

Currently released so far... 51122 / 251,287
Articles
Brazil
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
Sweden
00. Editorial
United States
Latin America
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Thailand
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
2011/05/25
2011/05/26
2011/05/27
2011/05/28
2011/05/29
2011/05/30
2011/05/31
2011/06/01
2011/06/02
2011/06/03
2011/06/04
2011/06/05
2011/06/06
2011/06/07
2011/06/08
2011/06/09
2011/06/10
2011/06/11
2011/06/12
2011/06/13
2011/06/14
2011/06/15
2011/06/16
2011/06/17
2011/06/18
2011/06/19
2011/06/20
2011/06/21
2011/06/22
2011/06/23
2011/06/24
2011/06/25
2011/06/26
2011/06/27
2011/06/28
2011/06/29
2011/06/30
2011/07/01
2011/07/02
2011/07/04
2011/07/05
2011/07/06
2011/07/07
2011/07/08
2011/07/10
2011/07/11
2011/07/12
2011/07/13
2011/07/14
2011/07/15
2011/07/16
2011/07/17
2011/07/18
2011/07/19
2011/07/20
2011/07/21
2011/07/22
2011/07/23
2011/07/25
2011/07/27
2011/07/28
2011/07/29
2011/07/31
2011/08/01
2011/08/02
2011/08/03
2011/08/05
2011/08/06
2011/08/07
2011/08/08
2011/08/09
2011/08/10
2011/08/11
2011/08/12
2011/08/13
2011/08/15
2011/08/16
2011/08/17
2011/08/18
2011/08/19
2011/08/21
2011/08/22
2011/08/23
2011/08/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Alexandria
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embasy Bonn
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Belfast
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Cotonou
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chiang Mai
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
DIR FSINFATC
Consulate Dusseldorf
Consulate Durban
Consulate Dubai
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Guatemala
Embassy Grenada
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Gaborone
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Guangzhou
Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Hong Kong
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Krakow
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lome
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Libreville
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Leipzig
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Mission Geneva
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maseru
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Merida
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Matamoros
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Nouakchott
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Consulate Nagoya
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Praia
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Podgorica
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Hillah
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Surabaya
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy Tirana
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
Consulate Thessaloniki
USUN New York
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Mission CD Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
UN Rome
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AMGT
ASEC
AEMR
AR
APECO
AU
AORC
ADANA
AJ
AF
AFIN
AMED
AS
AM
ABLD
AFFAIRS
AMB
APER
ACOA
AND
AA
AE
AADP
AID
AO
AL
AG
AORD
ADM
AINF
AINT
ASEAN
AORG
ABT
APEC
AY
ASUP
ARF
AGOA
AVIAN
ATRN
ANET
AGIT
ASECVE
ABUD
AODE
ALOW
ADB
AN
ADPM
ASPA
ARABL
AFSN
AZ
AC
AIAG
AFSI
ASCE
ASIG
ACABQ
ADIP
AFGHANISTAN
AROC
ADCO
ACOTA
ANARCHISTS
AMEDCASCKFLO
AK
ARABBL
ASCH
ANTITERRORISM
AGRICULTURE
AOCR
ARR
ASSEMBLY
AORCYM
AFPK
ACKM
AGMT
AEC
APRC
AIN
AFPREL
ASFC
ASECTH
AFSA
AINR
AOPC
AFAF
AFARI
AX
ASECAF
ASECAFIN
AT
AFZAL
APCS
AGAO
AIT
ARCH
AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL
AMEX
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
AORCD
AVIATION
ARAS
AINFCY
ACBAQ
AOPR
AREP
AOIC
ASEX
ASEK
AER
AGR
AMCT
AVERY
