The Anti-Corruption Commissioner, His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Barrak declared the Commission’s intention to implement new procedures to reduce the spread of bribery in state-owned companies and in the international business sector in compliance with the recommendations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development conference held in Paris to implement the international standards in this respect.

His Excellency, Counsellor Barrak stated at the end of his participation as the head of an official delegation from the Anti-Corruption Commission in the international conference on the Anti-Corruption Day in State-owned Companies organized by OCDE in Paris: “The most important outcomes of participation in this specific conference is the agreement to lay down guidelines to prevent bribery in state-owned companies and in the international business sector”, while clarifying that the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission will implement new procedures and look into the possibility to implement these guidelines to meet the requirements of international standards. This would strengthen the institutional immunity in companies owned by the State of Palestine on one hand and in the business sector on the other.

The international conference included the discussion of the ways to develop anti-corruption tools and disseminate the principles and values of integrity in the public sector. Moreover, the participants in the conference focused on state conduct in the ownership of companies in the public and private sectors.

Several work papers were submitted during the conference, coupled with interventions on promoting integrity and the values of legal accountability in this respect, besides the discussion on determining the dangers of corruption in the public sector and the means of implementing anti-corruption laws.

The participants in the conference recommended the ratification of several recommendations submitted by OCDE on the best ways and tools to fight the scourge of corruption in the public sector, especially in state-owned companies.

The Anti-Corruption Commission strives to further its professional efforts to develop the Palestinian legal and legislative environments and to expand its work and capacity to curb corruption and prevent its dangers, especially related to the economic crime that is not part of the Anti-Corruption Law despite the clear provision in the United Nations Agreement against Corruption that subjugates the private sector and the crimes of bribery, embezzlement and the economic crimes affecting the national economy to the mandate of the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On the other hand, His Excellency Counsellor Barrak and the accompanying delegation met his French counterpart, the Head of the French Anti-Corruption Agency Mr. Charles Dokin at the agency’s head office in Paris.

During the meeting, there was a discussion on the mechanisms of future cooperation between both parties. Dr. Barrak stressed the importance of this meeting in the framework of the efforts exerted by the Palestinian  Anti-Corruption Commission to enhance international cooperation.

It is noteworthy that the delegation headed by Dr. Barrak included Mr. Usama Al-Sa’adi, Miss Wala’a Abdallah and Mr. Ahmad Al-Atrash.