RESULTS REPORT: DVC "FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTING FOR

UNCLAS LIMA 003501 SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA (CBARONE),INFO IIP/T/ES(GCHRISTISON),INFO WHA/PDA (SLEBENS/MDCONNERS/GADAMS),WHA/PD (GGALLEGOS),WHA/AND (JMONSERRAT) E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PE SUBJECT: RESULTS REPORT: DVC "FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTING FOR OFFICIALS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH" -- TRACKER 24282 ¶1. As part of Post's efforts to aid the Peruvian government in their anti-corruption initiatives, PAS Lima organized a DVC on Financial Disclosure Reporting on 4 August. U.S. speaker, Carol ¶E. Dixon, Counsel of the House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, shared information with Genaro Matute, Peru's Comptroller General, Ana Mara Risi, Head of the Financial Disclosure Bureau and the Comptroller's financial disclosure unit on how the ethics program and the financial disclosure system are run in the U.S. legislative branch. The DVC was a follow-up on programs conducted with Barbara Mullen- Roth, Office of Government Ethics last November and Hiram Morales from the Puerto Rican OGE in July. ¶2. Carol Dixon's participation was excellent. During her 30- minute presentation, Ms. Dixon gave an overview of the legislative ethics program and the functions of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. She also provided information regarding laws, rules, regulations, and other standards of conduct for House of Representatives members and employees. Ms. Dixon stressed that it was essential to keep civil society informed about the public official's financial interests in order to increase the confidence in the government. At the end of the program, the Comptroller General indicated that his office will implement several procedures to improve the Peruvian financial disclosure system based on the information provided during the event. ¶3. Results: As a result of Post's extensive programming with the Comptroller's office, they have introduced a bill to Congress to modify the Constitution which would give the Comptroller's office access to public servant's confidential bank and tax information. A second bill will be introduced to set an annual fixed date when financial disclosure reports must be filed and to require that government officials file reports within 30 days of their termination date. This bill will also set up administrative sanctions such as late filing fees for those who fail to submit their reports or submit them without meeting the established terms and conditions. ¶4. Audience Size: 35 staff members of the Financial Disclosure Bureau attended the program. ¶5. Quality of U.S. support and IIP offices involved: Excellent/Outstanding - Our thanks to Gretchen Christison and DVC team for their close coordination with post and flexibility to test Lima's translation equipment. STRUBLE