ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE REVIEWED AT UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR IN GREECE, COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY PLEDGED
Press Release
DEV/2176
ETHICS IN PUBLIC SERVICE REVIEWED AT UNITED NATIONS SEMINAR IN GREECE, COMMITMENT TO ACCOUNTABILITY PLEDGED
19971121 Senior Government Officials from Central and Eastern Europe Discuss Professionalism and Values in Changing EnvironmentNEW YORK, 21 November (DESA) -- A conference on ethics in public service, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), ended yesterday in Thessaloniki, Greece.
Its major outcomes were summarized by the moderator as, "Commitment to transparency, accountability and openness; commitment to the rule of law and to combating corruption, as well as hidden agendas; emphasis on human resources development and creativity in overcoming obstacles to build a better future for the countries in the region."
The overall theme of the four-day conference was "Public Service in Transition: Enhancing its Role, Professionalism, Ethical Standards and Values". It brought together senior government officials from 20 Member States from central and eastern Europe, including several Ministers of Public Administration, Internal Affairs, and Justice. Representatives of all major international organizations with activities in the region were also present.
The Conference was arranged by the Division of Governance, Public Administration and Finance of DESA, and co-sponsored by the Government of Greece and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
The Conference explored the changing role of the State and the consequent need to reform the public service for new strategic tasks in a complex environment, often turbulent but challenging, which is marked by globalization, fast technological progress, and a diversified, increasingly proactive and vocal civil society. It provided a forum for exchange, and an opportunity for the sharing of information, experiences and lessons learned, as well as the exploration of strategies for cooperation on common concerns and challenges. A number of top specialists on ethics and the public service from several parts of the world opened the discussions, which produced candid exchanges and a wealth of new ideas for national and regional approaches to improving public service professionalism.
- 2 - Press Release DEV/2176 21 November 1997
At a gala dinner on Monday, 17 November, Costas Simitis, Prime Minister of Greece, and United Nations Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Petrovsky, addressed an audience of more than 200 people. Both emphasized the important role of the State and the value of professionalism and ethics as critical components of civil service reform and modernization. They also stressed the need for systematic follow-up actions.
Prime Minister Simitis suggested that his Government would be happy to support the establishment of a regional facility in Thessaloniki, whose goals would be to foster the global exchange and dissemination of information on new creative thinking, best practices and ideas on governance, public administration and finance. He hoped this would contribute to the enhancement of professionalism in government, to sustainable development, peace and cooperation in the region.
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