Experts doubtful over pan-Arab move to fight corruption (Feature)

By Abdul Jalill Mustafa Aug 1, 2008, 11:43 GMT

Amman - Arab countries are teaming up to fight entrenched corruption through the establishment of the first dedicated pan-Arab anti-corruption body, agreed during a conference held in the Jordanian capital Amman.

But experts on Friday cast doubt on the effectiveness of the move, saying it lacked the prerequisites required to successfully tackle corruption, an issue that threatens most Arab countries.

'We look to this step with hope as the beginning of a systematic campaign for fighting rampant corruption, but we think it lacks the required degree of seriousness,' Hani Dahleh, Chairman of the Amman- based Arab Organization of Human Rights, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

'Such a move will falter if it is not coupled with the required transparency and the legal mechanism that governs the process of fighting corruption, and if the job is not assigned to people of integrity,' he said.

'Putting an end to the illegal attrition of public wealth and other forms of corruption is an integral part of any democratic system of government,' Dahleh said, adding that the 'dissatisfactory status of democracy in the Arab world' meant the new initiative ran the risk of being a 'mere slogan.'

State-run anti-corruption institutions from 19 Arab countries on Thursday ended a two-day regional conference with the establishment of a pan-Arab network aimed at combating corruption across the Arab world.

The participants said in a statement that the step was taken to 'boost the welfare and progress of Arab societies and help push forward with development.'

The conferees said they were 'aware of the fact that corruption represented a stumbling bloc for human development and runs counter to the pillars and values of Arab culture.'

'Corruption also wipes out national wealth, impedes investment, lowers the standards of basic services, weakens citizens' confidence in the authorities, blocks the rule of law and threatens the stability and security of communities,' the statement said.

The conference underscored the importance of cooperation with the Arab League in implementing Arab and international anti-corruption agreements, and also in establishing 'effective and continuous exchange of information and expertise' among anti-corruption institutions.

The meeting appointed the head of Jordan's Anti-Corruption Department Abd Shakhanbeh to chair the panel for one year. Shakhanbeh is also tasked with informing Arab League Secretary General Amr Mussa on the progress of the network's mission.

Global anti-corruption watchdogs, foremost Transparency International, have painted a gloomy picture for the Arab world over the past few years, suggesting that its rapidly expanding oil wealth is set to provide corrupt officials in the region with fresh ammunition.

They contend that the process of change in the region had been made difficult by non-democratic government structures in several Arab countries, where administrations lack accountability.

Jordanian media meanwhile suggested that anti-corruption conferences should not be confined to Arab countries, but should involve participants from foreign countries, particularly European states which possess a remarkable experience in fighting corruption.

'By doing so, we can count on a pool of experience for addressing this peril,' said Taher Adwan, editor-in-chief of the independent daily newspaper, Al-Arab Al-Yawm.

He contended that the battle against corruption 'lies in copying the definition of corruption as developed by democratic European countries, in the same way we import technology,' Adwan said.