{"title": "U.S., Bulgaria Sign New Anti-corruption Initiative","content": "<div class='descr'>Source: Washington File (3-year, $6.8 million program designed to improve accountability)The United States and Bulgaria have agreed to cooperate on a newanti-corruption initiative that is expected to improve the capacity ofthe Bulgarian government to investigate corruption and the ability ofnon-governmental organizations (NGOs) to review government activities.The agreement was signed April 24 by U.S. Agency for InternationalDevelopment (USAID) Administrator Andrew S. Natsios and BulgarianPrime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha during the prime minister'svisit to Washington.The anti-corruption initiative is a three-year, $6.8 million program.Following is a USAID press release with more details:(begin text)U.S. Agency for International DevelopmentWashington, D.C.www.usaid.govApril 24, 2002PRIME MINISTER OF BULGARIA AND USAID ADMINISTRATOR AGREE TO LAUNCH'OPEN GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE'Washington, D.C. -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gothaand U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) AdministratorAndrew S. Natsios signed an agreement today to cooperate on a newanti-corruption initiative. The three-year, $6.8 million program willimprove accountability mechanisms and the investigative capacity ofgovernment institutions, as well as support non-governmentalorganizations' (NGOs) review of government activities.Administrator Natsios remarked, 'corruption is a fundamental enemy ofreforms and development. We applaud the closer cooperation between thepublic and private sectors in Bulgaria and the Bulgarian government'santi-corruption strategy.'The first goal of the Open Government Initiative is to increasetransparency and reduce opportunities for corruption in publicadministration. USAID will provide technical and in-kind assistance tothe Bulgarian government's anti-corruption efforts, particularly thoseof the National Audit Office of the Republic of Bulgaria and thePublic Procurement Directorate of the Council of Ministers.The second goal of the Open Government Initiative is to foster civilsociety's efforts to promote transparency, accountability andawareness of corruption through work with Coalition 2000, a well-knownpartnership of a number of Bulgarian NGOs aimed at combatingcorruption through a collaborative process with governmentinstitutions, media and the private sector.At the end of three years, the activities undertaken will result ingreater transparency and accountability among target Bulgariangovernment institutions, increased public awareness of corruption, andgreater activism among civic groups to raise the standard againstwhich governmental conduct is measured.The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economicand humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.</div>"}