G20 Working Group meeting on foreign graft set to begin

Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali | Thu, 05/12/2011

The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group is scheduled to discuss the implementation of its action plan on combating foreign bribery, at a meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday.

The Anti-Corruption Action Plan adopted in Seoul last year calls on all G20 member states to adopt and enforce laws and other measures against international bribery.

A similar commitment was also agreed on at the international conference recently hosted by Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and supported by OECD.

“This will be the second meeting of the working group, which is difficult because we have to implement the action plan adopted last year," French co-chair of the working group, Florence Jeanblanc Risler, said.

The meeting is set to commence around midday on Thursday.

Florence said the group would be looking at four broad areas of implementation including the strengthening of international legal frameworks, strengthening international cooperation, implementing strong and effective national and private sector policies, and strengthening public-private partnerships.

"It’s interesting that the international conference has been discussing the same issues as those we will be discussing," Florence added.

Indonesian co-chair of the working group and KPK deputy chief Mochammad Jasin said it was important for Indonesia to soon adopt a mechanism to allow it to investigate foreign public officials, including those from the private sector.