Lao government may join a UN move against corruption this year with hopes of creating a better investment and business climate in the country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday hosted a consultative workshop in Vientiane to discuss the UN Convention against Corruption as part of efforts to help the government and National Assembly make a decision on whether they should ratify it.

“If Laos accesses a UN Convention against Corruption, it will make foreign investors feel more confident to invest in Laos ,” Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alounkeo Kittikhoun told Vientiane Times yesterday after presiding over the workshop.

The UN-sponsored workshop aimed to provide forum for senior foreign affairs and legal officials to study and discuss the UN treaty to help the government and National Assembly to make decision whether they should ratify and become a member of the convention or not.

The United Nations will allow countries around the world to become a party to international conventions at its annual assembly at the end of this year.

Mr Alounkeo, is also former Lao Ambassador to United Nations, said Laos would gain assistance from United Nations to develop policy and mechanisms to combat corruption in the country if it joined the convention.

“The Lao PDR's participation in international legal process reflects its political will and activeness in strengthening the international and national rule of law,” he said in his remark to open the workshop.

“We consider that not only international treaties set out the legal framework for international relations but international treaties also constitute a meaningful source of best practice which can be applied nationally to improve the Lao PDR legal system.”

According to a press release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consultative workshop also discussed another two international treaties, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

These conventions are in line with Lao National Constitution and laws as well as policies of the Lao government, the press release stated.

UNDP Resident Representative Deputy, Mr Stephane Vigie, expressed appreciation to the Lao government for showing interest in joining in international covenant on civil and political rights.

“I notice that the treaties highlighted for action this year do not include the covenant on civil and political rights. But in spite of this, Laos has included this important treaty in list of treaties of deliberation in the workshop,” he said.

“This is very positive indication of the intentions of the Lao government at the treaty event in September.”

Laos has signed the International Convention on Enforced Disappearances. It also plans to accede to the International Conventions on Harmonisation of Frontier Control of Goods, and International Convention on Suppression of the Funding of Terrorism.

The workshop was supported by International Law project, funded by the UNDP, European Union and the Government of Finland.

By Ekaphone Phouthonesy