PRESS RELEASE
Kirovograd, 26.10.2010
REAL FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION SHOULD BECOME THE MAIN NATIONAL PROJECT OF PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE VIKTOR YANUKOVYCH
Corruption perceptions index (CPI) 2010 shows that corruption remains a very serious problem for Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities make efforts to eliminate dangerous for Ukrainian security phenomenon; however, Index 2,4 against last year's 2,2 (out of 10 possible point) is too far from desired result. Transparency International considers any result below 3 points to be "shame of the nation", which has to live in totally corrupt state.
Having followed corruption perceptions index in Ukraine during the last 12 years, Transparency International was continually expressing apprehension about critical situation in the state. In particular, in 2006 Ukraine with 2,8 points held 99-104 places among 163 countries of the world, where the research was conducted; whereas, in 2009, having got 2,2 points, Ukraine occupied 146-153 places among 180 countries covered by the index in previous year.
Surely, this year index in Ukraine has reached 2,4 points (134-143 places among 178 countries covered by the index), which is better than in previous year, but does it significantly influence the quality of fighting corruption by Ukrainian authorities?
With his program "Ukraine for people!" Viktor Yanukovych became the fourth President of independent Ukraine. Holding his post, he assured that Ukraine would undergo a succession of reforms for radical improvement of well-being level of Ukrainians. To lead Ukraine to fast entrance to the club of welfare states, Ukrainian team plan through implementation of ten ambitious national projects. Its realization needs engaging dozens of billions Euro of investments. Is Ukraine able to guarantee proper usage of financial resources to investors in conditions, when corruption remains to be catastrophically wide-spread phenomenon in Ukraine? This is rather rhetorical question.
Accounts Chamber of Ukraine officially declares that 52% of Ukrainian GDP is in shadow. According to evaluation of National Bank of Ukraine 15 billion US dollars are out of official money turnover. This amount of money would be completely enough to finance all the projects of V. Yanukovych or for covering whole credit of International Monetary Fund. Previous state officials from Yulia Tymoshenko's government are now suspected in its embezzlement. The conclusion is only one - without eliminating corruption no economic reforms in Ukraine are possible. This should be the main national project of President Viktor Yanukovych.
Today, Ukraine shows a slight tendency toward improvement of corruption level in the country. The foundation for that was laid in 2009, when Parliament adopted the package of anti-corruption laws; Cabinet of Ministers introduced the post of Government Commissioner on Anti-Corruption Policy and started systematic implementation of fighting corruption measures. These initiatives were continued by new authorities, headed by President Yanukovych. By one of his first decrees, he created National Anti-Corruption Committee and assigned to it development of National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
However, today there is no guarantee that fighting against corruption wouldn't be used by current authorities as an instrument to square accounts with political opponents or as reason to narrow main democratic rights and freedoms. In particular, right of Ukrainians to access to information.
In terms of that, voting on the 21st of October this year for the Draft Law on Access to Public Information could be considered symptomatic. Being supported by over 150 non-governmental organizations and by 450 journalists, the Draft wasn't adopted by the Parliament and the voting was postponed to the 2nd of November. Faction of Party of Regions, the head of which is current Prime Minister, and honorable leader of which remains to be President Viktor Yanukovych, didn't vote for the guarantee of citizens' to access the information. By the way, adoption of this Law is demanded by National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which was unanimously confirmed during session of Nation Anti-Corruption Committee on the 20th of October, 2010, headed by the President of Ukraine.
So, having evaluated speed of spreading corruption in Ukraine and possible consequences of it, Creative Union «ТОRО» offers to Ukrainian authorities to implement 5 paramount steps, which are able to lead the country out of corruption precipice. In particular:
- Adopt the Law on Access to Public Information.
- Develop State program of prevention and fighting corruption for 2011-2014 years, taking into account experience and groundwork of Government Commissioner on Anti-Corruption Policy and organizations of civil society.
- Implement whole package of recommendations of group of states from European Council against corruption (GRECO).
- Establish real work of National Anti-Corruption Committee by the President of Ukraine, with clearly defined obligations and principles of work.
- Involve organizations of civil society to practical realization of anti-corruption policy and to work of specialized state institutions.
Notification for editors: Corruption perception index is complex index, which is developed on the base of 13 different studies of experts' and businessmen views. Preparation of sources for CPI-2010 was held between January 2009 and September 2010.
Complete version of CPI-2010 is available on the web site of representative office of Transparency International in Ukraine by the following link www.toro.org.ua/en/cpi/
Video comment about this year data of the Index by the Head of representation office of Transparency International in Ukraine, Oleksiy Khmara, is attached in appendix.
