Participants in the workshop (where do you get this): Expedite the implementation of the national strategy against corruption

Damascus-Sana

Participants in a workshop held by the Ministry of Administrative Development today at its headquarters under the title “Where do you get this between the constitutional debate and the need for accountability” stressed the importance of the draft law on financial disclosure in enhancing transparency and institutional and community control and prevention of corruption cases.

Participants in the workshop called for speeding up the preparation of the executive program of the national strategy to combat corruption and start implementing it, and issuing the financial disclosure law for its necessity to enhance integrity and save public money in parallel with the completion of the program of the national project of administrative reform.

Participants discussed the amendments made by the Ministry to the draft law on financial disclosure based on the recommendations of the workshop held last month at the Sahara Tourism Complex on the same project.

In a speech, Minister of Administrative Development Dr. Salam Safaf explained that the amendments to the draft law removed all that contradicts with the constitution and expanded the target segment, which should provide a statement of “financial statements” in order to enhance confidence in institutional performance and prevent the exploitation of citizens while providing services to them.

In accordance with the amended draft, an independent high commission of 15 persons of integrity and competence shall be formed, whose members shall be named and their compensation and system of work determined by decree, which shall examine and audit declarations, receive intelligence, and cases of graft or excessive wealth from any person.

The amended draft law, according to the Minister of Administrative Development, includes a different mechanism for filing the disclosure to remove the constitutional suspicion. The amendment has to be handed over by any target to the competent authority and placed in a closed envelope that remains confidential and is deposited with the Central Bank of Syria. These representations are within specified time frames based on the news.

Participants in the workshop made general proposals to enhance the strength and efficiency of the draft law and mechanisms for its implementation and the role of the judiciary in the resolution of cases and files referred to it by the Commission, in addition to the expansion of cases and segments covered by the project after the completion of the mandate of the public service.

The proposals also included an assurance that members of the committee to be formed under the draft law will submit declarations on their financial receivables and determine who will submit them.

The draft law on financial disclosure is the first of its kind in Syria after the law of 1958 on `` graft '' and this project is currently the subject of extensive and intensive discussion by all representatives of public bodies, judges and specialists and the expanded committee formed in the Ministry of Administrative Development for consideration and submission in its final form.

Wasim Adawi and Rehab Ali