PETRISCH CHAIRS FIRST ANTI-CORRUPTION TEAM SESSION

SARAJEVO, Oct 2 (Hina) - A special team for corruption fighting, the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Group - ATC, which comprises representatives of all important international organisations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, held its first meeting in Sarajevo Friday under the chairmanship of the High Representative to BH, Wolfgang Petrisch. The Office of the High Representative (ORH) said in a statement issued Saturday the meeting focused on issues of key importance for an effective fight against corruption in the country. The participants stressed the importance of removing political influences on the functioning of the public administration, transparency in budgetary issues and in collecting funds for political parties, and changes to the electoral legislature. The Anti-Corruption and Transparency Group has the task to implement requests set by the Peace Implementation Council's administrative committee in March regarding these issues. The ATC will in the future be led by Petrisch's first deputy, US diplomat Ralph Johnson. It will comprise of representatives of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, European Commission, EU office for assistance in leading tax and customs policy (CAFAO), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, USAID, Council of Europe, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), UN Mission, Stabilisation Force and a special US Government anti- corruption team (FACT). (hina) lml