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Contact for media:
Oleksiy Khmara, President
Creative Union
"TORO"
Cel.phone 0 67 670 02 96, work tel.
0522 27 23 15,
fax: 0522 22 82 91, media@toro.org.ua
www.toro.org.ua
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Creative Union "TORO" is a contact group in Ukraine of Transparency International - global anti-corruption Non-governmental organization, which has more than 90 national chapters and works in more than 100 countries of the world. The mission of Creative Union "TORO" is to introduce in Ukraine democratic procedures of citizens' participation in forming and realization of state policy. You can learn more about the activity of organization at the web-page www.toro.org.ua.
Download Press Release in pdf: CPI 2010 Press Release (eng)
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Response to globalcrises must prioritise zero tolerance for corruption
Berlin, 26October 2010 - Withgovernments committing huge sums to tackle the world's most pressing problems,from the instability of financial markets to climate change and poverty,corruption remains an obstacle to achieving much needed progress, according toTransparency International's 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ameasure of domestic, public sector corruption released today.
The 2010 CPIshows that nearly three quarters of the 178 countries in the index score belowfive, on a scale from 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived tohave low levels of corruption), indicating a serious corruption problem.
"These resultssignal that significantly greater efforts must go into strengthening governanceacross the globe. With the livelihoods of so many at stake, governments'commitments to anti-corruption, transparency and accountability must speakthrough their actions. Good governance is an essential part of the solution tothe global policy challenges governments face today," said Huguette Labelle,Chair of Transparency International (TI).
To fully addressthese challenges, governments need to integrate anti-corruption measures in allspheres, from the responses to the financial crisis and climate change tocommitments by the international community to eradicate poverty. For thisreason TI advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention againstCorruption, the only global initiative that provides a framework for putting anend to corruption.
"Allowingcorruption to continue is unacceptable; too many poor and vulnerable peoplecontinue to suffer its consequences around the world. We need to see moreenforcement of existing rules and laws. There should be nowhere to hide for thecorrupt or their money," said Labelle.
Corruption Perceptions Index 2010: Theresults
In the 2010 CPI, Denmark, New Zealand andSingapore tie for first place with scores of
9.3. Unstablegovernments, often with a legacy of conflict, continue to dominate the bottomrungs of the CPI. Afghanistan and Myanmar share second to last place with ascore of 1.4, with Somalia coming in last with a score of 1.1.
Where source surveys for individualcountries remain the same, and where there is corroboration by more than halfof those sources, real changes in perceptions can be ascertained. Using thesecriteria, it is possible to establish an improvement in scores from 2009 to2010 for Bhutan, Chile, Ecuador, FYR Macedonia, Gambia, Haiti, Jamaica, Kuwait,and Qatar. Similarly, a decline in scores from 2009 to 2010 can be identifiedfor the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Niger and theUnited States.
Financial Fallout
Notable amongdecliners are some of the countries most affected by a financial crisisprecipitated by transparency and integrity deficits. Among those improving, thegeneral absence of OECD states underlines the fact that all nations need tobolster their good governance mechanisms.
TI's assessmentof 36 industrialised countries party to the OECD anti-bribery convention, whichforbids bribery of foreign officials, reveals that as many as 20 show little orno enforcement of the rules, sending the wrong signal about their commitment tocurb corrupt practices. While corruption continues to plague fledgling states,hampering their efforts to build and strengthen institutions, protect humanrights and improve livelihoods, corrupt international flows continue to beconsiderable.
"The results ofthis year's CPI show again that corruption is a global problem that must beaddressed in global policy reforms. It is commendable that the Group of 20 inpursuing financial reform has made strong commitments to transparency andintegrity ahead of their November summit in Seoul," said Labelle. "But theprocess of reform itself must be accelerated."
TI calls on theG20 to mandate greater government oversight and public transparency in allmeasures they take to reduce systemic risks and opportunities for corruptionand fraud in the public as well as in the private sector.
The message isclear: across the globe, transparency and accountability are critical torestoring trust and turning back the tide of corruption. Without them, globalpolicy solutions to many global crises are at risk.
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Transparency International is the globalcivil society organisation leading the fight against corruption
Note toEditors: The CPI is acomposite index, drawing on 13 different expert and business surveys. Sourcesurveys for the 2010 CPI were conducted between January 2009 and September2010.
Media Contact
DeborahWise Unger Tel: +49 30 34 38 20 662 or
+4930 3438 20666 Email: press@transparency.org
Download in pdf: CPI 2010 Press Release
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