APR
AEMRS
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ACS
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
ACAO
BA
BR
BB
BG
BEXP
BY
BRUSSELS
BU
BD
BTIO
BK
BL
BE
BMGT
BO
BM
BX
BN
BWC
BBSR
BTT
BC
BH
BILAT
BUSH
BHUM
BT
BTC
BMENA
BOND
BAIO
BP
BF
BRPA
BURNS
BUT
BBG
BCW
BOEHNER
BOL
BASHAR
BIDEN
BFIN
BZ
BEXPC
BTIU
CPAS
CA
CASC
CS
CBW
CIDA
CO
CODEL
CI
CROS
CU
CH
CWC
CMGT
CVIS
CDG
CTR
CG
CF
CHIEF
CJAN
CBSA
CE
CY
CB
CW
CM
CHR
CD
COE
CV
COUNTER
CT
CN
CPUOS
CTERR
CVR
CVPR
CDC
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CONS
COM
CACS
CR
CONTROLS
CAN
CACM
COMMERCE
CAMBODIA
CFIS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITES
CONDOLEEZZA
CZ
CTBT
CEN
CLINTON
CFED
CARC
CTM
CARICOM
CSW
CICTE
CYPRUS
CBE
CMGMT
CARSON
CWCM
CIVS
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CENTCOM
CAPC
COPUOS
CKGR
CITEL
CQ
CITT
CIC
CARIB
CVIC
CAFTA
CVISU
CDB
CEDAW
CNC
CJUS
COMMAND
CENTER
COL
CAJC
CONSULAR
CLMT
CBC
CIA
CNARC
CIS
CEUDA
CHINA
CAC
CL
DR
DJ
DEMOCRATIC
DEMARCHE
DOMESTIC
DISENGAGEMENT
DB
DA
DHS
DAO
DCM
DAVID
DO
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEA
DTRO
DPRK
DOC
DTRA
DK
DAC
DOD
DRL
DRC
DCG
DE
DOT
DEPT
DOE
DS
DKEM
ECON
ETTC
EFIS
ETRD
EC
EMIN
EAGR
EAID
EFIN
EUN
ECIN
EG
EWWT
EINV
ENRG
ELAB
EPET
EIND
EN
EAIR
EUMEM
ECPS
ES
EI
ELTN
ET
EZ
EU
ER
EINT
ENGR
ECONOMIC
ENIV
EFTA
ETRN
EMS
EUREM
EPA
ESTH
EEB
EET
ENV
EAG
EXIM
ECTRD
ELNT
ENVIRONMENT
ECA
EAP
EINDIR
ETR
ECONOMY
ETRC
ELECTIONS
EICN
EXPORT
EARG
EGHG
EID
ETRO
EINF
EAIDHO
ECIP
EENV
EURM
EPEC
ERNG
ENERG
EIAD
EXBS
ED
EREL
ELAM
EK
EWT
ENGRD
EDEV
ECE
ENGY
EXIMOPIC
ETRDEC
ECCT
EUR
ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID
EFI
ECOSOC
EXTERNAL
ESCAP
ETCC
EENG
ERA
ENRD
ECLAC
ETRAD
EBRD
ENVR
ECONENRG
ELTNSNAR
ELAP
EPIT
EDUC
EAIDXMXAXBXFFR
EETC
EIVN
EDRC
EGOV
ETRA
EAIDRW
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ESA
ETRDGK
ENVI
ELN
EPRT
EPTED
ERTD
EUM
EAIDS
EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM
EDU
EV
EAIDAF
EDA
EPREL
EINVEFIN
EAGER
ETMIN
EUCOM
ECCP
EIDN
EINVKSCA
ENNP
EFINECONCS
ETC
EAIRASECCASCID
EINN
ETRP
ECONOMICS
ENERGY
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
ETRDEINVTINTCS
EFIM
ETIO
EATO
EIPR
EINVETC
ETTD
ETDR
EIQ
ECONCS
ENRGIZ
EAIG
ENTG
EUC
ERD
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECUN
FR
FI
FOREIGN
FARM
FIR
FAO
FK
FARC
FAS
FJ
FREEDOM
FAC
FINANCE
FBI
FTAA
FM
FCS
FAA
FORCE
FDA
FTA
FT
FCSC
FMGT
FINR
FIN
FDIC
FOR
FOI
FO
FMLN
FISO
GM
GERARD
GT
GA
GG
GR
GTIP
GH
GZ
GE
GB
GY
GAZA
GJ
GEORGE
GOI
GCC
GMUS
GI
GLOBAL
GV
GC
GL
GOV
GKGIC
GF
GWI
GIPNC
GUTIERREZ
GTMO
GANGS
GAERC
GUILLERMO
GASPAR
HR
HA
HYMPSK
HO
HK
HUMAN
HU
HN
HHS
HURI
HUD
HUMRIT
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HL
HSTC
HILLARY
HCOPIL
HADLEY
HOURANI
HI
HUM
HEBRON
HUMOR
IZ
IN
IAEA
IS
IMO
ILO
IR
IC
IT
ITU
ID
IV
IMF
IBRD
IWC
ICAO
ICRC
INF
IO
IPR
ISO
IK
ISRAELI
IQ
ICES
IDB
INFLUENZA
IRAQI
ISCON
IGAD
IRAN
ITALY
IRAQ
ICTY
ICTR
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IQNV
IADB
INTERNAL
INMARSAT
IRDB
ILC
INCB
INRB
ICJ
ISRAEL
INR
IEA
ISPA
ICCAT
IOM
ITRD
IHO
IL
IFAD
ITRA
IDLI
ISCA
INL
INRA
INTELSAT
ISAF
ISPL
IRS
IEF
ITER
INDO
IIP
IND
IEFIN
IACI
IAHRC
INNP
IA
INTERPOL
IFIN
ISSUES
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ITA
IP
IRPE
IDA
ISLAMISTS
ITF
INRO
IBET
IDP
IRC
KMDR
KPAO
KOMC
KNNP
KFLO
KDEM
KSUM
KIPR
KFLU
KE
KCRM
KJUS
KAWC
KZ
KSCA
KDRG
KCOR
KGHG
KPAL
KTIP
KMCA
KCRS
KPKO
KOLY
KRVC
KVPR
KG
KWBG
KTER
KS
KN
KSPR
KWMN
KV
KTFN
KFRD
KU
KSTC
KSTH
KISL
KGIC
KSEP
KFIN
KTEX
KTIA
KUNR
KCMR
KCIP
KMOC
KTDB
KBIO
KBCT
KMPI
KSAF
KACT
KFEM
KPRV
KPWR
KIRC
KCFE
KRIM
KHIV
KHLS
KVIR
KNNNP
KCEM
KLIG
KIRF
KNUP
KSAC
KNUC
KPGOV
KTDD
KIDE
KOMS
KLFU
KNNC
KMFO
KSEO
KJRE
KJUST
KMRS
KSRE
KGIT
KPIR
KPOA
KUWAIT
KIVP
KICC
KSCS
KPOL
KSEAO
KRCM
KSCI
KNAP
KGLB
KICA
KCUL
KPRM
KFSC
KQ
KPOP
KPFO
KPALAOIS
KREC
KBWG
KR
KTTB
KNAR
KCOM
KESS
KINR
KOCI
KWN
KCSY
