Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 10-11 September 2020, the final meeting of the 28th Economic and Environmental Forum of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was held in Prague on the topic: “Promoting security, stability and economic growth in the OSCE region by preventing and combating corruption through innovation, transparency and digitalization."

Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Akmal Burkhanov took part in the event as the main speaker from Uzbekistan via videoconference.

The annual final meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum, held annually in Prague, is the main high-level meeting within the Organization’s economic and environmental dimension to stimulate political dialogue and develop recommendations for OSCE participating States on resolving economic and environmental problems.

The Forum was attended by Acting Secretary General, Director of the OSCE Center for Conflict Prevention of the OSCE Tuula Yurjolja, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Tomas Petricek, Acting Minister for European and Foreign Affairs of Albania Gent Čakay, representatives of 57 OSCE participating States and 11 partner countries cooperation, as well as other international organizations.

As part of the meeting, plenary sessions were held, during which event participants discussed the role of digital technologies, good governance and the rule of law in preventing and combating corruption.

During the discussions, it was emphasized that the issues of preventing and combating corruption remain a priority for the OSCE participating States and are relevant for economic development, environmental protection, stability and security.

The Head of the Permanent Chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the OSCE, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Austria Abat Fayzullaev moderated the first session of the meeting on the topic "Preventing and Combating Corruption Using Digital Technologies" and drew the participants’ attention to the experience of Uzbekistan’s government agencies in using digital tools in the field of electronic government management as well as in anti-corruption efforts.

Within the framework of the second session of the Forum on the topic: "Increasing transparency, strengthening the practice of good governance and the rule of law in the interests of preventing and combating corruption", the report of the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Akmal Burkhanov was heard.

They were provided with detailed information on the key reforms and effective measures carried out in recent years in the field of combating and preventing corruption in the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as on the goals, objectives and main areas of activities of the Anti-Corruption Agency.

The main attention is also paid to the issues of improving the organizational and legal mechanisms for combating corruption, increasing the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures, strengthening the legal culture of the population, organizing effective interaction between government agencies and civil society institutions and the media.

In an interview with the Dunyo news agency, the OSCE Economic and Environmental Coordinator, Ambassador Vuk Jugich, noted the importance of this event, which was dedicated to topical issues of combating corruption through the use of digital technologies in the OSCE area:

“I welcome the speech of the representative of Uzbekistan in the work of the forum as the main speaker, where the best practices and experience of Uzbekistan in the fight against this phenomenon were presented.

I express my hope for the continuation of fruitful cooperation with Uzbekistan in this direction, as well as the fact that issues related to the fight against corruption will be one of the key topics of discussion within the OSCE,” V. Jugich noted.