Media Statement of the Minister of State for Local Issues, Bledi Çuçi:
Hello!
I’m here to share with you and the citizens the good news that the government reforms continue to yield results in the eradication of corruption in Albania and, therefore, confidence of the citizens in the state institutions continues to increase.
Transparency International’s published today a report on corruption perception index for 2016. In this report, Albania is ranked 83rd out 176 countries that were reviewed. This means that the perception of citizens about corruption in Albania has declined very significantly in these three years of our governance: From 116th it was in 2013, Albania was ranked 83rd in 2016, thus improving its position by 33 places, including an increase by 5 places in the report of a year ago. In our region, we are ahead of Macedonia and Kosovo.
Fight against corruption is a long one, and a strategic priority for our government. We are very aware that we have still much to do. But very encouraging results documented by Transparency International show that the Albanian government’s commitment to eradicate corruption, and the approach we have chosen to win this war are working.
In these three years of government, we have undertaken major reforms such as the reform of public services and the administrative-territorial reform, with an aim at modernizing the state and, therefore, narrowing the space for corruption.
Also, we have designed and implemented an ambitious program to fight against corruption, by giving you, the citizens, above all concrete opportunities to contribute to the prevention and reporting of corruption cases.
As you know, the government had to make this fight against corruption as someone who fights with one hand tied behind his back. Unfortunately, in these three years of our government, the justice system has not cooperated seriously and with all the forces in its efforts to punish corruption in Albania.
Therefore, the implementation of the judicial reform is a historical necessity to consolidate the achievements of these last three years in the fight against corruption and to end impunity for all those who engage in corrupt practices. In particular, the creation of the Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor’s Office and of the National Bureau of Investigation will drastically increase the striking force of the state against corruption.
Thank you!
