GSV BACKS CRO GOVT'S PROGRAMME FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION

ZAGREB, July 18 (Hina) - The Economic and Social Council (GSV) offers strong support to the Croatian Government's programme for prevention of corruption and puts special emphasis to the organisation and conduct of systematic campaigns the aim of which will be to help create and develop the public awareness of the perniciousness of corruption, read a statement the GSV released on Tuesday. The Council believes that it is necessary that the Croatian national parliament (Sabor) ratify and implement all relevant conventions of the Council of Europe on this problem, so that the country can carry out efficient measures against corruption and join the international community in its bids to thwart this evil. During its June discussion on the necessity of the struggle against this problem in Croatia, the Council described corruption as a joint problem of the contemporary world, which disrupts democratic institutions of each law-based state. Underlining the that corruption is a serious economic and social problem, the statement points out that it is necessary to ensure and implement legislative and practical measures in the struggle against and prevention of corruption. Hence, the GSV is in favour of adequate penal measures to be taken against perpetrators of corruption in society. (hina) ms