    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [May 7, 2002]
    [Pages 734-735]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

     Letter to Congressional Leaders Transmitting a Report on Implementation
    of the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption
     May 7, 2002

     Dear Mr. Speaker:  (Dear Mr. Chairman:)
         Pursuant to the resolution of advice and consent to ratification of
    the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption adopted by the Senate
    on July 27, 2000, the President must submit to the Speaker of the House
    of Representatives and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign
    Relations an annual implementation report each year for a 5-year period,
    beginning after the initial report was filed in April 2001.
         This second report to the Congress, prepared by my Administration,
    indicates that 28 of the 34 members of the Organization

    [[Page 735]]

    of American States have signed the Convention (Barbados and Belize
    signed in the past year), and 25 members deposited their instruments of
    ratification with the Organization of American States.
         Since the last report, the realization that corruption threatens
    political and economic stability, undermines democracy, and can create
    conditions ripe for terrorism has focused governments on the need to
    actively combat this international scourge. The Inter-American
    Convention contributes to this fight in the Americas and serves as a
    model to other regions. With the development of an effective evaluation
    mechanism, the Convention will help establish a new level of
    transparency and accountability. This report also outlines the steps
    taken to establish an evaluation mechanism, known as the Committee of
    Experts, to oversee implementation of the Convention.
         I look forward to working with you to ensure that we continue to
    combat corruption in our hemisphere and across the globe.
             Sincerely,

                                                              George W. Bush

      Note:  Identical letters were sent to J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of
    the House of Representatives, and Joseph R. Biden, Jr., chairman, Senate
    Committee on Foreign Relations. This letter was released by the Office
    of the Press Secretary on May 8.