On the eve of the International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December), at the invitation of the Macedonian Center for International Cooperation (MCIC) Auditor General Maksim Acevski was a panelist in the "Open Anti-Corruption Forum" implemented as part of the programs "Citizens Against Corruption" supported by USAID and the Regional Anti-Corruption Network (SELDI) supported by the European Union.
In the panel discussion titled Have we fulfilled the promises on fight against corruption?" Auditor General emphasized the results and added value of SAO operation before the audience and expressed contentment that he is managing an institution where employees possess high level of professionalism, responsibility and integrity.
In addition, Auditor General pointed out that it is high time to finally recognize and praise the success stories in the system of prevention and fight against corruption without generalization. SAO as a supreme audit institution will strive with maximum efforts to contribute to the creation of quality and efficient control environment by identifying shortcomings in final audit reports.
The anti-corruption forum was opened by the President, Mr. Stevo Pendarovski, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia, Mr. David Geer, and USAID General Development Office Director, Ms. Dawn Carmin, followed by a presentation by MCIC Director Mr. Aleksandar Krzhalovski on the key findings of the Corruption Assessment Report.
On the second day of the Open Forum, within the panel discussion on the topic What is the price of the fight against corruption? Auditor General stated that SAO is one of the few institutions in the country that transparently informs on the support from donors in its Annual Report. SAO publishes information on donor project activities that cover different areas without overlapping of activities, and regularly informs about the activities and meetings with the diplomatic corps in the country and the EU Delegation in Skopje.
The event was attended by numerous representatives of competent institutions involved in the prevention and fight against corruption, representatives of civil society organizations that are members of the Anti-Corruption Platform, as well as representatives of domestic and international organizations and the media.