KREL
KTBT
KFTN
KW
KRFD
KFLOA
KHDP
KNEP
KIND
KHUM
KSKN
KOMO
KDRL
KTFIN
KSOC
KPO
KGIV
KSTCPL
KSI
KPRP
KFPC
KNNB
KNDP
KICCPUR
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KDMR
KFCE
KIMMITT
KMCC
KMNP
KSEC
KOMCSG
KGCC
KRAD
KCRP
KAUST
KWAWC
KCHG
KRDP
KPAS
KTIAPARM
KPAOPREL
KWGB
KIRP
KMIG
KLAB
KSEI
KHSA
KNPP
KPAONZ
KWWW
KGHA
KY
KCRIM
KCRCM
KGCN
KPLS
KIIP
KPAOY
KTRD
KTAO
KJU
KBTS
KWAC
KFIU
KNNO
KPAI
KILS
KPA
KRCS
KWBGSY
KNPPIS
KNNPMNUC
KNPT
KERG
KLTN
KPREL
KTLA
KO
KAWK
KVRP
KAID
KX
KENV
KWCI
KNPR
KCFC
KNEI
KFTFN
KTFM
KCERS
KDEMAF
KMEPI
KEMS
KBTR
KEDU
KIRL
KNNR
KMPT
KPDD
KPIN
KDEV
KFRP
KTBD
KMSG
KWWMN
KWBC
KA
KOM
KWNM
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KRGY
KNNF
KICR
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KDDG
KCGC
KID
KNSD
KMPF
KWMM
MARR
MX
MASS
MOPS
MNUC
MCAP
MTCRE
MRCRE
MTRE
MASC
MY
MK
MG
MU
MILI
MO
MZ
MEPP
MCC
MEDIA
MOPPS
MI
MAS
MW
MP
MEPN
MV
MD
MR
MC
MCA
MT
MIL
MARITIME
MOPSGRPARM
MAAR
MOOPS
ML
MA
MN
MNUCPTEREZ
MTCR
MUNC
MPOS
MONUC
MGMT
MURRAY
MACP
MINUSTAH
MCCONNELL
MGT
MNUR
MF
MEPI
MOHAMMAD
MAR
MAPP
MNU
MFA
MTS
MLS
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MED
MNVC
MIK
MBM
MILITARY
MAPS
MARAD
MDC
MACEDONIA
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
MPS
NZ
NATO
NI
NO
NU
NG
NL
NPT
NS
NA
NP
NASA
NSF
NEA
NANCY
NSG
NRR
NATIONAL
NMNUC
NC
NSC
NAS
NARC
NELSON
NATEU
NDP
NIH
NK
NIPP
NR
NERG
NSSP
NE
NTDB
NT
NEGROPONTE
NGO
NATOIRAQ
NAR
NZUS
NCCC
NH
NAFTA
NEW
NRG
NUIN
NOVO
NATOPREL
NV
NICHOLAS
NPA
NSFO
NW
NORAD
NPG
NOAA
OPRC
OPDC
OTRA
OECD
OVIP
OREP
ODC
OIIP
OAS
OSCE
OPIC
OMS
OFDP
OFDA
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OSCI
OM
OPAD
ODPC
OIC
ODIP
OPPI
ORA
OCEA
OREG
OMIG
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXP
OPEC
OFPD
OAU
OCII
OIL
OVIPPRELUNGANU
OSHA
OPCD
OPCR
OF
OFDPQIS
OSIC
OHUM
OTR
OBSP
OGAC
OESC
OVP
ON
OES
OTAR
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PHUM
PM
PREF
PTER
PK
PINS
PBIO
PHSA
PE
PBTS
PA
PL
POL
PAK
POV
POLITICS
POLICY
PO
PRELTBIOBA
PKO
PIN
PNAT
PU
PGOVPREL
PALESTINIAN
PTERPGOV
PELOSI
PAS
PP
PTEL
PROP
PRELAF
PRHUM
PRE
PUNE
PIRF
PVOV
PROG
PERSONS
PROV
PKK
PRGOV
PH
PLAB
PDEM
PCI
PRL
PRM
PINSO
PERM
PETR
PPAO
PERL
PBS
PETERS
PRELBR
PCON
POLITICAL
PMIL
POLM
PKPA
PNUM
PLO
PTERM
PJUS
PARMP
PNIR
PHUMKPAL
PG
PREZ
PGIC
PAO
PROTECTION
PRELPK
PGOVENRG
PATTY
PSOC
PARTIES
PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ
PMIG
PAIGH
PARK
PETER
PHUS
PKPO
PGOVECON
POUS
PMAR
PWBG
PAR
PGOVGM
PHUH
PTE
PY
POLUN
PDOV
PGOVSOCI
PGOVPM
PRELEVU
PGOR
PBTSRU
PHUMA
PHUMR
PPD
PGV
PRAM
PARMS
PINL
PSI
PKPAL
PPA
PTERE
PGOF
PINO
PREO
PHAS
PAC
PRESL
PORG
PS
PGVO
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PINT
PRELP
PREFA
PNG
PTBS
PFOR
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PREK
PHJM
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PECON
PEACE
PROCESS
PLN
PEDRO
PF
PGPV
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PEL
PBT
PAMQ
PINF
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
RS
RP
RU
RW
RFE
RCMP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
REFORM
RO
ROW
ROBERT
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RELATIONS
RAY
ROBERTG
RIGHTS
RM
RATIFICATION
RREL
RBI
RICE
ROOD
REL
RODHAM
RGY
RUEHZO
RELIGIOUS
RELFREE
RUEUN
RELAM
RSP
RF
REO
REGIONAL
RUPREL
RI
REMON
RPEL
RSO
SCUL
SENV
SOCI
SZ
SNAR
SO
SP
SU
SY
SI
SMIG
SYR
SA
SW
SF
SR
SYRIA
SNARM
START
SPECIALIST
SG
SNIG
SCI
SGWI
SE
SIPDIS
SANC
SELAB
SN
SETTLEMENTS
SCIENCE
SENVENV
SENS
SPCE
SPAS
SECURITY
SENC
SOCIETY
SOSI
SENVEAGREAIDTBIOECONSOCIXR
SEN
SPECI
ST
SL
SENVCASCEAIDID
SC
SECRETARY
STR
SNA
SOCIS
SADC
SEP
SK
SHUM
SYAI
SMIL
STEPHEN
SNRV
SKCA
SENSITIVE
SECI
SCUD
SCRM
SGNV
SECTOR
SAARC
SENVSXE
SWMN
STEINBERG
SOPN
SOCR
SCRS
SWE
SARS
SNARIZ
SUDAN
SENVQGR
SAN
SM
SFNV
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SCULKPAOECONTU
SENVKGHG
SHI
SEVN
SH
SNARCS
SNARN
SIPRS
TBIO
