United Nations, Aug 12: United Nations has said that a treaty to combat corruption worldwide should be ready by autumn following major breakthroughs in negotiations on the return of assets obtained through bribery and embezzlement to the country of origin and on a series of preventive measures. "We are very close to an agreement," said Antonio Maria Costa, executive director of the Vienna-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The progress came at the just concluded sixth session of the ad hoc committee for the negotiation of a convention against corruption. "Indeed, the session achieved major breakthroughs on the most politically sensitive issues: a clear sign that member states -- all of them, rich and poor countries, whether having a history of corruption or not -- want this convention, and they want it very badly," Costa said. "That," he added, "gives the grounds for optimism that the negotiations would be successfully completed in September so that the convention could be presented to the general assembly this fall, and subsequently to the ministerial signing conference to be held in Merida, Mexico, from December 9 to 11."
The panel is scheduled to meet again on September 22 to settle several elements of the draft that still need to be elaborated before the treaty is submitted to the UN General Assembly for final approval.
The requirement for member states to return assets obtained through bribery and embezzlement to the country of origin represents a new fundamental principle in international treaties, analysts say.
Bureau Report