25. 08. 2012

FATE OF ANTI-CORRUPTION COUNCIL UNCERTAIN

Belgrade, August 25, 2012 (Politika) - Instead of appointing two new members to the Anti-corruption Council, under the initiative of the NGO "Doctors against Corruption" aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity of the state in that area, the Government dismissed three active members - Vladimir Goati and Radmila Vasic (on their personal requests filed few years ago) and Danilo Sukovic. The Council now consists of five members only, including the vice president Miroslav Milicevic.

Since the passing away of Verica Barac in March this year, the Council has not appointed its Chairperson. Later in May, another respectable member, Stjepan Gredelj, passed away too. In light of this, the fate of this body, established in October 2001, is uncertain.

Those who deal with the fight against corruption have no dillema - the Council needs to prevail. According to the Chairman of the Anti-corruption Council Zoran Stojiljkovic, "it is up to the Government to decide to what extent it needs to be counselled in fighting corruption. The need for this body is obvious, as we are still in the zone of endemic power-charged corruption".