By Georg Neumann

TI Germany accused the companies of violating the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals that set social, environmental and anti-corruption standards for multinational enterprises. This marks the first time that a government in any of the 39 countries adhering to the Guidelines has been asked to take action against companies originated in their territories for charges of corruption in the Oil for Food programme under the OECD Guidelines for Multinationals.

TI’s complaint is based on the report’s findings (published in 2005) that presented detailed financial evidence of the kickbacks (illicit or disguised payments) paid by international companies to gain contracts to supply food, medicines and other humanitarian goods to Iraq. Between 1999 and 2002 the former regime of Saddam Hussein collected US $1.8 billion in kickbacks from companies, distorting a programme designed to ease the suffering of ordinary Iraqis under UN sanctions.

See the TI Germany website to read the complaint in full: www.transparency.de/Korruptionsskandal-im-UNO-Prog.836.0.html

By Georg Neumann

The conference, hosted by the Government of Azerbaijan and co-funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), served as a platform for exchange on corruption in growing resource-rich economies.

Anti-corruption activists – including TI’s chapters – international experts and civil society leaders from close to 40 countries in Europe and Central Asia, as diverse as Ireland and Mongolia, gathered to debate national strategies for fighting corruption. It also was an opportunity to discuss region-specific issues such as the challenges of economic transition and managing natural resource wealth. Speakers included former Romanian Justice Minister Monica Macovei and Polish economist Leszek Balcerowicz, who highlighted the difficulties of defining corruption in communism.

By Georg Neumann

The debate was divided into three topics for discussions: education, heath and security. Each area featured four candidates to debate the subjects with first time voters. Presidential elections in Argentina are scheduled for October 2007. The programme will continue to pursue its effort to encourage the younger generation of voters to actively participate in Argentina’s democratic process.

Other initiatives underway in the region to educate young voters include lectures from TI's chapter in Colombia at 19 universities and disussion groups on politics organised by Corporación Chile Transparente, TI's contact in Chile, to motivate young people to vote and be active citizens.