*EPF113 11/22/2004
Text: U.S. To Contribute $2.5 Million to Anti-Corruption Program
(APEC initiative will promote rule of law, "culture of integrity") (330)

The United States will contribute $2.5 million over four years in support of the Anticorruption and Transparency (ACT) Capacity Building Program established by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, according to a joint announcement by the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan and Korea.

Following is the text of the announcement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 21, 2004

STATEMENT BY ADAM ERELI, DEPUTY SPOKESMAN

SUPPORT FOR THE ANTICORRUPTION AND TRANSPARENCY (ACT) CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

The following is the text of a joint announcement by the United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan and Korea:

The United States, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, Japan, and Korea announced their commitment to help the developing economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) fight corruption. In support of the APEC Leaders' initiative on fighting corruption, the United States will contribute $2.5 million over four years to assist APEC efforts in promoting the rule of law and a culture of integrity.

The Anticorruption and Transparency (ACT) Capacity-Building Program will include technical assistance to address key areas outlined in the Santiago commitment and the APEC Anticorruption Course of Action. Workshops and training programs will be developed in investigatory and prosecutorial techniques, judicial reform, anti-money-laundering, asset forfeiture and recovery, and the APEC Transparency Standards. An APEC website devoted to anticorruption public awareness and e-governance tools will be part of the APEC ACT Capacity-Building Program. Cooperation with multilateral banks and international organizations will support relevant activities in APEC developing economies. In launching the historic anticorruption initiative, APEC hopes to reduce the cost of corruption to economies in the region and to promote a culture of integrity and lawfulness. The initiative is designed to strengthen the collective political commitment within the region to fighting corruption and ensuring transparency within the framework of the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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