Delegates at Global Forum on Corruption Urged to Take Action Now

The Hague -- On the final day of a conference on fighting corruption, representatives of more than 140 countries were repeatedly urged not to wait to tackle the problem at home.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, addressing the delegates at the Second Global Forum on Fighting Corruption and Safeguarding Integrity May 31, said they should not wait to act until United Nations negotiators produce a global agreement on corruption.

"We do not have to wait for more studies and more international agreements before implementing treaty obligations that have already been assumed or taking preventive and enforcement measures that are widely recognized to be effective," Ashcroft said.

"We also need to be careful that the development of new agreements and statements of guiding principles and best practices not divert critical resources and political energy from the imperative of taking concrete action now against corruption."

Similarly, Peter Eigen, chairman of the watchdog group Transparency International, warned that a UN document by itself would not do much to alleviate the bad effects of corruption.

While international agreements are important, Eigen said in a written statement, "the political will to fight corruption at home is arguably much more important."

In remarks concluding Global Forum II, former World Bank president Robert McNamara elaborated on the same theme.

"Every country has to determine its own priorities, but I would urge you to focus on concrete actions that can yield measurable results, and that you measure and publicly report whether results are being achieved," he said.

McNamara suggested a number of specific steps he believes governments should take against corruption: creating evaluation units to establish benchmarks and monitor progress; requiring politicians and senior government officials to declare their assets and punishing individuals and companies found guilty of corruption.

The final declaration approved by the delegations attending the forum lists goals and suggests successful approaches but prescribes no specific solutions.

The declaration recognizes the usefulness of monitoring mechanisms, for example. States in regions that have such mechanisms "are invited to consider joining them."

The United States hosted the first Global Forum in February 1999 in Washington. South Korea has agreed to host Global Forum III in 2003 in Seoul.

(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)