TW
TRGY
TSPA
TU
TPHY
TI
TX
TH
TIP
TSPL
TNGD
TZ
TS
TC
TK
TURKEY
TERRORISM
TPSL
TINT
TRSY
TERFIN
TPP
TT
TECHNOLOGY
TE
TAGS
TRAFFICKING
TJ
TN
TO
TD
TP
TREATY
TR
TA
TIO
TECH
TF
TRAD
TNDG
TWI
TPSA
TWL
TAUSCHER
TRBY
TL
TV
THPY
TSPAM
TREL
TRT
TNAR
TFIN
TWCH
THOMMA
THOMAS
TERROR
TRY
TBID
UK
UNESCO
UNSC
UNGA
UN
US
UZ
USEU
UG
UP
UNAUS
UNMIK
USTR
UY
USUN
UNEP
UNDC
UV
UNPUOS
UNSCR
USAID
UNODC
UNRCR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNCRIME
UA
UNHRC
UNRWA
UNO
UNCND
UNCHR
USAU
UNICEF
USPS
UNOMIG
UNESCOSCULPRELPHUMKPALCUIRXFVEKV
UR
UNFICYP
UNCITRAL
UNAMA
UNVIE
USTDA
USNC
UNCSD
USCC
UNEF
UNGAPL
USSC
UNMIC
UNTAC
UNCLASSIFIED
USDA
UNCTAD
USGS
UNFPA
UNSE
USOAS
UE
UAE
UNCHS
UNDESCO
UNC
UNSCS
UKXG
UNGACG
UNHR
UNBRO
UNCHC
UNFCYP
UNIDROIT
WHTI
WIPO
WTRO
WHO
WTO
WMO
WFP
WEET
WS
WE
WA
WHA
WBG
WILLIAM
WI
WSIS
WCL
WEBZ
WZ
WW
WWBG
WMD
WWT
WMN
WWARD
WITH
WTRQ
WCO
WEU
WB
WBEG
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09STATE37071, MARCH 2009 OECD WORKING GROUP ON BRIBERY MEETING
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09STATE37071.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09STATE37071 | 2009-04-15 16:00 | 2011-08-24 01:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Secretary of State |
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #7071 1051622
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151600Z APR 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL OECD CAPITALS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 0000
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0000
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0000
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0000
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0000
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0000
RUEHLJ/AMEMBASSY LJUBLJANA 0000
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 0000
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0000
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0000
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0000
RUEHSF/AMEMBASSY SOFIA 0000
RUEHTL/AMEMBASSY TALLINN 0000
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 0000
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHINGTON DC 0000
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS STATE 037071
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DOC FOR OGC/KNICKERSON
ITA/JKOZLOWICKI
DOJ FOR CRIMINAL DIVISION/FRAUD SECTION/MMENDELSOHN
PASS TO US SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION/INTL. AFFAIRS/TBEATTY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CH CI ECON EG EINV EN ETRD EZ FR ID IN IS PGOV
PREL, RS, SI, TH, UK, KCOR, OECD
SUBJECT: MARCH 2009 OECD WORKING GROUP ON BRIBERY MEETING
¶1. (SBU) U.S. delegation (USDEL) members from the Commerce,
Justice, and State Departments and the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) participated in the OECD Working
Group on Bribery (WGB) meeting in Paris March 16-20, 2009.
The WGB made significant progress on its Review of
Instruments, with the USDEL successfully conveying its view
that amendments to the existing instruments, as well as new
binding instruments, were unnecessary and that new issues and
clarifications would be best advanced through a new
recommendation. The WGB also began discussions on a proposal
to review the WGB Management Group,s role and procedures.
In addition, the WGB negotiated a rough draft for inclusion
in the OECD Ministers' June 2009 statement on the importance
of fighting bribery, respecting Article 5, and rigorous
monitoring of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention
(&Convention8) during the global economic crisis. Members
of the delegation also participated in a WGB public
consultation with the private sector on internal controls and
external auditors.
