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One might have expected British Prime Minister David Cameron, the host of last week’s anti-corruption summit in London, to have been a bit more cautious when speaking of the “fantastically corrupt” countries whose leaders were his guests. Cameron’s comments about Nigeria and Afghanistan were caught on tape as he described them—to the Queen, no less—as “possibly the two most corrupt countries in the world.”

Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian president, was shocked and embarrassed according to media and staff reports, but declined to ask for an apology, pointedly stressing that he would rather see recovered the many tangible assets hidden away by his countrymen in the UK.

For all the diplomatic drama—since, not to be outdone, Queen Elizabeth was caught on tape insulting the Chinese too—the anti-corruption summit moved forward with representatives of some 40 nations present and with Buhari delivering the keynote address. A final twist occurred when The Economist reported there had been speculation that Cameron’s indiscretion was actually intentional, designed to stir up additional media interest in the otherwise staid summit talks.

International cooperation in the fight against corruption

By most accounts, the summit was a good first step toward international cooperation on transparency and toward cobbling together a coordinated effort to target secretive tax havens and offshore financial arrangements tied to illegal activities. Of the 40 attending nations, ten are EU members.

These European participants are now looking to shut down the anonymous shell companies used for money laundering by developing registers of the true business owners involved. While Ireland will consider it, France, the U.K. and the Netherlands have pledged to make those registries public—albeit some of the U.K.’s overseas territories, like the British Virgin Islands, will not be forced to come clean.

Additionally, five EU nations pledged to increase transparency on corporate tax compliance, while the summit further addressed corruption in negotiating and awarding EU public contracts, protections for whistleblowers, and seizure penalties.

However, the fact that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry managed to shift attention away from America’s notoriously secretive states of Delaware, Nevada or South Dakota prompted many to argue that the West is more interested in pointing fingers at developing countries than addressing its own shortfalls. Looking ahead, participants agreed to hold a forum next year on asset recovery, one that will focus on assistance for challenged nations such as the “fantastically corrupt” Nigeria.

Nigeria and the culture of corruption

For his part, Buhari’s remarks referred to corruption as a “hydra-headed monster” that cannot be reined in without a coordinated effort. He detailed how four different Nigerian agencies are pursuing corruption investigations in a bid to respect his campaign promises from 2015. Buhari also addressed human rights issues in Nigeria’s fight against corruption, as well as the problem of oil theft, estimated at 150,000 barrels a day. The extent of Nigeria’s problem is reflected by data provided in the annual Transparency International index, which ranked the nation at 136 of the 168 countries evaluated.

Buhari, however, has so far failed to deliver on his lofty campaign promises to root out Nigeria’s endemic corruption. After a remarkably slow start to his term, which saw the country running without an appointed cabinet between May and November 2015, Buhari came under fire for using international aid money earmarked for cracking down on Boko Haram to fund a witch hunt against opposition politicians.

Indeed, according to reports, the nascent anti-corruption campaign has been targeting political enemies of the regime, raising fears that Buhari, a former military dictator in the 80s, is returning to his autocratic ways.

Beyond the shining example Buhari set for the wider region showing that democratic transitions can indeed be possible in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigerians are not faring any better.

The president who once claimed he could singlehandedly stabilize world oil prices is being sapped by a period of high inflation that has driven food prices higher, while the inefficient power grid and infrastructure are dragging down the embattled Nigerian economy. Improving just the grid would boost the country’s economy by a whopping 14%, but the process is stalled because of rent seeking and graft.

What’s most troubling though is the vicious circle of corruption in Nigerian society: the elites who avail themselves of the country’s assets cause the very suffering that they are then supposed to alleviate. The poverty rate among rural households has grown to some 80 % on the back of tumbling oil prices in an economy that has failed to properly diversify.

The ongoing conflicts with Boko Haram in the northeast—itself fueling, and fueled by, Nigeria’s corruption—and the unrest from Biafrans in the south contribute to the nation’s climate of instability.

Everything considered, Nigeria is one of the most revealing examples of the pitfalls of corruption, the way it warps and drags down the entire economic potential of a nation.

When coupled with incompetent leadership, the only hope for Nigerians would be for this year’s anti-corruption summit to yield practical results. A list of individuals hiding wealth in London’s ridiculously overpriced property market and laundering corruption proceeds through the U.K.’s overseas territories would be a good start, both for Nigeria and David Cameron.

The post Cameron’s Anti-Corruption Summit: A First Step in a Long Road appeared first on Foreign Policy Blogs.

Democratic Republic of Congo opposition presidential hopeful Moise Katumbi is charged with hiring foreign mercenaries, as political tension rises in the country.

Nem mindig lehet számítani a szejkefürdői buszjáratra – panaszolják olvasóink. Előfordul, hogy a sofőr a fürdőről a menetrendben feltüntetett időpontnál hamarabb visszaindul, így a szombatfalvi megállónál hiába várják azok, akik a városba jönnének.
Kategória: Aktuális/Udvarhelyszék

Le paquebot Queen Mary 2 défiera bien des multicoques au cours d'une course transatlantique intitulé The Bridge entre Saint-Nazaire et New York à l'été 2017.

