Corruption next in Georgian cleanup

Though Saakahvilli's anticorruption campaign is off to a rousing start, a transparent process is essential to avoid the perception of political or personal motivation. (Russian President Vladimir Putin is using the fight against corruption as a way of jailing and intimidating potential political opponents.) Georgia's new government must take a long-term approach, emphasizing measures to strengthen institutions in the accountability framework.

To this end, the anticorruption campaign should be integrated into the World Bank's overall country assistance strategy with the goal of strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission and its Coordinating Council. Adequate resources should be provided to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and, to ensure transparency, funding should be appropriated directly by the parliament and not the Finance Ministry. The national parliament, which has been particularly effective in exposing corruption and raising public awareness through public hearings, should continue its efforts, with emphasis on strengthening state audit procedures and harmonizing key legislation and regulations. Persons of the highest ability should be appointed independent of political considerations to spearhead the anticorruption campaign.

Georgia's large and dynamic civil society is one of the country's greatest assets. The government should emphasize effective community participation by those nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with a reputation for integrity, who should evaluate the performance of government officials, monitor expenditures, and publish irregularities. Government audits should be publicized, using information technologies and an independent media.

Today, Georgians expect more from their government. Fed up with corrupt officials with whom they interact daily, from the corner policeman to the utility agent, they want Saakashvili to downsize the bloated bureaucracy and tackle patronage by enforcing the meritocracy principle.

To restore public confidence, Saakashvili must take steps to replenish the national treasury by collecting taxes and enforcing customs. Indigenous economic activity and foreign direct investment will remain stagnant until the new government improves the regulatory environment and streamlines licensing procedures, which have been a cash cow for corrupt officials.

Georgia's Rose Revolution is the most positive event to occur in the post-Soviet space in more than a decade. It represents a victory for liberal democracy over cynicism. The current euphoria will be short-lived, however, unless the new government is able to improve governance and crack down on corruption. Georgians can not be passive participants; Saakashvili needs their active participation to make Georgia a viable state.

• David Phillips is a senior fellow and deputy director of the Center for Preventive Action at the Council on Foreign Relations.

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