The government is working hard to reform state institutions in which corruption has been so rampant over the years that it has become institutionalized, forming part of a general culture, said Prime Minister Essam Sharaf on Sunday. The prime minister was speaking at the opening day of an international forum titled "Pathways of Democratic Transitions", a two-day event organized by the United Nations Development Programme, and aimed at exploring the experiences of several nations that have undergone a transition to democracy in recent years. In his speech on the opening day, Sharaf said that corruption on the part of individuals is dealt with by the judicial system but that institutional corruption is more difficult to stamp out. He went on to say that Egypt is currently going through the initial stages of democratic transition, with all the difficulties and setbacks that come with making such changes after a long history of the suppression of rights. He added that the government was working hard to build sound methods of governance, so as to rule Egypt in a way that would transform its citizen's lives. “It's about time that civil institutions were given the chance to play their role of managing the country's affairs and to work as a direct link between state institutions and all citizens,” said Sharaf. Sharaf said that citizens were now facing a number of challenges, including thuggery, sectarian sedition, the breakdown of security, labor strikes and the meeting of basic needs. He added that Egypt was resorting to international experts to rebuild the security system, dealing with thuggery, the creation of job opportunities and developing state institutions. In a press statement following the forum, Sharaf said the aim of his visits abroad was not to receive financial contributions from the countries he visits but rather to clarify Egypt's new situation following the 25 January revolution, as well as to improve former policies and build a new society based on transparency, work and technology. Translated from the Arabic Edition
