From January 2020, Kazakhstan has become the 50th member state of the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), the organization said on its website.
GRECO is the Council of Europe anti-corruption body in charge of ensuring compliance with and effective implementation of the Organization’s anti-corruption standards. It helps states to identify deficiencies in national anti-corruption policies, prompting the necessary legislative, institutional and practical reforms.
GRECO member states now comprise the 47 Council of Europe member states, Belarus, Kazakhstan and the United States of America.
Kazakhstan’s accession to GRECO, as well as prospects for cooperation with the Council of Europe, were discussed during the meeting between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and GRECO’s Executive Secretary Gianluca Esposito in Nur-Sultan on January 15, the president’s press service reported.
Tokayev expressed gratitude to the Council of Europe for supporting Kazakhstan’s accession to GRECO and noted the importance of cooperation with this organization in combating corruption.
“We are very much serious in getting involved in the activities of this organization. We believe that this will be very much important in giving additional impetus to our efforts in fighting corruption, as well as other things that are negatively affecting our development,” said Tokayev.
Gianluca Esposito said that cooperation between Kazakhstan and GRECO will be mutually beneficial for both sides.
“Kazakhstan’s membership will not only promote the principles and mechanisms for fighting corruption, but also improve the business climate and improve the sphere of public services,” said the GRECO’s Executive Secretary.
