Integrity Chief and US Charge d’Affaires Discuss Boosting Cooperation on Asset Recovery and Surrender of Wanted Persons

Baghdad - Al‑Wasat Iraqi Newspaper

The head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Mohammad Ali al‑Lami, met today, Monday, with the US Charge d’Affaires in Iraq, Stephen Fagin, to discuss strengthening cooperation in the field of recovering smuggled funds and surrendering wanted persons.

A statement from the commission, received by Al‑Wasat Iraqi Newspaper, said that "the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Mohammad Ali al‑Lami, affirmed that combating corruption and protecting public funds require coordinated national and international efforts, and the enhancement of cooperation in pursuing those involved in corruption cases and illicit enrichment at the expense of public funds, and in the recovery of wanted persons and smuggled funds."

Al‑Lami stressed, during his meeting with the US Charge d’Affaires in Iraq (Stephen Fagin), the importance of activating mechanisms of international cooperation and benefiting from the provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, notably the provisions of Chapter Five on asset recovery, describing the restoration of funds and assets obtained through corruption as a fundamental pillar of international anti‑corruption efforts, while noting the importance of removing recovery obstacles such as dual nationality, differences in legislation, and allegations of political targeting.

He explained that "the meeting also discussed prospects for cooperation between the Integrity Commission and the US side in the areas of preventing and combating corruption, exchanging expertise, and enhancing coordination on files of mutual interest, in a way that supports efforts to protect public funds and pursue and recover proceeds of corruption."

He pointed to "the importance of giving the preventive side a wide role in anti‑corruption strategies, in line with Chapter Two of the UN Convention, by developing preventive measures, strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability, consolidating codes of conduct, reducing conflicts of interest, enhancing transparency in public finance management and government procurement, and expanding the participation of civil society and the media in prevention efforts and in promoting a culture of integrity." 

He indicated that "strengthening integrity and combating corruption contributes to creating a safe and attractive investment environment by consolidating the rule of law, transparency, equal opportunities, and protecting investors and funds from corrupt practices," stressing the importance of supporting government policies aimed at expanding investment opportunities and enhancing economic cooperation with foreign countries and companies.

For his part, the US Charge d’Affaires in Iraq, Stephen Fagin, expressed "his country’s desire to intensify cooperation with Iraq in various fields, especially as cooperation between the two countries has developed from military support to expanded economic cooperation, as well as in integrity and anti‑corruption areas," stressing "the importance of ongoing coordination and exchange of expertise to serve the mutual interests of the two countries."