¶2. (SBU) The WGB examined new signatory Israel,s
Convention implementing legislation and overall legal
framework for addressing bribery of foreign public officials,
giving it a fairly positive review. The U.K. delivered a
status report on its anti-bribery legislation, which it said
is on track for public release and &pre-legislative
scrutiny8 by Easter (April 12). The Czech Republic provided
an update on its progress in finally adopting corporate
liability, estimated for 2010, which the WGB found
unacceptable. During the Tour de Table information exchange
on Parties, current investigation and cases, delegates
discussed pending French legislation that would make
investigations of defense companies more difficult and that
may be in response to the UK,s termination of its BAE
investigation; at the Chair,s request, France pledged to
provide a written report within a month and to follow up at
the June WGB meeting. USDEL and Switzerland also proposed
modifying the Tour de Table exercise to focus on specific
companies/industry sectors and a subset of parties at each
WGB meeting, which the WGB will consider. USDEL met with
several countries on the margins of the meeting, including
China, currently a WGB observer, on its views of the
Convention and next steps, and like-minded Parties Canada and
New Zealand on the issue of facilitating payments. Although
a Russian delegation briefly appeared as an observer at the
beginning of the meeting, it left before USDEL could meet
with them and made no presentation or remarks. On the
margins of the meeting, USDEL also participated in
discussions concerning a new WGB Chair.
¶3. (U) USDEL members were Kathryn Nickerson (DOC), Mark
Mendelsohn and Charles Duross (DOJ), Troy Beatty (SEC) and
Greg Wierzynski (DOS). End Summary.
OECD WGB BACKGROUND
¶4. (SBU) Since the adoption of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act (FCPA) in 1977, the U.S. has vigorously
enforced criminal and civil penalties against U.S.
individuals and companies involved in the bribery of foreign
public officials. In response to concerns that American
companies were operating at a disadvantage compared to
foreign companies that routinely paid bribes, the U.S. led
negotiations that, in 1997, resulted in the signing of the
OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. The Convention is intended to
level the playing field for U.S. exporters by committing our
main trading partners to adopt laws criminalizing the bribery
of foreign public officials. Now including all thirty OECD
members plus Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Estonia,
Slovenia, South Africa, and Israel, the Convention is
potentially a powerful tool against corruption. The OECD WGB
conducts regular peer review of countries, legal frameworks
and enforcement. Although U.S. enforcement is stronger than
ever, our trading partners, enforcement record has been
mixed, with most countries having few investigations and
prosecutions, if any. The WGB is currently developing a
permanent peer monitoring mechanism for the Convention.
REVIEW OF INSTRUMENTS
¶5. (SBU) The WGB continued and made significant progress
on its Review of Instruments exercise, begun in 2007 (ten
years after Convention adoption). The purpose of the review
is to determine whether the WGB needs to amend, clarify or
issue guidance on its instruments, i.e., the OECD
Anti-Bribery Convention, its Commentaries and the 1997
Revised Recommendation of the Council on Combating Bribery in
International Business Transactions. USDEL sought to ensure
that the WGB did not pursue amending the existing instruments
or issuing binding obligations (including &authoritative
interpretations8), which USDEL deems unnecessary and would
likely require Senate consultations. Instead, the U.S.
supported a new non-binding recommendation, which would have
to be approved by the OECD Council but would not require U.S.
Senate approval. The broader WGB, which did not advance
proposals for new instruments or amendments, appeared to
support this view.
¶6. (U) The WGB (with some USDEL support) continued to
consider language on reporting bribery by public officials,
effective whistleblower protections, internal company
controls, UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC)
ratification, mutual legal assistance, and corporate
liability. The WGB threw out several issues that did not
merit revision or clarification, including the treatment of
bribes from the private sector to the private sector (which
is beyond the scope of the Convention) and bribes paid to
third parties on behalf of foreign public officials or paid
through intermediaries (as such bribes are already explicitly
covered by the Convention). Four specific issues related to
the Review of Instruments (tax deductibility of bribes to
foreign public officials, Article 5, facilitation payments
and corporate liability) are discussed in more detail in
paragraphs below.
¶7. (SBU) Review of the 1996 joint Recommendation on Tax
Deductibility of Bribes of Foreign Public Officials (which is
incorporated into the 1997 Revised Recommendation on
Combating Bribery in International Business Transactions): A
representative from the WGB,s sister Committee on Fiscal
Affairs (CFA) presented a new draft Recommendation on Tax
Measures for Further Combating Bribery of Foreign Public
Officials in International Business Transactions that was
approved by the CFA on January 27, 2009. The new draft
recommends in Part I that Member countries and other Parties
to the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention explicitly disallow tax
deductions for bribes to foreign public officials, that they
review their frameworks for disallowing such payments, and
that they consider including in their bilateral tax treaties
language to allow tax authorities to share tax information
with other law enforcement agencies and judicial authorities
on high priority matters (e.g. to combat money laundering,
corruption, and terrorism financing). The WGB was satisfied
with the bribery text relating to tax deductions in Part I of
the draft Recommendation. However, several countries, i.e.
