President determined to tackle corruption

President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades stressed the government's determination to decisively tackle corruption, promote transparency and accountability and consolidate the rule of law, in a meeting on Thursday with the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Margareta Cederfelt, at the Presidential Palace.

According to a Presidency statement, President Anastasiades informed Cederfelt of the policies implemented by the Republic of Cyprus to tackle corruption, stressing that the government is strengthening its zero-tolerance policy by taking measures, formulating legislation to prevent and combat the phenomenon and developing a National Anti-Corruption Strategy, in the framework of the implementation of a coherent and comprehensive anti-corruption plan.

In addition, the President said that through the adoption of laws and reforms promoted in the House of Representatives, such as the establishment of the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority, the legislative framework for fighting corruption is being strengthened.

It is also noted that the President of the Republic briefed Cederfelt on Turkish provocations, as well as on the initiatives undertaken by the President of the Republic for the resumption of substantive negotiations for the resolution of the Cyprus problem, while they exchanged views on the situation unfolding after the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impact on the global economy.

There was also a reference to the instrumentalization of the migration issue by Turkey, with the President of the Republic highlighting the magnitude of the problem Cyprus is facing, noting that the Republic of Cyprus complies with all its obligations as a member of the OSCE, while he also praised the organization's contribution in ensuring conditions of lasting peace and the development of cooperation between its member states.

Finally, the President of the Republic congratulated the Vice President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Special Representative for the fight against corruption, Irene Charalambidou, for her initiative to organize an OSCE PA International Anti-Corruption Conference in Cyprus.