KABUL - The European Union Delegation in Afghanistan on Saturday announced the launch of a seven-week campaign against corruption in the war-torn country.
The campaign, which will culminate in a high-level conference in early May, will help the Afghans combat graft and seek to mobilise support for government action against the scourge.
In a statement, the EU Delegation said Afghanistan's endemic corruption was crippling the economy, undermining the fight against the insurgency and threatening past achievements and investments.
The campaign will focus on four themes: Corruption and Peace; corruption in the judicial sector; natural resources and stability – the threat of illegal mining; and Public action against graft.
EU Special Representative Ambassador Franz-Michael Melbin said: "Every day ordinary Afghans are confronted with corruption's dark shadow that fills the pockets of the rich while the poor suffer.
“It undermines the Afghan people's hard-won achievements over the last 14 years, and it is a primary threat to the sustainability and survivability of the Afghan state,” he added.
The Afghan government could and should do more, the diplomat believed, asking every Afghan to take personal responsibility for eradicating the menace of corruption.
Melbin said: "In a year where the international community is considering its future support to Afghanistan, there is an urgent need to show progress on the government's anti-corruption efforts…” (Pajhwok)