Thailand prepares for ratifying Anti-Bribery Convention

BANGKOK, January 19 (TNA) - The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) organized a seminar on campaigns against bribery with foreign authorities in Bangkok Thursday, as part of Thailand's preparations for ratifying the Anti-Bribery Convention of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). NACC Chairman Panthep Klanarongran and Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong, who is newly-appointed Finance Minister concurrently, jointly opened the seminar at the Intercontinental Hotel. Panthep said although Thailand has not yet ratified the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention pending amendments to many relevant laws, the country has realized that bribery is an international concern, acknowledging that the ratification will benefit Thailand and his office is studying procedures towards the ratification of the international convention. Kittirat, meanwhile, said as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is scheduled to be established by 2015, which will lead to regional liberalization in trade and other areas, fights against bribery will boost global investors' confidence in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN, insisting that the Thai government is ready to support the NACC in the fights. The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, or officially the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, was signed on December 17, 1997 and came into force on February, 15, 1999, aimed at reducing corruption in developing countries by encouraging sanctions against bribery in international business transactions carried out by companies and officials based in the Convention member countries and at creating a truly level playing field in today's international business environment. Regarding to reports that newly-appointed Minister Attached to the Prime Minister's Office Nalinee Taveesin was blacklisted by the United States, the NAAC chief said that the new minister has not done anything wrong but his office is ready to launch an investigation if receiving a request and will definitely take actions against government officials who are wrongdoers, noting that his office is duty-bound to examine asset and liability declarations of all Cabinet members. (TNA)