ZAGREB, May 13 (Hina) - Croatia's draft law on the conflict of interests was accepted as a model for neighbouring countries in transition at a two-day international workshop on dealing with the conflict of interests which ended in
Zagreb on Tuesday.
ZAGREB, May 13 (Hina) - Croatia's draft law on the conflict of
interests was accepted as a model for neighbouring countries in
transition at a two-day international workshop on dealing with the
conflict of interests which ended in Zagreb on Tuesday. #L#
Croatia was chosen as the host of the workshop because it had been
the first among the countries in transition to initiate the
adoption of such a law, even though in the meantime it was surpassed
by states which used to lag behind it considerably.
Participants in the workshop assessed Croatia's example as good but
also as cautionary as to the dangerous resistance to necessary
changes because of which the law has still not been adopted.
It was evaluated that Bulgaria, Romania, and Estonia had invested
considerable efforts in legislating the discovery and prevention
of conflicts of interests. Italy and Slovakia are at a standstill,
while Macedonia, Serbia and Albania are just preparing such acts,
it was said.
Croatia's solutions for the basic principles of officials'
conduct, the procedure of reporting possible conflicts of
interests and resolving existing ones, the system of measured
penalties, and the position of commissions for the prevention of
conflicts of interests were commended and recommended to other
states.
The participants in the workshop applauded Croatian Justice
Minister Ingrid Anticevic-Marinovic's vow yesterday that Croatia
would soon pass a law on the conflict of interests.
Of Croatian MPs invited to attend, only two did -- Tonci Tadic of the
Croatian Party of Rights and Jozo Rados of Libra.
The workshop was organised by Croatia's justice ministry and the
European chapter of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) as part of the Stability Pact for South Eastern
Europe's Anti-Corruption Initiative.
In attendance were representatives of governments and civilians
from the Initiative's member-states, OECD, and other international
organisations and non-governmental organisations.
(hina) ha