the former Yugoslav Republic of MACEDONIA

Skopje, Friday 22 June: The mayors of twelve municipalities (Veles, Gostivar, Strumica, Kavadarci, Gevgelija, Kocani, Debar, Sveti Nikole, Kratovo, Petrovec, Brvenica and Aerodrom) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption and UNDP, committing to introduce integrity systems in their municipalities.

In the next months, they will be working together to identify how to further advance and promote the principles of transparency, accountability and professionalism.

 
“In many countries across the world, the introduction of integrity systems has proven to be a powerful weapon in the fight against corruption. Adopting an integrity system means aspiring to maintaining highest level of ethical standards and committing to abide by the principles of transparency, accountability and openness to the citizens”, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Alessandro Fracassetti said.

UNDP, the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption and the Association of Local Self Government Units (ZELS)congratulated the mayors of the twelve municipalities for showing leadership and giving a clear signal that for their local governments, fighting corruption and building a transparent and corruption free local administration is a top priority.

The President of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, Ljubinka Koraboska believes that “this innovative initiative has the potential to inspire and embrace more leaders and become a standard practice across the country”.

 
The plan of the State Commission is to pioneer this innovative initiative to soon become standard policy and practice across all central and local level institutions.

 
Mayor of Veles, Goran Petrovsaid that the municipality of Veles has been and will continue to be active in fighting corruption at local level and that ‘with the support of UNDP and national partners provided over the past years, it has created the first ever local action plan for fight against corruption in the country, involving members of the municipal council, associations of citizens, representatives of the business sector, media and local communities”.

 
This activity is part of a newly started project titled ‘Strengthening the National and Local Integrity Systems’, funded by the Government of Norway, which will be implemented in the next two years by UNDP in partnership with the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption, the Association of Local Self Government Units (ZELS) and supported by the Ministry of Information Society and Administration.

 
Its main objective is to help the citizens get an easy, friendly, equitable and corruption-free access to services provided by central and local level institutions. This initiative also addresses the country’s commitment to fight corruption in the framework of the EU accession process.