The parties agreed that, by setting positive examples, politicians must be the lynchpins of an efficient struggle against corruption and restore the trust of citizens in the rule of law.
Pero Kovacevic of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP) criticised both the former and the incumbent government for failing to take effective anti-corruption measures, notably to sanction those responsible for embezzlements in the privatisation process.
"A certain number of people who attended the glamorous event (the Opera Ball) in the Croatian National Theatre participated in the privatisation, and now they are benefactors giving away charity. Only the watches they were wearing were worth EUR5 million," Kovacevic said.
Antun Kapraljevic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) said that both the former and the present administration failed to do anything to end corruption. He said that the proof of this was the fact that "big parties blocked the establishment of commissions of inquiry".
He believes that Foreign Minister Miomir Zuzul's resignation will change things for the better.
Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that the latest developments, such as the election manipulations in Bosnia, revoking financial supports to some nongovernmental organisations and the Puljiz case, did not contribute to the fight against corruption.
Emil Tomljanovic of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said that apart from setting a legal framework, the UN convention was an important step towards the globalisation of the corruption issue and the strengthening of instruments for an efficient fight against corruption.