ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Transparency International Croatia (TIH) has called on the Croatian government to consider whether it will stimulate investments from countries that are susceptible to corruption just to win contracts in other
countries.
ZAGREB, May 14 (Hina) - Transparency International Croatia (TIH)
has called on the Croatian government to consider whether it will
stimulate investments from countries that are susceptible to
corruption just to win contracts in other countries. #L#
According to a survey conducted by TIH, whose results were
presented at a press conference on Tuesday, the largest exporters
of corruption this year were once again Asian countries (Russia,
China, Taiwan, South Korea), whose companies are the most
susceptible to bribery in obtaining contracts and making profit.
Companies from developed countries (Australia, Sweden,
Switzerland, Austria) are "clean" or "relatively clean", TIH
noted.
TIH president Sinisa Petrovic said that Croatia, as a country to
participate in major foreign investments, should not become an
exporter of corruption to other countries but become involved in
international efforts to fight corruption.
Petrovic announced that in the next two weeks TIH would forward an
official letter to the government and Economy Ministry asking that
it be allowed to observe the privatisation of a large Croatian
company. The idea behind this pilot project, says Petrovic, is to
monitor the privatisation of the oil company INA.
TIH calls on the government, Sabor and all politicians to adopt a
law preventing the conflict of interests which Petrovic said should
introduce regulations to prevent corruption from occurring.
Predrag Bejakovic from the Institute for Public Finances said that
grey economy in Croatia had decreased. In the period from 1990 to
1995, grey economy accounted for 25 percent of the market while in
the period from 1996 to 2000 it dropped to 10 percent.
TIH is an international organisation for the prevention of
corruption which includes 90 countries. It conducted its survey
based on the "index of corruption exporters", which grades
countries according to the level of corruption. It shows the level
of susceptibility to bribery among public officials and companies
for the purpose of obtaining contracts in foreign countries.
(hina) sp