Countering corruption in CIS countries. Minsk served as a forum for ICCC meeting

11.07.2019

The V meeting of the Interstate Council for Countering Corruption takes place in Minsk (hereinafter referred to as ICCC, the Interstate Council). 

The following delegations participate in the event:

• competent authorities of the CIS member states: 

the Republic of Armenia headed by the Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan; 
the Republic of Belarus headed by the Prosecutor General Aleksandr Konuyk; 
the Republic of Kazakhstan headed by the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakstan for Public Service and Countering Corruption Alik Shpeckbaev; 
the Kyrgyz Republic headed by the Prosecutor General Otkurbek Dzhamshitov; 
the Russian Federation headed by the Prosecutor General Yury Chaika;
the Republic of Tajikistan headed by the Director of the Agency for State Financial Control and Combating Corruption 

• The CIS Executive Committee headed by the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee – CIS Executive Secretary Agybay Smagulov. 

Welcome remarks were made by the Chairman of the IACCP Artur Davtyan and other heads of delegations, as well as top officials of the Republic of Belarus – Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus Valery Mitskevich, Chairman of the Supreme Court Valentin Sukalo, Chairman of the Investigation Committee Ivan Noskevich, Chairman of the State Security Committee Valery Vakulchik and Minister of the Interior Yuri Karaev. 

Alexander Konyuk in his address recalled to the participants that the first session of the ICCC attended by only three states representatives –  Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, was held in the same hall of the CIS Executive Committee in 2015. The fact that such a format of cooperation is effective and promising confirmed the accession of Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the Interstate Council. 

“Despite the difficulty of eradicating corruption, it is acknowledged that its level and negative consequences can be minimized by some methods. Each government determines the way of achieving this goal. However, the experience of neighbors and partners is always of great value,” resumed the head of the supervisory authority. 

The cancellation ceremony of labeled envelope by special commemorative stamp in honour of the V session of the Interstate Council has become a memorable moment of the ICCC meeting. 

The participants shall consider ten issues including administrative ones. In particular, the chairmanship is transferred to the Belarusian side in the person of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Konyuk. The co-chairs are the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation Yuri Chaika and the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia Artur Davtyan.

The heads of delegations shall make reports on the practice of fighting corruption in the Interstate Council member states. 

Resuming the outcomes of realization of ICCC previous decisions of July 2, 2018, the Interstate Council will adopt the working plan for the second half of 2019 – the first half of 2020.

Taking into account the wide public response caused by the International Youth Competition of Social Anti-Corruption Advertising “Together against Corruption!”  it is planned to continue the competition in 2019.

The ICCC meeting is held in the spirit of mutual understanding, trust and constructive dialogue. 

The event has already held bilateral meetings of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Belarus Aleksandr Konuyk with the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Public Service and Countering Corruption Alik Shpeckbaev and the Prosecutor General of the Kyrgyz Republic Otkurbek Dzhamshitov. Specific international cooperation issues were discussed in the course of the meetings. 

A press approach was made by Aleksandr Konuyk prior to the event.

Reference. The ICCC is a body of regional cooperation to ensure the organization and coordination of anti-corruption efforts, the implementation of the obligations of the CIS member states in this area and constructive cooperation with international organizations and their structures.

The main form of activity of the ICCC is meetings, which are held as necessary, but at least once a year. Extraordinary meetings may be convened on the initiative of its chairman or on the proposal of at least three members of the Council. 

The agenda of the meeting is formed on the basis of the relevant decisions of the supreme bodies of the CIS, the Council itself and the proposals of the ICCC members. 

Decisions of the ICCC on fundamental issues  are made on the basis of consensus. Any member of the Council may declare his disinterest in a particular issue, which is not an obstacle to the decision, as well as to the accession of this member of the ICCC to the decision in the future.

Photo: Prosecutor General's Office, BelTA, CIS executive committee.

Press-service
Prosecutor General's Office