pa rt II Democratic Institutions 2.3.6 Promoting Transparency, Combating Corruption, and Improving the Management of Public Resources Istanbul 1999 (Charter for European Security: III. Our Common Response) 33. We reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law. We recognize that corruption poses a great threat to the OSCE’s shared values. It generates instability and reaches into many aspects of the security, economic and human dimensions. Participating States pledge to strengthen their efforts to combat corruption and the conditions that foster it, and to promote a positive framework for good government practices and public integrity. They will make better use of existing international instruments and assist each other in their fight against corruption. As part of its work to promote the rule of law, the OSCE will work with NGOs that are committed to a strong public and business consensus against corrupt practices. Maastricht 2003 (OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension) Promoting transparency and combating corruption 2.2.4 Transparency in public affairs is an essential condition for the accountability of States and for the active participation of civil society in economic processes. Transparency increases the predictability of, and confidence in an economy that is functioning on the basis of adequate legislation and with full respect for the rule of law. Free and pluralistic media which enjoy maximum editorial independence from political and financial pressure have an important role to play in ensuring such transparency. 2.2.5 We will make our governments more transparent by further developing processes and institutions for providing timely information, including reliable statistics, about issues of public interest in the economic and environmental fields to the media, the business community, civil society and citizens, with a view to promoting a well-informed and responsive dialogue. This is essential for decision-making which is responsive to changing conditions and to the needs and wishes of the population. 2.2.6. Transparency is also important for the exposure and prosecution of all forms of corruption, which undermines our economies and our societies. In addition to transparency, the fight against corruption requires the adoption by the participating States of a comprehensive and long-term anti-corruption strategy. 2.2.7 We agree to make the elimination of all forms of corruption a priority. We will consider accession to, encourage ratification of, and support full implementation of, international conventions and other instruments in the field of combating corruption, in particular those developed by the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). We welcome the adoption of the UN Convention against corruption and look forward to its early signature, ratification and entry into force. OSCE Human Dimension Commitments 87