Berlin / Podgorica, 1 June 2006 – MANS, leading Montenegrin anti-corruption NGO has signed a Partnership Agreement with Transparency International (TI), the global coalition against corruption. TI and MANS will cooperate on projects to combat conflict of interest in the public sector, increase transparency of privatisation processes, and advance freedom of information.

“This kind of partnership is particularly important in a country where there’s been little movement in the political class the last 20 years”, said Vanja Calovic, Executive Director of MANS. “An unreformed police force and judiciary make it difficult if not dangerous for civil society organisations to operate in Montenegro at the moment.”

TI’s active network of close to 100 national chapters will afford MANS a greater degree of stability.

“MANS has already achieved excellent results by raising awareness about corruption in one of the countries which regionally speaking is among the most prone to this problem”, said Catherine Woollard, Programme Manager at TI Secretariat. “This can only be achieved with the help of bold Civil Society Organisations like MANS.” The agreement is vital in addressing the interrelated issues of corruption, poverty, organised crime, economic development and democratisation in this transition state.

Corruption in Montenegro not only threatens a fledgling democracy, it can deepen poverty and widen the gap between rich and poor by misdirecting public resources. Montenegro has the greatest wealth gap in the region according to the 2004 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. While the Government has proclaimed poverty eradication as their primary objective the number of poor has risen recently in spite of an increase in GDP. This indicates that only the richest are benefiting from development, while the poor are getting poorer. In its reports on Montenegro, the World Bank recognises corruption as a significant constraint on growth. It concludes that a modern public administration system characterised by efficient, transparent and non-discretionary processes and has yet to be installed.

To achieve EU accession the rule of law needs to be strengthened further in Montenegro. Links between organised crime and segments of the political and institutional system persist, underlining that the fight against organised crime and corruption represent key challenges for EU integration.

For further information contact:

Conny Abel, Transparency International Secretariat, Media Relations, cabel@transparency.org

Vanja Calovic, The Network for the Affirmation of the NGO Sector – MANS, mans@cg.yu