Press release
LJUBLJANA/VIENNA, 8. July 2020 – Directors of the International Institute for Middle-East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES)[1]Assist. Prof. Dr. Zijad Bećirović and Bakhatyar Aljaf, accompanied by the Head of the permanent mission of IFIMES in Austria and at international organizations based in Vienna, Prof. Dr. Anis H. Bajrektarević, visited the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna and talked with the Dean and Executive Secretary of the IACA, Ambassador Thomas Stelzer.
Photo Ifimes: Bakhatyar Aljaf (left)), Thomas Stelzer and Zijad Bećirović
The directors of the institute presented to Ambassador Stelzer the activities of the institute in the regions of the Balkans and the Middle East, with special emphasis on the fight against crime and corruption, and presented the activities in that field for the coming period. The Western Balkans region is going through a difficult period of mutual tensions and numerous uncertainties, which could threaten fragile peace and long-term stability.
Photo Ifimes: Tomas Stelzer (left) and Zijad Bećirović
Ambassador Stelzer presented the main priorities of the IACA in the coming period and suggested that IACA and IFIMES jointly organize an event dedicated to the fight against corruption and that they soon sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoU), which was accepted by the IFIMES delegation.
The IFIMES delegation invited Ambassador Stelzer to give a lecture at the institute soon, which he gladly accepted.
Photo Ifimes: IFIMES Delegation with IACA Team
At the end they all agreed that the fight against corruption and raising awareness for the fight against corruption has no alternative, while respecting the high international standards in terms of human rights.
Ljubljana/Vienna, 8. July 2020
Footnotes:
[1] IFIMES – International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies, based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, has Special Consultative status at ECOSOC/UN, New York, since 2018.
