons associated with them," said Kocevski. 

He said investigation centers within the prosecutor's offices in Skopje, Tetovo, Kumanovo and the Basic Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption are operating at full capacity, adding that in the coming days, an announcement will be published for additional equipment and filling all vacant positions for investigators.

"Work is under way to fully modernize the system of special investigative measures. We are determined to use all opportunities to set our cooperation with the judicial police authorities at a higher level, as well as with other institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the State Audit Office, with which we have practically formed a joint response to all those who abuse public finances," Kocevski pointed out, stressing that international cooperation is also important, as well as support from the media and civil society organizations.

Head of the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, Tatjana Dimitrovska, said corruption affects every segment of society, and the fight against corruption requires collective responsibility, commitment, coordination and transparency. Systemic and deeply embedded corruption, she noted, hinders the development of society and investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and the environment.

"Our common goal is to strengthen inter-institutional cooperation, to raise the level of responsibility and integrity and to oppose all forms of corruption. I am convinced that the cooperation we foster will provide contributions and results that we will be proud of. We pay a high price for corruption, these are billions of dollars a year in lost investments that also mean missed development opportunities for our country," Dimitrovska said, adding that the fight against corruption is an increasingly important priority for citizens.

Close and sustainable cooperation between the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Audit Office, she stressed, is a condition without which one cannot speak of success in the fight against corruption. Without it, she added, we will constantly lose the battle with corruption and will have low institutional integrity.

"Strengthening cooperation and establishing protocols for cooperation between our institutions is one of the prerequisites for effective and efficient implementation of actions that stem from legal competences and can make a great contribution in the recognition, prevention and sanctioning corruption and conflict of interest," said Dimitrovska.

According to her, efficient and coordinated functioning of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the State Audit Office is key to successfully dealing with corruption.  

The Assistant to the Auditor General, Marina Blazheska, said corruption is one of the biggest challenges facing every society because it produces large financial costs that equally affect the development of the country, institutions and the well-being of citizens. The fight against corruption, she stressed, is not an easy path, but with the right instruments and appropriate mechanisms and cooperation, a better public sector can be created that will put the interests of citizens first.

"Supreme audit institutions, through their engagement and mandate, strengthen the institutional framework for the fight against corruption, although the detection of corruption is not their primary objective. The State Audit Office has a key role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, and provides an independent and objective assessment of whether funds intended for public purposes are used in the interest of citizens and in accordance with laws and regulations. It also provides information that can help detect potential cases of abuse and corruption and helps create mechanisms that reduce the risk of abuse of public funds," said Blazheska. 

Only through an integrated approach, she noted, can we achieve results that will lead to a significant reduction in corruption and an increase in transparency and accountability in the public sector. 

Photo: MIA