An international conference on “Inter-institutional cooperation in the fight against corruption, strengthening integrity and capacity for resilience in the defense and security sector” was officially opened in Neum on Wednesday. The conference will be held from November 4 to 6, and will bring together representatives of domestic and international institutions.
The conference is organized by the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) of BiH, in cooperation with the OSCE Mission to BiH and with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in BiH and the Norwegian Center for Security and Resilience in Oslo.
The aim of the conference is to improve inter-institutional cooperation, exchange experiences and define specific recommendations for strengthening integrity and institutional resilience.
- Corruption is something that is permanent in all institutions, it is the struggle of the whole world and no one is immune to corruption in the institutions of the system. Of course, it is tried to be reduced to the smallest possible percentage because it is in everyone’s interest to have as little corruption as possible. Today, I believe, after high-quality discussions between judges, prosecutors, representatives of police agencies, we will reach conclusions, which will contribute to the reduction of corruption and resilience and the fight against corruption in the Ministry of Security and Defense – said the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zukan Helez.
Deputy Minister of Defense Aleksandar Goganović emphasized that such conferences are important because representatives of different institutions gather and exchange their opinions.
- Together we come to the best conclusions on how to contribute to the fight against corruption. Corruption must have no place in the defense and security system, but not in any institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina. That is why it is very important that all institutions cooperate. Also, it is important that today we also have representatives of the international community, because we can hear examples of good practice in the fight against corruption from their countries. I also believe that we have not done enough if we do not put the conclusions of this conference into practice. It is not easy, but we must be responsible and determined in the fight against corruption – Goganović points out.
- The head of the OSCE Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Rick Holtzapple, said that inter-institutional cooperation is of key importance in the fight against corruption.
No institution can independently respond to risks that threaten integrity. Effective cooperation between defense and security institutions and the inspectorate of the Ministry of Defense of BiH, numerous other institutions, is of crucial importance in order to ensure accountability and strengthen public trust. Corruption undermines operational efficiency, professional cooperation and citizens’ trust in the institutions responsible for their protection. Its prevention requires permanent leadership, effective supervision and clearly established responsibility for zero tolerance for corruption – said Holtzapple.
He added that the OSCE Mission remains committed to providing support for institutional reforms in BiH, building on its long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Defense.
Concrete measures must be translated into practice (…) The OSCE Mission will use the conclusions of the conference as a basis for directing its further support in order to build a more responsible, transparent defense and security sector in BiH – said the head of the OSCE Mission in BiH.
Commander of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, Brigadier General James Fowler, said that today they are here to recognize the General Inspectorate of the MoD of Bosnia and Herzegovina in strengthening the integrity and resilience of the defense and security sector.
“Integrity and resilience are two key areas in the fight against corruption and in enhancing the accountability of the entire defense and security sector. Our focus remains on supporting the Ministry of Defense of BiH, the Armed Forces, and the Bosnian security sector in strengthening institutional credibility and public trust in domestic institutions. This demanding and consistent effort is the only way to keep this country on the path of reform. We remain committed to supporting these vital reform processes for the benefit of all citizens of BiH,” says Fowler. - The military envoy of the Kingdom of Norway, Brigadier Lunde Dag-Magne, said that the Kingdom of Norway is proud to support this conference as a partner and as the main donor.
Norway and BiH have a long cooperation, and we also have a long cooperation with the General Inspectorate. We remain dedicated to the continuation of this practical cooperation in supporting and building democratic values in Bosnia and Herzegovina – said Dag-Magne.
The Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brigadier General Edin Fako, reminded that BiH has different levels of government, different agencies, and that it is very important to find a way for all these agencies to act in a coordinated way to create an environment that will enable more efficient work of all institutions.
That is why it is important to us that everyone we invited responded to today’s conference. We also have the support of international partners, and this shows that we are on the right track to try to find the right answer and solution to how we will act in the future in facing the challenges, not only of corruption, but also of hybrid threats in the modern age – said Fako.
He stated that the BiH MoD is trying to be transparent and talk about its weaknesses.
Strong institutions are not those that don’t make mistakes, that doesn’t exist. There are institutions that make mistakes and those that want to see their weaknesses and fix them so they don’t happen again. This is just the initial conference and this idea will not end here. It is very important to form conclusions that we will be able to put into practice – concluded Fako, Fena writes.
