Diplomats discuss corruption issues at Sziget festival

Budapest, August 13 (MTI) – Diplomats of several western countries noted the grave social and economic consequences of corruption at a press conference held at the Sziget festival on Thursday.

Senior embassy staff of France, the Netherlands and Great Britain discussed the importance of fighting corruption at a press conference organised by Transparency International Hungary.

Gajus Scheltema, the Dutch Ambassador to Hungary, said corruption was one of the most serious of negative phenomena undermining society, and the only way it can be fought against is through a good legal system and a transparent media which uncovers abuses.

Anne-Marie Maskay, First Counsellor at the French Embassy, noted there were lesser known connections between corruption and climate change. She added it was crucial that young people are educated about the dangers of corruption.

Peter Jozsef Martin, chief executive of TI Hungary, cited a survey according to which 80 percent of Hungarian youth believed it was impossible to get ahead without resorting to corruption. He also noted that Hungary fares below the EU average on corruption surveys.

Adam Kettle-Williams, Deputy Head of Mission at the British embassy, said corruption increases the risk of a crisis and weighs down the economy, too.

Balazs Weyer, co-founder of the investigative news portal Direkt36, said the Hungarian media is reporting less and less about corruption due to the risks and costs involved. Moreover, media outlets are often linked to financing through graft, he added.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters