Transparency International report mixed blessings for Czech Republic
Earlier this week the non-governmental organization Transparency International released it's yearly report entitled Global Corruption Report 2003.
In its yearly report, transparency international praised and criticized the Czech Republic in its attempts to fight corruption. The non-governmental organization accused the Czech Republic of lacking an effective anti-corruption policy. This despite the creation of a number of government initiatives, including the creation of a commission for the protection of its economic interests. In the words of the report, the Czech Republic has not succeeded in implementing a policy of directly fighting corruption. The report also highlighted the role of criminal activities in the legal system as a major problem. I spoke Vaclav Perich, Chairman of Transparency International Czech Republic and asked him first - what the Czech Republic needed to do in order improve anti-corruption measures:
"Of course, in 1999 the Czech government adopted some resolutions on fighting corruption but it is only the governmental area. It declares that government will support some non-governmental activities, but we think that it is important to improve these activities. So we looked for some money to create other views on the problem of corruption which is a very, very serious in our republic."
How big of a problem do you think criminal organizations in legal activities are?
"The problem is that such a form of crime is very difficult to prove. And the economic environment changed in the Czech Republic so there must be new tools to investigate, to deter people, and so on. It is very difficult but the government wants to do something with it."
The report however did praise the Czech Republic in a number of initiatives to improve anti-corruption measures in the past year. Here's what Mr. Perich had to say about the recent progress made by the Czech government:
"Social democrats came to governments came to government with a program called clean hands. But without any idea of organizing such a campaign. So they created a institution which was not very well organized. They found out that it much be changed and they must strengthen traditional forms: Attorney, police, and special authority in police, and of course to train better judges."
Do you think this happening, do you think its moving forward?
"In my opinion this process goes very slowly, but it goes."
