(E-027/01)
February 2, 2001

 

ARGENTINA OFFERS TO HOST ANTI-CORRUPTION MEETING

Argentina's government today renewed its offer to host a meeting of states party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, to establish a mechanism to monitor implementation of this Organization of American States treaty.

The meeting is slated for Buenos Aires during first week of May, and will in effect move forward on a recommendation the OAS Permanent Council itself had approved with the support of the acceding states.

Juan José Arcuri, the Argentine Ambassador, explained to the Permanent Council that "this Argentinean initiative seeks to ensure that the Convention is effectively implemented and complements what I believe is an efficient process the Organization has engaged precisely to combat corruption."

OAS Secretary General César Gaviria called the proposed meeting as "an important move," recalling that the OAS had blazed the international trail when it established this anti-corruption treaty. "I commend Argentina on this initiative to convene a meeting soon."

Gaviria said international cooperation was "crucial to ensuring the success of such a Convention. The adoption of this follow-up mechanism will be a significant step forward for the OAS."

The Inter-American Convention against Corruption was adopted in Caracas, Venezuela on March 29, 1996. The treaty entered into force March 6, 1997 and has been ratified by 20 member states.

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