From that conference emerged a set of basic principles that countries can use to combat official corruption. We are also pushing for an agreement in the upcoming WTO Round that would ensure greater transparency and accountability in government procurement. We are working with the U.S. Congress to ratify the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. The Global Coalition for Africa, representing eleven African countries, has adopted a series of anti-corruption principles. Also, the Council of Europe has also undertaken important anti-corruption initiatives.
Countries fighting corruption often focus heavily on law enforcement.
We must also recognize that corruption is a systemic problem. To make progress, countries must attack the problem from different angles. A country where permits are required for everything is a country in which bribery can flourish. Licensing decisions in areas such as telecommunications or energy, where the stakes are high, must be made in the open. As we saw in the Asia crisis, lack of transparency and controls in public finance can lead to disaster.