Transparency International BiH presents report for 2004.

TI stated that the brunt of the responsibility for this situation lies with the parties and individuals in power, but the responsibility of the international community, especially OHR, can also be brought into question.

The institution that entirely or partially performs constitutional, legislative, executive and judicial authority with practically limitless powers should at least accept a part of the responsibility for the situation in BiH.

TI global researches clearly show that BiH is joining the part of the world with uncontrollable corruption and the rule of organised crime.

BiH has dropped from position 70 in 2003 to 82 in 2004 on the list ranking countries from the “cleanest” to the “most corrupt”. Claims on links between political elites and organised crime have also been confirmed which has a negative impact on the business environment and the influx of foreign investments.

At a conference held in Meridil, Mexico, on the occasion of December 9, the International Anti-corruption Day, it was stated that BiH has still not signed the UN Convention on Fighting Corruption. Extremely pessimistic assessments about the situation in BiH were also heard at the conference, including the loss of 1,5 billion KM to corruption, that the state will go bankrupt by 2006, more than 80 million KM ending up in pockets of corrupt individuals because of intransparent public purchase procedures etc.

TI also marked the fourth year of its activities in BiH. In 2005 it will focus its activities on strengthening mechanisms for preventing conflict of interest, freedom of access to information, fighting corruption in education, raising awareness on active participation in the fight against corruption and providing legal assistance to citizens who were damaged by such actions of the authorities.

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