Canada, New Zealand, and Switzerland, took issue with Part II
of the new Recommendation. Part II recommends establishing
an effective legal and administrative framework and providing
guidance to facilitate tax authorities, reporting on
suspicions of serious crimes (foreign bribery, money
laundering, and terrorism financing) to the appropriate
domestic law enforcement authorities. As a result, the Chair
suggested that the CFA either limit Part II,s scope to
bribery or change the title of the new draft. USDEL had no
comments, as it has been coordinating with the Treasury
Department on the new Recommendation (Treasury has the lead
on this issue and represents the USG in the CFA). (Note:
earlier versions of the new draft Recommendation had included
provisions on disallowing tax deductions for facilitating
payments, e.g. generally small payments to public officials
that are not considered bribes under the FCPA. In earlier
meetings, USDEL and several other delegations (in both
committees) objected to the language, as such payments were
legal under their systems, so the language on facilitating
payments was omitted in the final draft. However, the new
Recommendation will likely be re-reviewed in three years from
its adoption, so the issue of facilitating payments
deductions will likely reappear. End note.)
¶8. (SBU) Article 5: Of particular concern to the U.S. was
an overly prescriptive Secretariat proposal on Article 5 of
the Convention (which prohibits parties from considering
issues of national economic interest, effects on relations
with other States or the identity of the legal or natural
persons involved when exercising discretion to investigate or
prosecute). The Secretariat,s proposal set forth a new set
of required procedural &safeguards8 to ensure that
decisions not to investigate or prosecute are consistent with
Article 5. Many delegates objected to language stating that
such decisions would be &fully reviewable8 by the WGB.
USDEL strongly opposed the Secretariat proposal, as it
exceeded the scope of both the Convention and Commentaries,
including Article 12. USDEL suggested instead that OECD make
a political statement in support of Article 5 in a Council
recommendation. With the support of several other
delegations, the legal advisor to the OECD took on the USDEL
political statement suggestion and prepared a Ministerial
declaration discussion draft expressing renewed support for
the Convention in the context of the global economic crisis
and calling for diligence in monitoring and enforcement
without regard for the prohibited considerations in Article
¶5. The draft also contains a paragraph calling for accession
by remaining large exporters outside of the group (China and
Russia).
¶9. (SBU) Article 5 continued: USDEL believes such a
Declaration would serve to (1) reinforce the Convention,s
importance during the economic crisis; (2) support the WGB
and continued systematic monitoring, including the WGB,s
determination, as part of monitoring, to address on a
case-by-case basis situations like the UK,s decision to
discontinue its BAE Al Yamamah investigation (without any
express reference to the UK or that case); (3) address civil
society,s concerns regarding Article 5 enforcement; and (4)
send a strong signal to China and Russia to join the
Convention. The WGB will continue to work on the draft to
ready it for consideration at the June OECD Ministerial. The
United States should strongly support a OECD Ministerial
declaration that emphasizes rigorous monitoring, Article 5
obligations, and the accession of new Parties (i.e. China and
Russia). Linking the objectives of the OECD Anti-Bribery
Convention to multilateral cooperation on the global economic
crisis could send a powerful message about the need for
anti-bribery enforcement.
¶10. (SBU) Facilitation Payments: Despite the Chair's proposal
to remove the Commentary to the Convention that allowed for a
facilitation payment exception, USDEL convinced the WGB that
it needed to study the issue more closely to provide the
clarity the business community is seeking. At USDEL's
request, the Secretariat will circulate proposed U.S.
questions on how the issue of facilitation payments is
handled by countries without the exception, for example
through the use of prosecutorial discretion. The WGB agreed
to separate this issue from the Review of Instruments to
allow more time, perhaps until October, to develop guidance
or recommendations. The WGB will hold an internal meeting
June 15 to further review the matter; the Swedish delegation
will head the ad hoc group drafting the agenda, and private
sector consultation remains a possibility. In the meantime,
countries that provide for the exception will discreetly
reach out to their private sectors to determine best
practices. Possible outcomes include WGB guidance to
prosecutors, investigators, and the private sector, and
forward-looking language in a new recommendation. USDEL met
with allies (Canada and New Zealand) over a working lunch on
the issue to solidify support (other allies, such as,
Australia did not attend WGB meeting, while Korea sent its
OECD mission representative).
¶11. (U) Phase 3: The WGB continued to refine a document
setting forth procedures for its next, permanent phase of
monitoring. The WGB agreed to decouple the issue from the
Review of Instruments, another USDEL goal, as we have sought
to begin the new stage of monitoring as soon as possible.
Delegations will provide comments to the Secretariat,s
proposed Phase 3 questionnaire to be completed by June.
MANAGEMENT GROUP (MG) REVIEW
¶12. (SBU) The MG was created in 2004 to improve WGB
efficiency and to engage the Secretariat; the U.S. has been a
member of the MG since its inception. At its December
meeting, the WGB decided to review the MG,s role and
procedures. USDEL,s overall goal is to maintain a small
bureau-like MG that will assist in steering the WGB agenda
and provide guidance to the WGB and Chair. USDEL is working
to ensure that MG,s role remains procedural and does not
replace the substantive role of the WGB, even if a
substantive role would sometimes be more convenient for the
Secretariat. Currently the MG has eight elected members: an
independent Chair, a Vice-Chair (Greece) and
heads-of-delegation from France, Sweden, Italy, Germany,
Japan and the United States. In detailed comments to the
Secretariat,s draft proposals, USDEL advocated for better
future regional balance and allowing for MG representation by
delegation alternates when necessary, in light of State,s
rotation process (State normally represents the USDEL in the
MG). The WGB discussion generally echoed these points, and
the MG said it would discuss the proposals in more detail at
its next meeting, taking the WGB,s views into account, and
provide a revised draft for the WGB in June.
