In the economic dimension, we had an interesting exchange of views on how the OSCE might enhance its activities and bring its unique security perspective and focus on institution building to our work in the economic and environmental areas. We have proposed ideas to bolster public participation and NGO-capacity building. A common thread that ran through every area of review was corruption. Corruption is a challenge in every human activity where government interacts with its citizens. No aspect of the security, economic, or human dimension escapes it.
Corruption challenges the popular legitimacy of democratic institutions.
It feeds instability and the violence that grows from it. Corruption invariably accompanies illicit traffic in arms. It is the handmaiden of terrorism, buying safety for those who pursue violence and protection from prosecution and extradition. Corruption not only deters foreign and domestic investment, it fuels capital flight and it robs labor and business from the rightful fruit of their effort. It fuels environmental degradation.