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�MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL
OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, CESAR GAVIRIA, TO THE �REGIONAL CONFERENCE: THE INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES�

Castries, St. Lucia, December 6, 2002 

It is a great honour for me to convey this message on the occasion of this Regional Conference on the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and its Implementation in the Eastern Caribbean States. 

            Permit me to begin by first thanking all the authorities present. In particular, I would like to thank the Attorneys General, Members of parliament, of both the governing and opposition parties, Permanent Secretaries and all other invited guests of the sub-region for your presence and participation in this Conference. Your presence

here today underscores and confirms the importance which the authorities of the Eastern Caribbean States accord to this event. 

            I wish also to express our special recognition to the Office of the Attorney General of St. Lucia and in particular to the Hon Attorney General himself, Senator Petrus Compton, for his support and collaboration with respect to this Conference. 

            By way of perspectives, this sub-regional Conference is part of a hemispheric initiative of which the OAS has been at the forefront. Its main goal is to promote the ratification and implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (IACC). It was developed in compliance with the mandates adopted both by the Heads of State and Government at the Third Summit of the Americas, held in Quebec City 2001 and by the OAS General Assembly at its last ordinary sessions held in Barbados between June 2 and 4, 2002.  

            This meeting therefore, taking place as it is, just a few months after the General Assembly, re-confirms the Caribbean region�s willingness to identify with the common causes of the countries of Americas, as well as the commitment of its authorities to participate in well-coordinated, hemispheric efforts in search of appropriate solutions.  

            In a very real sense, it is well-neigh impossible to over-emphasize the significance, the importance of this conference. With no intention on my part to exhaust the subject, permit me to take this opportunity to present a brief outline as to why the OAS considers the fight against corruption a priority in the Americas and to highlight the importance of this Conference as an essential part of the process.  

            Why does the OAS consider that the fight against corruption so important? A host of reasons can be identified. Allow me to point to three of these:  

            The first has to do with something that is of the essence of the Inter-American System: the preservation and strengthening of democracy. This was ratified by all the States of the Hemisphere in adopting the �Inter-American Democratic Charter�, in which they expressed that transparency in government activities, probity, responsible public administration on the part of governments, respect for social rights, and freedom of expression and of the press, are essential components in the exercise of democracy. 

            It is evident that corruption is a terrible cancer that undermines the legitimacy of institutions and the Rule of Law, and on this matter there is still a long road ahead to travel in the Americas. 

            The second reason for which we must combat corruption in this Hemisphere has to do with the enormous social costs caused by this problem. On this subject, many studies have shown that the principal victims of corruption are the poor. That is why, at the OAS, we consider the fight against corruption to be fundamental to success in combating poverty as well as in the establishment of Social Justice. 

            The third reason has to do with the dramatic negative effects of corruption on trade, economic growth and development. Numerous studies have confirmed that as the levels of corruption escalate in a country, the level of investment and thus the rate of economic growth declines. In a word, if we are to foster economic development i.e if we are to improve technology, finance capital formation, increase output & incomes, generate employment, maintain or improve the quality of life of the people of our hemisphere, it is imperative that, acting together as a hemisphere, we launch a systematic, coordinated, unrelenting attack on corruption.   

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, if we have a meeting of minds on the above (and I believe very deeply that we do) then it is easy for us to appreciate why the fight against corruption has been such a constant preoccupation in the Americas. Indeed at the first summit held in Miami, in 1994, the Heads of State and Government of the Hemisphere, agreed to negotiate a treaty for strengthening cooperation among the Member States to combat this problem. 

            As a result of this decision, the countries adopted the Inter-American Convention against Corruption in Caracas, Venezuela, within the framework of an OAS Special Conference in 1996. 

            This treaty was not only the first legal instrument on this subject, but it still stands as the treaty which expresses the most integral and complete conception of the fight against this phenomenon.  

            Bearing this in mind, it was not surprising that that treaty was among the most speedily ratified by the majority of the States of the Hemisphere. Specifically, 28 of the 34 OAS Member States have ratified this Convention to date� all North American and Latin America countries as well as a good number of Caribbean States. 

            Furthermore, the commitment of the countries has not ended there. In most states, previous laws have been amended or new ones enacted in order to adjust their domestic legislation to the provisions of the Convention and to assure its effective implementation. 

In accordance with the above, and in compliance with the mandates of the Summits of the Americas and General Assemblies, the OAS General Secretariat has been supporting the States through cooperation activities, such as the one we are having today. 

            As noted earlier, the Conference is part of that Hemispheric initiative towards supporting States in their efforts in the ratification and legislative implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, with special attention given to the adjustment of their national criminal legislation. 

            In facilitating that process in the case of the Eastern Caribbean States, we rely on the serious study and complete regional draft model legislation prepared by Grenadian consultant, Judge Theresa Joseph, to whom I would like to convey the gratitude of the General Secretariat for her valuable collaboration in this initiative. 

            I am confident that this regional draft model legislation is a very good foundation for your deliberations and that it shall be enriched and improved upon by your contributions during the plenary. 

            As OAS professionals, our role in this process is merely that of facilitators. Our interest, of course, is that this treaty becomes a reality and an effective instrument in the fight against corruption. 

            It is up to you the participants, as citizens of the Eastern Caribbean States, to analyze the study, to compare the Convention with your present legislation and to make specific recommendations as to the amendments that should be adopted. 

            Our hope is that at the end of this Conference, decisions will be made on the specific proposals which must be adopted, to advance into the ratification and legislative implementation of the Convention in the Eastern Caribbean States - and that the proposals which go forward will find a welcome echo with the political authorities when the time comes for their adoption.

            I am certain that this will be a very productive day of work. 

At the OAS, as it is expressed in the Convention, we conceived the fight against corruption as a process and an integral policy.  In that sense, we do not think that laws alone are sufficient to end corruption; but we deeply believe that they are an important instrument to advance the search of this objective. 

Corruption, as I have said on other occasions, is not a road of no return.  For that reason, I am certain that the results of this Conference will allow us to take firm steps to confirm this conviction � a conviction which I am assured, you all share.  

I thank you. 

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