Program to Combat Overseas Corruption

U.S. Attorney General Sets Program to Combat Overseas Corruption

By Stephen Kaufman Staff Writer

Washington - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Obama administration is launching an initiative to recover funds lost to overseas public corruption, and that it will seek to build on its existing efforts to deter high-level corruption and protect public resources.

Speaking at the African Union (AU) summit ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2010/July/20100726115818su0.9851496.html&distid=ucs ) in Kampala, Uganda, July 25, Holder said the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative will mobilize a team of U.S. prosecutors exclusively to combat corruption. He also urged the 53 AU members to improve governance and strengthen the judicial sectors in their countries as part of a shared effort to "prevent the costs and consequences of public corruption," according to his prepared remarks.

"Today, when the World Bank estimates that more than 1 trillion dollars in bribes are paid each year out of a world economy of 30 trillion dollars, this problem cannot be ignored. And this practice must never be condoned," Holder said.

Public corruption "imperils development, stability, competition and economic investment" and "undermines the promise of democracy," he said.

The Department of Justice initiative is "aimed at combating large-scale foreign official corruption and recovering public funds for their intended and proper use: for the people of our nations," Holder said. "We're assembling a team of prosecutors who will focus exclusively on this work and build upon efforts already under way to deter corruption, hold offenders accountable, and protect public resources."

Along with new prosecution efforts, the Obama administration will continue working with African governments to strengthen their judicial sectors and work with African business leaders to "encourage, ensure and enforce sound corporate governance."

"We should not and must not settle for anything less," Holder said.

The attorney general repeated President Obama's July 2009 statement in Ghana ( http://www.america.gov/st/texttrans-english/2009/July/20090711110050abretnuh0.1079783.html ) that "Africa's future is up to Africans," and reaffirmed the U.S. commitment that the future of the continent will not be compromised and its progress will not be derailed or delayed.

Along with promoting good governance, Holder said the United States wants to strengthen its partnership with Africans in combating terrorism, creating the conditions and capacity for economic growth and promoting the well-being and equal rights of African women and girls.

"In each of these areas, the United States intends to serve not as a patron but as a partner - as a collaborator, not a monitor," he said.

Condemning the July 11 terrorist attacks in Kampala ( http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2010/July/20100714150230esnamfuak0.3393061.html ), Holder said the bombings were "reprehensible acts of cowardice, inspired by a radical and corrupt ideology that systematically denies human rights, devalues women and girls, and perverts the peaceful traditions and teachings of a great religion."

In the days following the attack, Holder sent a team of forensic experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to help Ugandan authorities. The attorney general said in Kampala that the United States is working with Uganda and others to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Holder said President Obama is committed to sending development assistance to Africa, but with the goal of building capacity so that aid no longer will be necessary. For that reason, the United States is focused on helping African countries develop clean energy sources, grow new crops and develop new education and training programs, he said.

Also, the need to empower and protect women and girls has been a special focus for the United States and "must be a priority for all on this continent," Holder said.

Through its three-year, $55 million Women's Justice Empowerment Initiative ( http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/June/20050630163823sssille5.749148e-02.html ), the United States worked in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and Benin to help "train attorneys, investigators, law enforcements officials, and medical professionals in an effort to improve prosecutions and to raise awareness about the special needs of victims," he said.

The work "is making a difference," he said. It is "changing lives, families and communities."

But "its ongoing success and impact is directly linked to the engagement and commitment of you, Africa's leaders," he told the heads of state at the AU Summit.

ENDS

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