DATE=5/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248918
TITLE=ANTI-CORRUPTION CONFERENCE OPENS (L-O)
BYLINE=MICHAEL BOWMAN
DATELINE=ATLANTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOUR CURRENT AND EIGHT FORMER HEADS OF STATE FROM
THROUGHOUT THE AMERICAS HAVE GATHERED IN ATLANTA (GEORGIA) FOR A
THREE-DAY CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON WAYS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION.
V-O-A'S MICHAEL BOWMAN REPORTS, THE EVENT IS BEING HOSTED BY THE
CARTER CENTER, A PUBLIC POLICY GROUP HEADED BY FORMER (U-S)
PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER.
TEXT: PRESIDENT CARTER WELCOMED CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS AT A
GALA DINNER LATE MONDAY. THE FORMER U-S LEADER SAYS CORRUPTION
CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS THREAT TO DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
WORLDWIDE.
// CARTER ACT //
NOTHING IS SO DEBILITATING FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM,
DEMOCRACY, HONESTY AND ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT AS CORRUPTION.
CORRUPTION ROBS NOT ONLY THE RESOURCES OF A NATION, BUT ALSO THE
CONFIDENCE OF PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT.
// END ACT //
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE DINNER WAS U-S TREASURY SECRETARY ROBERT
RUBIN. MR. RUBIN SAYS CORRUPTION - AND A CORRESPONDING LACK OF
TRANSPARENCY IN THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS -
REPRESENT A MAJOR STUMBLING BLOCK TO ECONOMIC GROWTH, ESPECIALLY
IN LESS-DEVELOPED NATIONS.
// RUBIN ACT //
CORRUPTION IS A PARTICULARLY PERNICIOUS PRACTICE IN DEVELOPING
COUNTRIES, BECAUSE IT DIVERTS SCARCE RESOURCES FROM BADLY-NEEDED
PRIORITIES LIKE HEALTH (CARE), EDUCATION, AND HOUSING. IN SOME
OF THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WE WORK WITH, I DON'T THINK THERE IS
ANY QUESTION THAT CORRUPTION HAS BEEN THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT
IMPEDIMENT TO GROWTH AND REFORM.
// END ACT //
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS INCLUDE THE PRESIDENTS OF ECUADOR,
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO, AND COSTA RICA - AS WELL AS THE PRIME
MINISTER OF BELIZE.
/// BEGIN OPT /// COSTA RICAN PRESIDENT MIGUEL ANGEL RODRIGUEZ
SAYS CORRUPTION AFFECTS COUNTRIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING TO
CONSOLIDATE DEMOCRACY - AS WELL AS THOSE THAT HAVE LONG-ENSHRINED
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
// RODRIGUEZ ACT //
THIS EVIL (CORRUPTION) POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE FUNCTIONING
AND CREDIBILITY OF EMERGING DEMOCRACIES, AND DANGEROUSLY WEAKENS
THE LEGITIMACY OF THOSE PRESUMABLY CONSOLIDATED SYSTEMS.
// END ACT //
/// END OPT ///
HAVING IDENTIFIED THE DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF CORRUPTION,
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS WILL WORK TO DRAW UP SPECIFIC
RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO FIGHT THE PHENOMENON. THE
RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO BE MADE PUBLIC AT THE CLOSE OF THE
GATHERING ON THURSDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/MCB/PLM
04-May-99 12:06 AM EDT (0406 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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