And develop standard forensic procedures so that evidence collected in one country can be admissible in court in another. We need to create ways to prosecute elusive, shadowy international criminals so that they no longer find safe-havens to evade law. It is with this backdrop that crime becomes a diplomatic concern. Diplomacy can create that environment of international norms and procedures. Diplomacy can be used to promote political will and develop cooperation.
Diplomacy can establish guidelines and broader frameworks for cooperation.
Much is already being done in various regional and multilateral groupings. In 1996 the Organization of American States adopted the Inter-American convention against corruption. Over 20 countries in North and South America signed this treaty that calls for the enactment of legislation to criminalize corruption and cooperate on other crimes. The 1997, the OECD anti-bribery convention required member states to make bribery of foreign officials in international business transactions a criminal offence. In February of 1999 the United States sponsored the international conference to combat corruption.