Dili, 22/07/2013 — The Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC, Comissào Anti-Corrupçào) of Timor-Leste tomorrow hosts the
first day of the annual international ADB/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for
Asia and the Pacific. The conference runs from 24-25 July at the Timor Plaza
Hotel, Dili. Prior to the conference, on Tuesday 23July, the Steering
Group for the Initiative will hold its annual meeting.

The conference focuses
on the protection of whistleblowers and strengthening of anti-corruption
agencies – issues that are central to the long-term mission of the ACC and
fellow anti-corruption agencies from around the world.

Sixty participants from
30 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region are attending the conference, the first
international anti-corruption event to be held in Timor-Leste.

The conference is
sponsored by the Asian Development Bank and the Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD).  It
includes a consultation session with civil society, the media and the private
sector.

CAC Commissioner,
Adérito de Jesus, said: “This conference is a vote of confidence for the ACC.

“It shows that the
international community recognizes our commitment to fighting corruption,” he
said.

 “The conference presents us all with a chance
to learn from each other’s experiences.

 “It is impossible to fight corruption within
our own borders only. International cooperation is the key to really tackling
cross-border corruption,” he said.

The Anti-Corruption
Initiative for Asia and the Pacific was established in 1999.  It supports governments fighting corruption
in the Asia-Pacific region.  Timor-Leste
was unanimously accepted as a member in August 2012 at the last annual conference
in Vietnam. (*)