Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Iraq in partnership with UN develops mechanism to recover assets


Mechanism to recover all assets of the country that escaped during the former regime
Commission on Public Integrity has announced the development of a clear mechanism and process for the recovery of assets of the country from all over the world through the activation of United Nations conventions on this matter.
A member of the Integrity Commission by Dr. Khalid Maamouri on the sidelines of Iraq’s participation in two regional working on the national strategy to combat corruption in Arab countries that hosted the Arab League in Cairo in cooperation with the United Nations: that there are large amounts of money and big returns for the country escaped the time of the previous dictatorial regime, for example, what been smuggled out of the oil-for food and oil Kabonat, confirming the intention to pursue these huge funds and return to the country through the conclusion of bilateral agreements with a number of countries, as well as activating the United Nations conventions regarding the repatriation of Iraqi assets in all countries of the world.
He said in a statement singled out the “morning”: The Integrity Commission has experience of many in this regard, as it was able to restore some of the assets of Iraq’s own employee Iraqi working in the Municipality of Baghdad after being embezzled $ 12 billion Iraqi dinars, adding that the re-a large part of the money, being the agreement with Lebanon and Jordan to return the other part of it.
And detect the presence of a number of projects will be worked out during the next month, in cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, containing the three issues fundamental, namely, enhancing capacity of the equipment on Iraq on the subject to recover Iraqi assets fateful, as well as help in the management of information with foreign judicial authorities, and the training of members Integrity Commission and the competent organs of investigative methods which complex investigations on the subject of asset recovery.
And Maamouri that Iraq presentation at the Regional Workshop and Working paper reviewed the actions and projects that began the regulatory authorities of the fight against corruption from the adoption of national strategy to combat corruption, adopted by the Joint Council for the fight against corruption in Iraq, as well as the presentation of the comprehensive survey carried out by the Integrity Commission and launch a campaign to promote a culture of integrity and transparency in society and the public sector at the level of provincial and local governments.
He noted that the workshop have made ​​a range of recommendations, which stressed on “the need for ratification by the Arab countries that have not ratified or not yet acceded to the UN Convention against Corruption, in addition to inviting Arab countries that signed the said Convention to harmonize its laws with the provisions of the Convention and provide the political administration and technical skills necessary for the application of these laws.
And member of the Integrity Commission said that Baghdad will host a preparatory meeting during the next two months to confirm the recovery of Iraqi assets placed under the auspices of the UN Development Program.
For their part, called on participants in the workshop to work on the provision of statistics and data and information in Arab countries about the size and forms of corruption, and the emphasis on actual performance to fight it legally and institutionally and what needs to be done in the future.
They stressed the importance of the participation of civil society and its fundamental role in strengthening the efforts of integrity and combat corruption and to activate their participation and the development of its capacity to contribute effectively in supporting the UN Convention against Corruption.
Recommendations included the closing of the meeting the need for the Arabic Network for promoting integrity and combating corruption, which would increase the activation of the Arab private sector participation in the anti-corruption efforts, and advocacy to protect the integrity as a preventative aspect of corruption.
The participants decided to hold a regional seminar in the framework of the League of Arab States on the Arab Convention against Corruption, in addition to a seminar the other review on the mechanisms of implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.