Plassnik: "Austria and the EU at the centre of the fight against corruption"
21.09.2006
Choice of location also an acknowledgement of Austria’s work in the field of security
New York, 21 September 2006 - "The creation of an anti-corruption academy constitutes an important concrete step in the fight against this global problem," said Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, welcoming the decision by Interpol’s General Meeting held in Rio de Janeiro on 20 September 2006. "Corruption as a social phenomenon exists in almost all regions of the world. It is harmful to sustainable development, democracy, the economy and the rule of law," continued the Foreign Minister.
"I am especially pleased that the General Meeting of Interpol unanimously chose Austria and the European Union as the location of the new Anti-Corruption Academy. I congratulate Minister of the Interior Liese Prokop on this decision, which is also an acknowledgement of Austria’s work in the field of security," said Plassnik.
Austria was particularly suited as a location because it had been consistently pushing cross-border cooperation in the field of domestic security for a long time, continued the Foreign Minister, citing as examples cooperation with the Salzburg Group, the major Conference on International Security in May 2006 in Vienna, which marked the first broad-based dialogue between the EU and third countries, and the security focus of Austria’s cooperation with the Balkan states. "Interpol’s Anti-Corruption Academy is the logical continuation of this work. Austria is thus at the centre of the globally networked fight against corruption," continued the Foreign Minister.
"All 186 Member States of Interpol will benefit from the basic and further training as well as the technical know-how provided by the new Academy," said Plassnik, adding that "by locating the Academy in Austria, we can now offer particularly good access to our partners in the European Union and the Balkans."
The Anti-Corruption Academy will also support the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, which entered into force in December 2005.
Contact:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
abti3(at)bmaa.gv.at
