Tanzanian Association Oslo

U.S. Denies Safe

Haven to Corrupt

Foreign Public

Officials

PRESS RELEASE

September 8, 2008

Corrupt public officials, their dependents who benefit from corruption, and those who try to corrupt officials will be denied “safe haven” in the U.S. under a new U.S. Presidential proclamation (PP7750). 

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy, the suspension of entry to the United States of such corrupt people will depend on whether they were involved in public corruption in their host countries that seriously affects specified American national interests. These interests include: international economic activity of U.S. businesses; U.S. foreign assistance goals; the security of the U.S.; the stability of democratic institutions and nations, and the newly added 2008 State Appropriations Act on corruption related to the extraction of natural resources. 

Ambassador Mark Green noted “The proclamation prevents certain individuals involved in public corruption from traveling to the U.S. to enjoy the fruits of their corruption, and it sends a strong message that we’re committed to help international efforts to combat public corruption wherever it occurs.” 

The U.S. Presidential proclamation targets public officials, such as government officials, who are involved in acts of accepting bribes (either articles of monetary value or other benefits), misappropriation of public funds, interference with judicial, electoral and other public processes. The proclamation also applies to private sector individuals who have bribed or sought to bribe public officials, and to their spouses, children and dependent household members. 

The ‘Denial of Safe Heaven’ American policy is gaining international recognition. During the June 2003 G-8 Evian Summit, President Bush and other G-8 leaders agreed to deny safe haven to public officials guilty of corruption, by denying them entry, and to identify, trace, freeze or seize and ultimately confiscate and dispose of assets that are proceeds of corruption. In the recently-concluded Hokkaido Summit, G-8 leaders reaffirmed the policy. Similar political commitments to deny safe heaven to corrupt officials and those who corrupt them have also been taken up by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. 

The reinforcement of this policy underscores how serious the U.S. is about the destructive and insidious effects of pervasive corruption. 

As Ambassador Green states, “America will not allow itself to be used as a safe harbor for “kleptocrats” or their families. Increasing transparency and fighting corruption are two principal values held dearly by the United States of America. We will continue to work closely with Tanzania to root out corruption and bring to justice any individual found culpable of engaging in corrupt activities.

Courtsey of Embassy of the United States, Dar es Salaam Tanzania