د.ئه‌حمه‌د ئه‌نوه‌ر: كوردستان قۆناغى داننان به‌ گه‌نده‌ڵى تێپه‌ڕاندووه‌ و ئێستا له‌ قۆناغى رووبه‌ڕووبوونە‌وه‌یه‌

On Thursday 9/12/2021 commemoration of anti-corruption day in Kurdistan region, commission of integrity implemented a ceremony.

In the ceremony Dr. Hemen Hawrami deputy of the head of Kurdistan parliament, Dr. Ahmed Anwar chairman of commission, some of members of UNDP organization and members of European Union were present.

In the beginning of the ceremony, Dr. Ahmed Anwar chairman of commission of integrity of Kurdistan region presented a speech and stated specifying this date for Anti-Corruption by United Nations.

He also stated, organization of transparency international considered that anything from public asset which used for personal interest is corruption and also international bank defines corruption as personal interest.

Chairman of commission of integrity of Kurdistan region ensured that corruption was defined by the laws and now we want to put a complete definition for corruption.

He complained about, after 2003 corruption in Iraq widely spread and became a destruction of the country, terrorism and many negative reason which lead to social problem.

Dr. Ahmed Anwar also stated that Kurdistan went through the stage of admitting corruption now is confronting it especially in this cabinet of government which is their main duty.

Later on a panel about the strategy of Anti-Corruption took place which the strategy and the ways of activating it were presented.

:The content of Dr. Ahmed's speech
Ladies and Gentlemen….
The deputy of the head of Kurdistan parliament, ministers, members of European Union, UNDP, consultants, general directors, media and guests
On behalf of commission of integrity of Kurdistan region welcome you for commemoration of Anti-Corruption day, which was specified by United Nations.
After implementation of the agreement of United Nations for Anti-Corruption many countries declared their membership in it.

There are (160) countries that have membership in the agreement with the great effort of United Nations after corruption crimes passed country boarders.
Iraq accepted this agreement with a law back in 8/12/2007 and now became a part of Iraqi system and local law and all authorities are bounded with it including Kurdistan region.
Famous institutions like transparency international organization and international bank defined corruption as (misusing authority and public asset for personal interest)
Also international bank defines as (corruption is using public duty for personal interest).
The law of corruption defined as:
Corruption crimes: means each crime from the article (233-234-271-272-275-276-293-296) of Iraqi punishment law number (111) of 1969, breaching crimes for duties of public duty, which contains, bribery, embazelment and employees misusing their role from their duties, money laundry (getting those assets that achieved from crimes or corruption) each crimes from severe situations in parts of (fifth-sixth-seventh) in the article number (135) of Iraqi punishment law amended with an arranged published la from judgment council with united authority number (55) of 2004.
All those definitions have their own flaws according to us it needs more specific definitions by amending the law of commission of integrity in Kurdistan region in future.
In Iraq after 2003 corruption spread widely hundreds billion of dollars wasted from public asset which was supposed to serve citizens in all service sectors.
This became a main reason for instability and weakening country appearing terrorism and social problems etc…..
We many times ensured that corruption is worse that terrorism because it destroys the trust between authority and citizens also social problems.
In Kurdistan region in addition to construction and service process which is in a good level from other parts of Iraq but corruption is still a threat on stabilizing and developing more economy in all service sectors and continuously in all election attempts previously a huge length from political program in all political parties was devote for corruption issue which means Kurdistan went through from admitting corruption now is in the process of confronting it still is not enough and the process goes slowly, the reform process in Kurdistan region takes place in public sector especially in this cabinet of government which became a main part of its duty, but reform issue and anti-corruption are related to each other and cannot be divided which means both issue must be worked on together.
The only way of returning the trust of the citizens to the official intuitions is widening the reform process and anti-corruption in a way that conclude all authorities and institutions we in commission of integrity prepared the national strategy of Anti-corruption for this purpose and presented to the council of ministries after many discussions the strategy was accepted in 29/9/2021.
Has a clear map for reform in all authorities and institutions and in near future after its publishing in (Waqqai Kurdistan) an official newspaper will be implemented and its commission's duty to observe and follow up for implementation of this strategy for (2021-2025).
Ladies and gentlemen…
The process of anti-corruption is a wholesome process and cannot be implemented with one institutions all institutions must cooperate this process.
Successful examination of world especially in some countries of East Asia like (Singapore and Malaysia) tell us that strong observational institutions like (Integrity, board of supreme audit, a strong district with having an active parliament and local observation from government I all institutions) is the main reason in this success.
In Anti-Corruption process building observational institutions on the basis of (Loyalty, Integrity and neutrality) are an important condition of succession of those intuitions in their duties.
Commission of integrity after starting its work back in 2014 with little material in incorporeal ability worked on subjects step by step according to the law such as in the field of transparency by publishing guideline about disclosing assets and commission's first duty was distributing the form of disclosing assets continuously for all different posts which was highlighted by the law and following up those form later on.
Many investigations were made on public work sector back in (2015-2016) which later on became a part of reform law.
In investigation field with minimum ability with the support of justice council started to work on corruption cases, many cases were investigated annually and send to court later on.
Another weak point of investigation issue is having a little amount of investigators, material needs and special court for corruption cases.
Commission of integrity is the first anti-corruption institute that has no authority for employing integrity investigators in law number (3) of 2011 and not in amendment law back in 2014; in 2019 we send another amendment law to parliament but after a year and half and their study on it they send back the law so as to study on it more.
We consider Following up reform law in this cabinet of government successful.
Commission as an observational institution participated in formulating the content of the law with its suggestion and projects, we actively observe and implementing the law by many observational committee in all Kurdistan and we visit institutions so as to make sure the law is implemented, we consider cooperation and negotiation between institutions important for developing the implementation of the law.
Related field with international institutions, I would like to thank (UNDP) organization for being with commission since the beginning commission started to work.
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This year a four year long project with cooperation of European Union about anti-corruption which commission of integrity has an active role in it.
Also there is another project coming with (UNDP) through ministry of foreign relations of America for strengthening the ability of investigators in financial crime field such as (money laundering) which takes two years.
There is also another project with the cooperation of international bank in the frame of the projects of European Union which will be implemented next year.
We appreciate the cooperation from European Union, United States of America and UNDP in corruption field.
Kurdistan region fought against terrorism with the help of concurrence and sacrificed many and achieved success, we think that confronting corruption and anti-corruption also needs cooperation from concurrence but the difficult part of this fight is our responsibility so as to govern well and serve more citizens.