U.S. supports anti-corruption initiative

TIRANA, March 14 – Vying to assist with one of Albania’s toughest problems, the U.S. Embassy in Tirana has offered to support several programs that help Albanian authorities and people deal with corruption.
Last week, as part of the social awareness campaign of the Joint Investigative Units (JIU) of the Prosecutor General’s Office, branded Kund쳳htoj Korrupsionin (I oppose corruption), a meeting was held to encourage the people to oppose and report corruption.
Part of the campaign focuses on Albania’s young people. JIU officers in seven cities around the country are visiting 10th grade classrooms to talk to students about corruption.
The U.S. Embassy said it believes that having prosecutors discuss issues of corruption directly with students will increase trust between law enforcement and the community, as well as prompt the students to consider their own role and responsibility in Albania’s fight against corruption.
JIU prosecutors have been visiting public high school students in Tirana, Shkod첬 Durr쳬 Fier, Vlor묠Gjirokast첬 and Kor諠since last December. At the conclusion of the presentations, the officers invite the 10th grade students to enter a poster competition sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Tirana.
The Tirana JIU began their presentation series in February.
The prosecutors are speaking on the theme “Corruption Hurts Us All.” In addition, a short public service announcement on the theme of corruption has been developed by the U.S. Embassy and EDS Foundation, as part of the social awareness campaign.