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Prime Minister issues decree for insuring transparency of government

July 22, 2013
 
Nata Dzvelishvili, www.media.ge 

Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili issued a decree on actions to be taken for implementing the action for the Open Governance Partnership (OGP). 

OGP is the initiative of US President Barak Obama and it provides for introduction of new standards of openness, transparency and citizen involvement by using modern technologies.  Georgia joined President Obama’s initiative in 2011 and took obligations.  Forum of NGOs monitors the process of fulfillment of these obligations.  The Forum presented recommendations in relation to the action plan to Prime Minister back on 5 February. 

Bidzina Ivanishvili issued the coinciding decree 9 July.  The decree sets list of actions to be taken for insuring achievement of OGP goals.  Namely, Ministry of Justice of Georgia, by coordination from the Anti-Corruption Interagency Coordination Council Secretariat (Analytical Department of the Ministry of Justice), by participation of representatives of governmental bodies and civil society and by considering recommendations from NGOs and international organizations, to before 1 August 2013 develop and present to Georgian government: 

a) Draft list of public information to be published proactively;
b) Viewpoints on actions necessary for implementing proactive publication and electronic issuing of public information;
c) Renewed action plan for Open Governance Partnership;
d) Viewpoints on mechanisms necessary for citizen involvement in the process of work of central and local governments and decision making;
e) Recommendations for improving legislative mechanisms for availability of public information. 
By the same decree the Ministry of Finance of Georgia has been ordered to in cooperation with civil society, present to Georgian Government recommendations for insuring transparency of public finances before 1 September 2013, including budget planning and development of effective system for informing the public about budget implementation. 

Also before 1 September the Anti-Corruption Interagency Coordination Council must develop the draft extensive list of officials falling under obligatory declaration, opinions on insuring of effective monitoring of property declarations of officials. 

By the same decree the State Competition and Procurement Agency is obliged to present to Government recommendations for improvement of electronic system of procurement, including the issue of insuring perfection and transparency of the process of procurement to be conducted from Georgian President’s, Georgian Government’s and Tbilisi Municipality reserve funds. 

Government of Georgia will monitor the fulfillment of the given decree of the Prime Minister and the Ant-Corruption Interagency Coordination Council will submit the general report to the Government. 
NGOs that have been actively involved in the process are quite satisfied. 

“By the given decree has been openly expressed support to OGP principles and to open and transparent governance.  It is important that the process has been taken under control of the Prime Minister,” Giorgi Kldiashvili, Director of the Institute of Development of Freedom of Information told media.ge.  

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