With the participation of 140 parliamentarians and officials from 57 countries, the first world conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE JC) on “Fighting Corruption, shielding it” will take place in Cyprus next Friday and Saturday. Of Democracy “. The OSCE is the only pan-European civilian security organization with a Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian dimension. The world conference is hosted by the Parliament and will take place at the conference center.
The holding of the conference is primarily a great personal success of the AKEL MP Mrs. Irini Charalambidou, who is elected Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Representative against corruption. Ms. Charalambidou played a key role in the decision to hold the first OSCE World Conference on Corruption in the Republic of Cyprus. This is a great success, because in recent years our country is constantly being pointed out abroad as a state in which corruption lives and reigns. Not by accident and not unjustly.
Example to avoid
Our European partners cite the Republic of Cyprus as an example to be avoided after the megaton scandal revealed with the “golden” passports, where every kind of swindler and internationally wanted criminal and fugitive, using stolen and dirty money, acquired the and consequently the rights of the European citizen. Lawyers and accountants, developers and real estate agents in Cyprus who starred in the industry of issuing “golden” passports set up in the back of the state, became millionaires. Who can forget, after all, the mitzokamite of Dimitris Syllouris, who, between cheese and & # 8230; at the home of former AKEL MP Christakis Tziovannis, explained to an Al Jazeera reporter how he would use his position and power to obtain a “gold” passport from a person who did not meet the legal requirements for “gold” passport. The video led to the resignation of the second official of the Republic of Cyprus and was the reason for the Republic to be known around the world as a corrupt and banana country. Hence the expression: “This is Cyprus…”.
They do not believe us…
A few times government and elected officials participating in European fora, as well as our MEPs, found themselves in a difficult position when the discussions ended with the projects, the days and the role of President Anastasiadis in the “golden” passports. Only laughter and irony in the foreign media is caused by the government's narrative, that President Anastasiadis has nothing to do with the law firm that bears his name, with his daughters as shareholders, and which processed some 60 applications for “golden” passports that approved by the Council of Ministers of Mr. Anastasiadis. How can they convince Europe that our President is innocent and immaculate and a monster of morality when it is revealed that he used free private planes of friends and Russian oligarchs for family vacations in the Seychelles or for business trips? How will our European partners be convinced that numbers and statistics are unfair to us, when they place us in the group of countries that have recorded a significant deterioration in their position in the last ten years in matters of corruption, when even the “golden” passports were involved? the Archbishop? What to say and be believed? After all, everything is recorded in the multi-page report of the Research Committee on “golden” passports, which was thoroughly studied and extensively analyzed and promoted by foreign media. The documents and testimonies that were obtained, confirm the intervention of His Beatitude to the Anastasiadis government for the granting of at least 11 “golden” passports to investors and alleged investors with a rich criminal record. The 11 include the well-known swindler around the world Joe Lowe. According to the conclusion of the Research Committee, in all 11 cases the Archbishop's motive was the financial benefit.
The last broadcast of Cyprus was on Italian state television. The popular show “REPORT” on RAI3 aired a report on 4/5/2022 about the opacity that prevails and the “immunity” enjoyed by Russian oligarchs in our country who are friends with President Anastasiadis. Special mention was made of the law firm that bears his name and the “golden” passports obtained by Russian millionaires served by legal and other entities in Cyprus.
One could well claim between serious and funny that the OSCE chose the Republic of Cyprus to hold its first world anti-corruption conference, wanting to send a very clear message to those in power and those in power in this place, to the party leaders. and mandarins of ministries that meritocracy, good governance and the rule of law must finally be consolidated in this place, and that transparency and public accountability must be strengthened. And of course, to close the huge gap that separates politics and politicians from ethics.
Three thematic units
The conference will have three thematic sections, focusing on the contribution of national parliaments in the fight against corruption, the role of independent institutions and the media, and the discussion of new practices that can contribute to the effective promotion of transparency and accountability. Speaking at a recent conference on the subject, Parliament Speaker Annita Dimitriou noted that the hosting of the OSCE PA conference was immediately accepted by Parliament, “as the fight against corruption at all levels and the strengthening of transparency and accountability are enduring policy goals that have been institutionally prioritized as high priorities. ” The conference, he said, will facilitate the establishment of the necessary synergies with other Parliaments and relevant international organizations, “with a view to further strengthening the protection network of our citizens.”
Charalambidou stated that the conference “provides us with the opportunity to highlight the image of Cyprus that we envision, free from corrupt practices that plunder our national wealth and undermine democracy.” The unfortunate thing is that this place wants to be ruled by people without a vision, who promise to take the country forward, giving us unfulfilled promises stolen (copy-paste) from the distant past.
< em> * Because the little ones also matter: The 140 delegates who will come to Cyprus from Europe, America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, will participate in the conference at their own expense, which includes tickets and accommodation at a hotel in Nicosia.
