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No society is immune to corruption, one of the important issues being the individual struggle of citizens against this phenomenon, US Ambassador in Bucharest Hans Klemm said on Thursday.
The US diplomat was part of the jury of "NO CORRUPTION" speech contest, launched by the US Embassy. The final of the competition, which took place on Thursday, was attended by eight students from across the country.
Prior to the contest, the US ambassador spoke about the support the United States grants Romania, with regard to the anti-corruption fight, included.
Since the fall of communism, the United States has been an active partner, alongside Romania - even before the establishment of the Strategic Partnership - in terms of supporting, developing and consolidating the Romanian institutions of a democratic governing. These things are based on the values specified in the North Atlantic Treaty, the values of democracy, liberty, rule of law, the diplomat said.
He stressed that there are no societies immune to the phenomenon of corruption.
The anti-corruption is an effort made in any country in the world, including in the United States. No society is immune to this, no country is immune, he pointed out.
Hans Klemm highlighted, in this context, some elements needed in the anti-corruption fight - a strong judicial system and a solid work of prosecutors.
After the students in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca and Targu Mures presented their speeches, the jury which beside Hans Klemm, was also made up of Bogdan Petrache from Mega Company and Analbela Costache from Funky Citizens, decided the winners.
The first place went to Abigail-Florina Dan from Cluj-Napoca. In her speech, she talked about the way in which corruption entered the daily life of Romanians during communism, but also about individual choices in the anti-corruption fight. The second and third place were occupied by Luiza-Maria Iordache, a student in Bucharest, and Mihaela-Simona Zegreanu, student in Targu Mures.
