COI announced signing of a memorandum of understanding MOU on bilateral cooperation in fighting corruption with Anti- Corruption and Civil Rights Commission of South Korea (ACRC). Noting that signing of the memorandum was based on the realization of the seriousness of the problems and threats caused by corruption to the security and stability of societies, since it undermines and hampered the function of the institutions, democratic systems, and the values of justice and exposing the rule of law and sustainable development to danger.

The memorandum was signed by Ms.Pak Anjung, head of the ACRC of the Republic of Korea, and by the COI Commissioner of Iraqi side, Dr. Hassan Yasiri. The first party expressed its readiness to receive the staff of the second party (COI); to get them participated in development courses, informing them of the latest technologies used in the field of combating corruption, as a first step to activate the contents of the memorandum.

Among the results wished to be achieved by MOU is to promote cooperation and international efforts which come in line with the provisions of chapter six of the UNCAC which urges the States Parties to provide as much technical assistance as possible in their anti-corruption and programs.

Under the laws and regulations of their respective countries, the two parties have agreed to strengthen cooperation frameworks in preventing and combating corruption, increasing capacity and institutional building between them, as well as improving anti-corruption systems, strategies and policies.

The MOU identifies a set of frameworks and points through which joint coordination and cooperation, including participation and exchange of policies, experiences and best practices in preventing and combating corruption, cooperation through joint research and exchange of techniques and information related to the prevention of corruption, and the development of training, educational and professional programs in this field as well as, establishing of seminars, workshops and bilateral meetings between the two parties.

The MOU stipulates the formation of a committee for cooperation and joint coordination includes representatives of two sides, to discuss and coordinate the development on cooperation fields, review the results of joint activities and related to activating MOU terms, stressing the importance of confidentiality of information and documents exchanged between the two parties, taking into account legislations, regulations and dominant rules in the two countries.

On the sidelines of the Conference of the States Parties of UNCAC, held in Vienna in 2017, COI Commissioner met with the heads of anti-corruption commissions of South Korea, France, Malaysia Singapore, delegation of International Anti-Corruption Academy IACA as well. These meetings resulted in the discussion of holding MOUs between the Commission and the mentioned bodies, and their willingness to receive the COI’s staff to get a closer look at their experience and mechanisms adopted by them and to train the Commission’s investigators on the modern methods of investigation. Such efforts culminated by concluding this memorandum with South Korea side which in turn expressed its readiness to receive the COI’s cadres; in order to involve them in courses of development and inform them of the latest modern technologies used in the field of anti-corruption.