HE the Attorney General of Qatar Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri addressing the opening session of the 3rd Arab Forum on Asset Recovery, which will conclude today in Geneva, Switzerland, in his capacity as UN Special Advocate for Stolen Assets Recovery. Dr al-Marri stressed the importance of the independence of judiciary and its integrity to combat corruption.
QNA/Geneva
HE the Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri participated in Third Arab Forum on Asset Recovery (AFAR III) in Geneva.
The event was inaugurated by the President of the Swiss Confederation Didier Burkhalter, and was attended by the Attorney General in his capacity as UNODC Special Regional Advocate for the Prevention of Corruption.
Speaking at the forum’s opening session, Dr al-Marri thanked the Swiss Confederation for accepting the request of the State of Qatar to host AFAR III in Geneva.
This is an expression of Switzerland’s interest in the return of looted funds from Arab countries to their respective peoples, he said. Holding the forum in Geneva has an added value to the efforts of the Swiss Confederation in the recovery of looted funds, he said.
The Attorney General criticised the failure of some parties to return the looted money to some countries, and attributed this to the absence of political will.
He recalled the history of this initiative when its first meeting was held in Doha in 2012, saying that the vision of the State of Qatar called for the need to focus on dialogue and giving priority to the interests of the people to fulfil the desired goals, in addition to the need for political will by the countries in transition and the provision of necessary regional and international support so as to return the looted money to the Arab peoples.
The countries that attended the conference yesterday demonstrated their commitment through attendance and the level of representation, the Attorney General said, calling on both Arab countries and other states that attended the forum to exert more efforts.
The forum brings together over 200 international experts from 36 countries and six international and regional organisations, in addition to the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre.
The Arab Forum on Asset Recovery (AFAR) was launched in 2012 by the US and the State of Qatar and the G7. It works as a platform bringing together the G7, the Arab Countries in Transition, key global and regional financial centres, as well as countries in the Arab World, to foster international co-operation for the return of stolen assets. It seeks to raise awareness about effective measures for asset recovery and promote coordination and international co-operation.
