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Home / Mass-Media / Events / The International Anticorruption Day message from, Ruslan Flocea, the director of the National Anticorruption Center
The International Anticorruption Day message from, Ruslan Flocea, the director of the National Anticorruption Center
09.12.2020
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Dear friends,
We are on December 9th , the day when many countries around the world celebrate International Anticorruption Day. According to the UN Convention against Corruption, ratified by our country 13 years ago, this day aims to promote ethical principles, integrity, transparency and accountability for their actions in public and private affairs.
As the author of the National Integrity and Anticorruption Strategy, the NAC has assumed the role of consolidating the efforts of the entire public and private system by involving them in actions to prevent and combat corruption, provided in the policy document it has developed. Although 2020 was a complicated year due to the pandemic crisis, which affected our country and its institutions, both the National Anticorruption Center managed to convince public authorities, business, development partners and active youth to make a common front in the activity counteracting the phenomenon of corruption and promoting the values of integrity. By now, there is no public authority in which the NAC would not have provided information or intervened with suggestions or assistance. The satisfaction we feel every time we build new partnerships comes from the fact that those institutions, in which we have not yet made our presence, ask for our support. This shows that the public sector, our society wants sustainable development, is ready to make changes in mentality, behavior and attitude.
This week, which we have declared the Anticorruption Week, under the auspices of the NAC and the partner of our institution, the UNDP Moldova, a series of activities take place, in which several authorities are involved. It is a remarkable success that every institution, in both the public and private sectors, has realized that transparency and integrity, promoted in their work, are the key to progress, efficiency, correct decisions and building a positive image in the society. "United against corruption" is the message we are sending this week to all those who want to contribute to the recovery of our society and who are ready to declare zero tolerance for illegal acts, abuse and corruption.
We are even more optimistic about the involvement of the young generation in prevention activities, together with the NAC. For several years, we have had one of the largest teams of volunteers, made up of young people with a high moral and civic attitude. Thanks to their involvement, the National Anticorruption Center has been declared, these days, as the host institution that implements the most volunteer activity. Such a distinction makes us confident in the future of our society and of our young people who have chosen a correct civic position.
Dear friends,
The NAC has chosen to invest strength and experience in preventing corruption and educating society in the spirit of intolerance of this scourge. It is a much more difficult job than investigating a case or apprehending criminals. Growing a high culture of integrity and honesty is perhaps the most important mission that our society must understand. Reporting an illegal act or undue influence should not cause shame or discomfort, but be an act of responsibility. Relying on illegal practices and solving problems through bribery and influence peddling must remain in the past, as their continuity generates poverty, mistrust in the future and an uncertain future for our children.
Of course, a real fight against corruption cannot be done only by preventive methods. A resultant eradication of corruption is also done through "surgical interventions". Today, there are more than a thousand criminal cases in the management of the NAC, targeting hundreds of individuals, public and private companies. However, both their investigation and the final solutions take time, but the purpose of the NAC is to reimburse the state for the damage caused by the offenders. When talking about recovering damages, I cannot fail to mention the contribution of the Criminal Assets Recovery Agency of which, following financial investigations has managed to seize assets worth about 1 billion lei, in 2020. No less important is the contribution of the NAC in identifying the risks of corruption in laws or government decisions. The authors of a recent study, presented yesterday, estimated that the value of damages avoided in the National Public Budget exceeded 1.3 billion lei in cases when the recommendations, made in the anticorruption expertise reports of the NAC, were partially or fully complied with. This means that no public lands and buildings have been alienated and no discretionary tax exemptions have been applied.
Dear friends,
The National Anticorruption Center remains an institution open to the public and available to team up with anyone who wants to get involved in anticorruption activity. We are ready to receive new employees and attract reliable partners. The International Anticorruption Day is marked every year on December 9th, but we must feel the significance and role of this day permanently, when each of us will choose to proceed honestly, transparently and legally.