Corruption conference opens in Panama

THE PROBLEM of corruption occurs at the global level and all states are facing a "common enemy" said President Ricardo Martinelli at the opening in Panama of a UN conference on corruption.

Some 1,200 representatives of about 150 countries are at the Atlapa Convention Center for a five day study of what The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) calls the greatest obstacle to economic and social development throughout the world.

The fifth edition of the conference is was opened by President Martinelli and Yury Fedotov, executive director of UNODC.
The UNODC executive director said that corruption is directly linked to crimes such as human trafficking, illegal trafficking of arms, goods and drugs, and agreed with Martinelli that states must create "a culture of prevention."
According to World Bank figures, each year in developing countries between $20 billion and $40 billion is lost year because of corruption and bribery.
"Corruption not only steals money from those who need it most, but it leads to weak governance which, in turn, encourages organized crime networks," said the official.