À lire sur le sujet

• Lire la suite de The Bridge : La participation du Queen Mary 2 confirmée

Hulladékgyűjtési akciót szervez a székelyudvarhelyi hulladékgazdálkodási vállalat, valamint a városháza szombaton délelőtt tíz és délután hat óra között. Le lehet adni az elektromos, papír-, műanyag és üveghulladékot.
Kategória: Aktuális/Udvarhelyszék

Der neue Albanische Botschafter in Ankara: Gent Gazheli ein berüchtigt korrupter Ex-Zoll Direktor, Geldwäsche Experte für Edi Rama, wurde neuer Botschafter und sofort bestätigt durch den Staatspräsidenten Bujar Nishani, obwohl er keinerlei Erfahrung hat als Diplomat, führt nun zu einem weiteren Artikel bei Foreign Policy, so auffällit ist nach vielen Skandale der Albanischen Botschaften rund um Drogen Schmuggel, Urkunden Fälschung, Erpressung und Klientel Wirtschaft. Nepotismus – Klientel System des Edi Rama – Ilir Meta in alter Tradition einige Ausschnitte jüngst von Foreign Policy: „Mr. Rama’s recruitment of inexperienced apprentices and corrupt loyalists „ —„Mr. Edi Rama’s government is incompetent and a prey to a significant influence of Islamic State; it […]

Átadták a székelyudvarhelyi Dávid Ferenc tér felújított játszóterét csütörtök délután. Mint elhangzott, a felszerelt játékelemek mindenféle vonatkozó előírásnak megfelelnek.
Kategória: Aktuális/Udvarhelyszék

La loi va s’appliquer à tout le monde, a indiqué jeudi à Alger, le ministre du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Sécurité sociale, Mohamed El Ghazi, au sujet des bénéficiaires de crédits dans le cadre des dispositifs de micro-entreprsies et qui n’ont pas remboursé à temps leurs créances.

« La loi s’appliquera sur tout le monde », a déclaré le ministre dans un point de presse tenu en compagnie du ministre de la Formation et de l’Enseignement professionnels, Mohamed Mebarki, à l’occasion de l’inauguration de la 6ème édition du Salon national de l’Emploi où était également présent, le ministre de la Culture, Azedine Mihoubi.

Le ministre, qui a qualifié cette catégorie de « malintentionnés », a relevé que « 80 % des entreprises sont en train de rembourser. Ce qui est déja un taux important. Il y a 10 à 15 % d’entreprises qui ont des difficultés à rembourser et qui sont accompagnés à nouveau par l’ANSEJ et la CNAC pour les aider à dépasser la phase difficile ».

M. El Ghazi a souligné, que les jeunes bénéficiaires « étaient informés des clauses des contrats signés pour la création de leur micro-entreprises avec l’ANSEJ et les banques ».

Die Nato hat die Beitrittsverhandlungen mit Montenegro abgeschlossen. Am zweiten Tag des Treffens der Außenminister der Mitgliedsstaaten wurden die…

Tamási Áron halálának ötvenedik évfordulója alkalmából kaput állít az író testvérének farkaslaki házához a Tamási Áron Művelődési Egyesület. A kapuállítást rendezvénysorozat kíséri.
Kategória: Aktuális/Udvarhelyszék

À l’occasion de la sortie récente d’une bande dessinée à succès sur l’histoire de la sexualité, par Philippe Brenot et Laetitia Coryn (Les Arènes BD, 2016), l’information selon laquelle Cléopâtre aurait inventé, il y a un peu plus de 2000 ans, le premier vibromasseur a fait le tour du Web, témoignant de la fascination qu’exerce aujourd’hui encore l’ancienne reine d’Égypte, tout autant que de la persistance d’un très vieux préjugé sexiste.

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A Babeş–Bolyai Tudományegyetem (BBTE) Székelyudvarhelyi Kihelyezett Tagozatának tanító- és óvodapedagógia szakos végzősei búcsúztak csütörtökön a felsőoktatási intézettől, a ballagási ünnepség a Bányai János Szakközépiskola sporttermében zajlott.
Kategória: Aktuális/Udvarhelyszék

Quelle : © Europäische Union, 2016 - EP

Tough new anti-smoking laws come into effect in Uganda, banning smoking in or near public places and outlawing e-cigarettes and flavoured tobacco.

http://tvnewsroom.consilium.europa.eu/uploads/council-images/thumbs/uploads/council-images/remote/http_7e18a1c646f5450b9d6d-a75424f262e53e74f9539145894f4378.r8.cf3.rackcdn.com/5_flag_thumb_169_1417538113_1417537965_129_97shar_c1.jpg

In June 2014, the Foreign Affairs Council agreed a new strategy  for Afghanistan till the end of 2016, to develop Afghanistan's institutions.

Download this video here.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

Who is Amina, the Chibok girl rescued from Boko Haram?

General : 16 MEPs from the GUE/NGL group withdrew their signature from a motion of censure on the Commission which was announced in plenary on Thursday 12 May.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP

General : 16 MEPs from the GUE/NGL group withdrew their signature from a motion of censure on the Commission which was announced in plenary on Thursday 12 May.

Source : © European Union, 2016 - EP