17.09.2014.

Minister Gasic at opening of the conference on Partnership for Integrity in Security Sector

Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic and United States Ambassador to Serbia Michael D. Kirby opened the conference on Partnership for Integrity in Security Sector" focused on how much corruption in the security institutions costs the citizens of Serbia and how strengthening integrity in the security sector contributes to more efficient work of institutions and better protection of the rights of all citizens.

On that occasion, Minister Gasic expressed confidence that the conference, organized by the Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP) will contribute to the strengthening of institutions and confirm the common orientation that only reduction of corruption in all spheres of social life and work can lead to a healthier, safer and wealthier society.

- Security of citizens and society is a basis for successful development. Therefore, we are dedicated working hard on creating an environment for even greater results and one of the most important tasks is to eradicate corruption. Due to the negative impact of corruption only in the area of public procurement, Serbia lost about six million euros. Therefore, the principle which we are not giving up is zero tolerance policy in the fight against this scourge and this Government is determined to do its best in this way – Minister of Defence emphasized.

According to him, the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces carry out concrete measures to reduce and curb corruption in their ranks, and the most engaged in this task are Military Security Agency, Defence Inspectorate and Internal Audit Section. The Ministry of Defence also participates in the NATO Building Integrity Initiative, Minister Gasic added.

As pointed out by Ambassador Kirby, there is no perfect system and what is necessary are institutional mechanisms whose imperative is ensuring integrity in the security sector, which provides for exercising citizens' rights in a democratic country.

- Institutions must be transparent and accountable to the citizens and ensure the protection and safety of all citizens - the US Ambassador said adding that the institutions of the security sector must be under the supervision of civil society which should cooperate with the Parliament.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Zoran Djordjevic will participate on a panel entitled How much corruption in the security institutions costs the citizens of Serbia.

Today's conference is part of a project aimed at support of efforts in building integrity and effective implementation of anti-corruption measures in the key institutions of the security sector – Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior and the Security Information Agency through improvement of the external oversight.