Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Conducts a Conference on Joint Counter -Corruption in Afghanistan Defense and Security Sectors

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Attorney General’s Office (AGO) Conducts a Conference on Joint Counter -Corruption in Afghanistan Defense and Security Sectors

On August 8, 2017, the conference was inaugurated with participation of Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, Second Vice-President, Saranpoh Mohammad Farid Hamidi, Attorney General (AG) of Afghanistan, Tariq Shah Bahrami, Acting Minister of Defense (MoD), Janan Barakzai, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs (MoI), Mohammad Massoum Istanikzai, Director of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), members of cabinet, Deputy Attorney Generals, and other participants in the Presidential Palace.  

At the beginning of the conference, AGO, MoD, MoI, and NDS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) titled Joint Counter-Corruption in Afghanistan Defense and Security Sectors. Based on this MoU, all these four key institutions will jointly and seriously fight corruption within their scope of work.

President Ashraf Ghani said, “we should seriously fight corruption In order to have a better and welfare life.”

He believes, “Fighting corruption is the need of the society.” He said, “National Unity Government was able to prevent tens of embezzlements and it will severely continue in the future.”

Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces informed them about the serious support of the president office for the defense and security forces and stated, “Today is a holy day in Afghanistan’s history for defense, security, justice, and judicial institutes.”

The president expressed his full support on the performance of the AGO and stated, “AGO and courts procedures are fundamentally being changed and signing the Joint Counter Corruption MoU is a symbol of this change.”

AG Hamidi pointed to factors and roots of corruption in defense and security sectors and said, “Identifying and eliminating corruption in defense and security sectors are the major goals of this conference.”

Mr. Hamidi emphasized, “This conference is held to support and improve defense and security forces. He believes, “Conducting this conference and signing Joint Counter Corruption MoU in defense and security sectors will establish a coordinating mechanism and effective cooperation among these institutions.  

Valuing of people’s freedom and institutionalizing it were the other issues that AG Hamidi emphasized on. He talked about observance of law by defense and security entities and added, “Obeying law is improved in these institutions day by day.” The AG Farid said, “Security forces do not commit war crimes under any condition, it shows obeying laws and honest in services of armed forces.”

He praised the honest cooperation of MoD with AGO and said, “We want to develop capacity of defense and security forces by fighting corruption.”

Afterwards, Tariq Shah Bahrami, Acting Minister of Defense talked about serious steps taken to counter corruption in MoD and said, “MoD sent 122 cases of misuse of official authority that include 331 accused to justice and judicial institutions.”

Mr. Bahrami expressed his pleasure on conducting the conference and signing the MoU and said, “Signing the MoU among AGO, defense and security organs not only will bring reform, speed up actions and accuracy in all areas of these organs, but will also prevent corruption in procurement and logistics areas.”

Janan Barakzai, Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs talked on behalf of MoI and said that there is a strong desire in MoI to fight corruption.”

Mr. Barakzai stated, “We will review the database in Human Resources Directorate of MoI in order to prevent existence of ghost solders in MoI. He believes, “Coordination among defense and security, justice, and judicial institutes is one the effective ways to eliminate corruption. He continued, “MoI will register properties of all high ranking officials.”

Mosoom Stanikzai, Director of NDS said, “We can ensure providing their fundamental rights of security forces by seriously fighting corruption.”

This conference continued for two more days. The conference discussed to identify a practical and effective mechanisms to develop anti-corruptions strategy combating corruptions in defense and security organs.