INTERNAL CONTROLS AND AUDITING SEMINAR
¶13. (U) Troy Beatty from the SEC served as a facilitator and
Kathryn Nickerson from DOC represented the USDEL at a public
consultation with the private sector on internal controls and
external auditing. The private sector provided advice on
these issues and commented on whether revision to the 1997
Recommendation is warranted. (Section V of the 1997
Recommendation requires member countries to consider adopting
appropriate internal controls and external auditing
standards.) The private sector enthusiastically provided
advice on the elements of an effective compliance and ethics
program, which participants said must include a strong
management component, continuous internal training, direct
reporting channels to management, whistleblower protection,
and sufficient internal review structures. Seminar
participants agreed that while basic requirements of such
programs should be the same, regardless of the size of the
company, big corporations should have more elaborate programs
whereas smaller companies should have programs more
appropriate to their size. Furthermore, such programs should
extend to companies, subcontractors and subsidiaries.
Participants stressed the importance of government guidance
and incentives, such as providing information on the amount
of corruption risk in particular foreign markets. They also
suggested that governments ) prosecutors in particular )
consider a company,s anti-bribery compliance program and
whether the program would constitute a mitigating factor in
prosecution or sentencing. Concerning external audits, the
private sector explained that strong internal compliance
measures would facilitate external auditors, work. There
was a long discussion on whether external auditors should
report all instances of foreign bribery to company
management, irrespective of materiality (as that term relates
to financial statement reporting). There was agreement, if
such reporting was required or allowed, that some kind of
safe harbor provisions (protecting auditors from liability,
i.e., civil lawsuits) would be needed. The WGB provided
comments on the private sector,s proposals, and the
Secretariat was tasked with incorporating them into proposed
language for a potential new recommendation for discussion at
the June meeting.
ISRAEL PHASE 1 REVIEW
¶14. (SBU) Israel, the 38th party to the OECD Antibribery
Convention, underwent its Phase 1 Review in which the WGB
examined Israel,s law implementing the Convention and
overall legal framework for addressing bribery of foreign
public officials. The WGB found that Israel,s law generally
met the standards of the Convention, with only a few problems
that would be addressed during Israel,s Phase 2 review (in
which examiners and the Secretariat will visit Israel to
examine its enforcement structure and resources). For
example, although the penalties for foreign bribery were more
or less the same as those for domestic bribery under Israeli
law, as required by the Convention, the WGB questioned
whether 3.5 years imprisonment and 38,000 euro fines were
effective, proportionate and dissuasive, especially for
corporations, as required by Article 3 (Sanctions) of the
Convention. The WGB also expressed concerns about whether
the requirement under Israeli law that the Attorney General
approve foreign bribery indictments presented any concerns
under Article 5 on enforcement, which provides that Parties
cannot take into account economic considerations,
relationships with another State, or the identity of the
specific legal or natural person involved when deciding
whether to investigate or prosecute. Both the lead
examiners, Canada and Switzerland, and Israeli
representatives were extremely well prepared. The review was
an excellent example of Phase 1 monitoring for the observing
Chinese delegation.
UK DRAFT LEGISLATION
¶15. (SBU) The U.K. delegate provided a report on the U.K.,s
progress in fulfilling its Phase 2 bis legislative
recommendations, as it currently lacks an adequate
anti-bribery law that meets the Convention,s standards. The
U.K. plans to publish a draft bribery bill for
pre-legislative scrutiny this Parliamentary session before
April 12 and claims that officials &are firmly on track8 to
meet this goal. The U.K. said that it appreciated the OECD
expert delegation,s visit in January on behalf of the WGB,
composed of representatives from the Secretariat and the MG
(Mark Mendelsohn, DOJ, represented the USG). The U.K.
reported that it had taken note of the delegation,s advice,
particularly concerning the U.K. Law Commission proposal for
a corporate offense of negligent failure to prevent bribery.
The U.K. said that &it is mindful of the constraints posed
by its electoral cycle, requiring a national Parliamentary
election by May 2010 at the latest,8 and shares the WGB
concern about the need to make substantial progress in reform
in 2009. On the meeting margins, the U.K. delegation
expressed optimism that the draft bribery bill would progress
on schedule and that Parliamentary time would be afforded for
legislation consideration. The WGB needs to maintain
pressure on the U.K. to move toward an adequate anti-bribery
law. USDEL asks Embassy London to flag appropriate
opportunities to convey to U.K. officials -- especially those
at a high level -- the importance of timely reforms.
CZECH IMPLEMENTATION
¶16. (SBU) The Czech delegate reported on Czech efforts to
establish corporate liability for foreign bribery. He
reported that the Czech Government will likely adopt a
resolution on March 30, 2009 to prepare a draft law on
criminal corporate liability for discussion by June 2010. He
said that the Government may consider an alternative option,
namely, preparing a policy paper on administrative corporate
liability by April 30, 2009. The WGB found this report and
timetable unacceptable, as it had been recommending that the
Czech Republic, an original signatory to the Convention,
adopt corporate liability for years. The WGB agreed that the
Chair would send two letters, on the WGB,s behalf, to the
Czech Prime Minister expressing the WGB,s serious concerns
and asking that the Czech Ambassador to the OECD attend the
next WGB meeting to report to the group. The WGB Chair had
already sent one letter to the Prime Minister in December,
but had not received a reply at the time of the March
meeting.
