Corruption enables and sustains autocratic leaders, weakens faith in democratic systems, creates opportunities for predatory actors to take advantage of our partners. It also creates political crises and governance challenges that endanger our nationJakarta (ANTARA) - On the commemoration of International Anticorruption Day, the United States (US) government reaffirmed its commitment to prevent and fight corruption globally, according to a written statement issued by the US Embassy in Jakarta Tuesday.
Corruption obstructs economic growth and development, facilitates transnational crime, and fuels terrorism, robbing citizens around the world of their basic rights, US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said in an official written statement issued by the US Department of State.
"Corruption enables and sustains autocratic leaders, weakens faith in democratic systems, creates opportunities for predatory actors to take advantage of our partners. It also creates political crises and governance challenges that endanger our national security," Pompeo said.
The US, through several agencies, including the US Department of State and US Agency for International Development, takes a comprehensive approach to fighting corruption, he stated.
"We work to hold the corrupt accountable through robust diplomatic engagement, by supporting multi-stakeholder initiatives and civil society, through foreign assistance to build stronger partners and transparent, trustworthy institutions, and by levying targeted sanctions and visa restrictions," Pompeo said.
"We can only tackle corruption effectively with a strategy that includes these many tools and has buy-in from all stakeholders," he added.
In 2019, the State Department publicly designated almost 40 public officials and their immediate family members due to their involvement in significant corruption, under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2019.
"We will continue to use this authority globally to prevent corrupt officials of foreign governments and their immediate family members from traveling to and spending their ill-gotten gains in the United States," Pompeo remarked.
The US government again called on all countries to address the scourge of corruption; effectively implement their international anticorruption commitments, including those under the United Nations Convention against Corruption; support civil society and journalists, and take measures to promote open and accountable governance.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
