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Alliance of business leaders, politicians take on corruption

American Chamber of Commerce leads call for transparency on public tenders


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#1 Posted by

Jiri Hubacek
Mar 25, 2010 3:24 pm CET

"I would have no problem owning shares in a company whose staff bribed officials when they are doing business in third-world countries such as Nigeria, Gabon or the Czech Republic": without the bribes they wouldn't get any business. "

What an incredible mentality you have,You are a paragon of illogic.
I did not expect more-that is for sure.

#2 Posted by

Alexia Lincoln
Unregistered user
Mar 25, 2010 1:56 pm CET

""The only thing is... that the recipients of the bribes aren't in Germany or any other W. European country... they're in the places like Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece etc.""

Jiri: you have missed Tomas' point entirely.

There is a *huge* difference between someone paying a bribe and someone receiving one. If a company offers a bribe then his shareholders get something - a contract - that they wouldn't otherwise get, and they are better off. On the other hand, the bureaucrat who takes the bribe is ensuring that the contract is awarded to a company which isn't necessarily the best. So the people who pay *his* salary are worse off because of his actions.

I would have no problem owning shares in a company whose staff bribed officials when they are doing business in third-world countries such as Nigeria, Gabon or the Czech Republic": without the bribes they wouldn't get any business. On the other hand, a corrupt official should be thrown in to jail without mercy.

It's interesting to see how little this country has changed over the past twenty years.

#3 Posted by

Jiri Hubacek
Mar 25, 2010 1:51 am CET

"The only thing is... that the recipients of the bribes aren't in Germany or any other W. European country... they're in the places like Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece etc."

Tomas,there is no diference at all between people involved in corruption.Whether they pay bribe to gain advantage or receive the bribe to give advantage to corrupted companies is immaterial.Both sides are corrupted in equal way.
I do not absolve any such companies-no matter whether they are Czech ones or German,French,British,or from any other country.

#4 Posted by

Tomas Budesinsky
Mar 24, 2010 6:16 pm CET

Jiri,
The Czech Republic by far isn't the only country with a horrendous public and private corruption record. EU countries like Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania are on the same level or worse. But... being part of a club that includes Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq and others is nothing to be proud of. (Due to the fact that I work in IT) I can tell you of how Siemens was involved in a larger corruption scam than Daimler. The only thing is... that the recipients of the bribes aren't in Germany or any other W. European country... they're in the places like Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq, Czech, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece etc. Places where almost all public sector employees have their hands out for a bribe. I would much rather see us (the Czech Republic) in the club with low corruption rates like Scandinavia and W. Europe than with those that are previously mentioned. They are third world or one step above third world countries. We (Czech Republic) can do better.

#5 Posted by

Mary Aigle
Unregistered user
Mar 24, 2010 4:17 pm CET

"This is for those who carp regularly about Czechs only corruption."

Nobody says that corruption doesn't exist elsewhere. However, for Czechs it is a way of life.

#6 Posted by

Jiri Hubacek
Mar 24, 2010 3:19 pm CET

Daimler AG faces charges of violating U.S. bribery laws


ReutersMarch 24, 2010

German car and truck maker Daimler AG was charged yesterday with violating U.S. bribery laws by showering foreign officials with millions of dollars and gifts of luxury cars to win business deals.

Daimler plans to pay $185 million US to settle charges by the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission while its German and Russian units plan to plead guilty to the criminal charges, a source familiar with the case said.

U.S. prosecutors accused the maker of Mercedes cars of engaging "in a long-standing practice of paying bribes" to secure deals in Russia, China, Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Iraq and at least 16 other countries between 1998 and early 2008.

? Copyright (c) The Victoria Times Colonist

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Daimler+faces+charges+violating+bribery+laws/2720064/story.html#ixzz0j6UGbG8w


This is for those who carp regularly about Czechs only corruption.

#7 Posted by

jan fleur
Unregistered user
Mar 23, 2010 11:38 pm CET

Why did the President accuse Mr Stacey of profiteering?

#8 Posted by

Alexia Lincoln
Unregistered user
Mar 23, 2010 12:23 pm CET

"conspiracy freak"

Assassinations generally involve more than one person, and are therefore conspiracies.

#9 Posted by

Jiri Hubacek
Mar 20, 2010 1:24 pm CET

"I suspect that Weston Stacey is going to have an "accident" pretty soon..."

Written by conspiracy freak.

#10 Posted by

jan fleur
Unregistered user
Mar 19, 2010 2:03 pm CET

Difficult subject matter; I looked at results from a politicians and managers conducted survey in 2007 by Donath Marston-Marstellar when asked a variety of questions. The survey consisted of 548 politicians and 648 managers who subscribed to 'Final Word' and took part through free will.
They were asked a about corruption)-
'Since 2001 corruption was just as widespread in 2006'.
'Corruption is a consequence of the high degree of bureaucracy and the unethical behaviour of civil servants who request bribes'.
'Politicians claim that the media can be abused and can resort to biased reporting; managers report that one of the main tasks is to expose corruption'.
These are three examples from the main findings polled from the group, there are another seven examples.
The fighting of corruption,
The creation of a government office that is independent of the police and has the aim of investigating corrupt behaviour among politicians, civil servants, and police.'
'Elected officials should publicly divulge their assets including ownership concerns'.
Theses are two examples on tackling corruption from the same group;
There are another seven.
Mr Stacey alongside well motivated politicians realise the public perception of tenders is very poor. Some brave enough to try and introduce proper oversight in Prague public tenders were met with callous indifference; Marketa Reedova resigned in disgust at the stagnation of city initiative. It would be a welcome fresh approach to a cancerous problem; the positive interest by TOP9 shows a marked contrast from the right which at many a juncture appears to lack commitment and clarity to an acknowledged national problem.

#11 Posted by

Martin Winterton
Unregistered user
Mar 19, 2010 9:24 am CET

I suspect that Weston Stacey is going to have an "accident" pretty soon...

Unfortunately, while I applaud his efforts, it's a little rich of him to talk about corruption so long as Obama bin Barack is busy bailing out his paymasters on Wall Street with the money of the mugs who voted for him.
 
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