PROBLEMATIC PROPOSED FRENCH LEGISLATION
¶17. (SBU) During the Tour de Table, when the WGB discussed
press reports of potential cases, the USDEL raised press
reports that France apparently has a new bill that would
limit investigating magistrates, power to conduct searches
of defense contractors, offices or other locations likely to
have classified or state secret material related to defense
contracts. The U.K. joined the USDEL in expressing serious
concern over this development. The Chair demanded a report
from France within a month. After first denying that the
bill was public and stressing that the bill was in a
preliminary state, France said after the lunch break that
such a bill had in fact been introduced in Parliamentary
committee in October, that the legislation had been proposed
by the Defense Ministry, and promised to deliver a written
report as requested. This not only raises serious Article 5
concerns, but may represent France,s response to the UK,s
discontinuance of its BAE Al Yamamah case and threaten
chances for the Ministerial Declaration described above (para
8 and 9). When confronted, France denied that the draft bill
was related to the U.K. situation, explaining that the
legislation had been prepared some time ago. The USDEL is
deeply concerned that such legislation could undermine
bilateral cooperation on anti-bribery and France,s ability
to fulfill its OECD Anti-Bribery Convention obligations and
asks Embassy Paris to obtain more information from the French
about the proposed legislation that would shield the defense
industry from investigations.
OECD ACCESSION COUNTRIES CHILE, ESTONIA, AND SLOVENIA;
POTENTIAL CONVENTION OBSERVERS THAILAND, EGYPT, AND INDIA
¶18. (SBU) Chile, Estonia and Slovenia (all parties to the
Anti-Bribery Convention) are seeking OECD accession, so the
WGB must provide the OECD with an opinion on whether they are
fulfilling their anti-corruption obligations. Chile has made
significant progress on a bill creating corporate liability,
which will hopefully pass this year, greatly improving
Chile,s chances for a favorable opinion from the group. The
WGB agreed on draft contents of a letter the Chair will send
to Chile to encourage it to pass such legislation and note
other deficiencies it must address. The Secretariat will
draft new reports for Estonia and Slovenia, which appear to
be on track. The WGB will review the reports in June.
¶19. (SBU) Concerning Thailand's observer request, the Chair
asked the Secretariat to confirm that the Thai government is
interested, as the request came from Thailand,s Office of
the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), which is
apparently separate from the government. USDEL said that
NACC will be meeting with delegation representatives in April
and will ask about its relationship with the Thai government.
The Secretariat has sent accession information to Egypt in
response to initial interest about observing with a view to
becoming a party to the Convention but has not received any
further expression of interest. The Secretariat separately
told the MG that it is pursuing India, but that India has not
responded to its inquiries and does not appear interested in
joining the Convention.
CURRENT CONVENTION OBSERVERS: CHINA AND RUSSIA
¶20. (SBU) USDEL held a brief informal bilateral meeting with
China, which was attending as an observer for the third time.
USDEL stressed the importance of having a foreign
anti-bribery law and offered continued bilateral assistance
in this area. The Chinese did not make a presentation or
offer any update on the status of their law, saying, when
asked, that they had nothing to add to the detailed
presentation they made in December. The Chinese delegate
said that China attracts and is making a lot of foreign
investments and so is concerned about foreign corruption,
including corruption of its domestic officials by foreign
companies. He admitted that Chinese companies risked being
known as corrupt abroad if China did not enact a foreign
bribery law soon. The Chinese delegates stressed their
continued goal of addressing domestic bribery and
implementing UNCAC. USDEL believes continued engagement with
China on anti-bribery issues is necessary to determine
Chinese attitudes on domestic legislation against foreign
bribery and WGB membership, and asks Chinese posts and
Washington-based China offices to flag opportunities for
bilateral exchange with the Ministry of Supervision or other
appropriate Ministries.
¶21. (SBU) Disappointingly, the Russians only made brief
appearances the first day and a half, and then did not attend
the rest of the week. USDEL therefore did not have the
opportunity to talk to them. The Secretariat informed USDEL
during the MG meeting that although interested in accession
to the OECD, the Russian Ministry of Justice was clearly not
interested in the Convention and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs had to push them to attend at all. The Secretariat
warned that assessing Russia will be challenging, given its
reportedly inadequate new anti-corruption law and lack of
enforcement. Nonetheless, the WGB agreed to invite Russia
for its accession review in December.
NEW CHAIRMANSHIP
¶22. (SBU) Current WGB Chair Mark Pieth invited U.S. delegates
Kathryn Nickerson and Mark Mendelsohn to lunch to discuss
whether Pieth should remain as WGB Chair. Delegates from
France and Holland also participated. All agreed that it was
time to start a formal search for the next Chair, as the WGB
is about to begin its new phase of monitoring and could use
dynamic new leadership. Pieth has held the position for
nineteen years, almost unheard of in the OECD. All also
agreed that Pieth would stay for at least another year or so
(the French delegate suggested until the UK had passed its
anti-bribery legislation), during which time delegates would
discreetly start compiling a list of potential successors.
All agreed that the new chair must speak French and probably
have a law degree, be capable of managing and inspiring a
large group, and possess strong public relations skills.
Although background on anti-corruption issues would be
desirable, the caliber of a suitable candidate should be such
that the new chair will be able to learn the substance
quickly. Funding the position of the new Chair will be an
issue, as our understanding is that the current Chair is
funded by Switzerland. USDEL will suggest adding discussion
on a new WGB Chair to the next informal MG agenda (the
working dinner following the formal MG meeting in June). In
the meantime, USDEL members will informally seek advice on
potential candidates.
CLINTON