By Hani Hazaimeh

AMMAN - Raising the public awareness on the social and economic impact of wasta, bribery and corruption patterns is a major component in efforts to fight corruption in the coming four years, officials said.

Publicising the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the years 2008-2012 on Wednesday, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) staged a focus-group discussion of the plan, where experts also agreed that the media can play a vital role in fighting the phenomenon.

The strategy highlights means to fight corruption practices and increase the efficiency of relevant anti- corruption authorities.

Minister of Justice Ayman Odeh opened the workshop on behalf of Prime Minister Nader Dahabi.

Addressing the participants, ACC’s Chief Commissioner Abed Shakhanbeh said the strategy is designed to enhance people’s confidence in public institutions through working out effective means to contain corruption, which, he said, poses an obstacle in the way of economic development and good governance.

"Fighting corruption and enhancing the principles of integrity increase confidence in national and public institutions," Shakhanbeh said during the conference, which was attended by public and private sector representatives.

He called on all stakeholders to contribute to the fight against corruption and help increase the public awareness on its negative impact on political, economic and social development.

A former minister and an international anti-corruption expert, Muhyiddine Touq said a successful anti-corruption strategy must be based on several elements such as law enforcement, and corruption criminalisation and prevention.

"In order to ensure its success, there should be an independent and honest judicial system and a strong legislative authority that truly represents the public, in addition to an effective, clean and competent executive authority," Touq said, adding that combating corruption needs strong and firm measures and sufficient human and financial resources.

Corruption is a socio-economic, cultural, administrative and political problem that requires a strategy based on a comprehensive vision linking between anti-corruption measures and political reform policies, he added.

A consultant for the European Union, Claus Heiberg, said the team of experts who prepared the strategy found that corruption in the Kingdom is still below critical levels, adding that "Parliament, the media and the civic community institutions are the safeguard against corruption".

The strategy, which covers three main components, was prepared by the ACC in coordination with the Planning Ministry and the EU, which provided the commission with experts specialised in the field.

The aspects covered include upgrading ACC potentials, strengthening corruption prevention and education and training of concerned employees, in addition to increasing the public awareness on the importance of implementing the law.