Regional presidents, PMs to submit financial accounts to CPI

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A new draft Iraqi Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) law will require the presidents and prime ministers of the Kurdistan region and other Iraqi regions when formed to submit their financial accounts to the commission. “The new CPI law, currently examined by the State Shura Council, has expanded to include regional presidents, prime ministers and ministers, in addition to director generals, security chiefs, officers and officials,” the head of the commission, Rahim al-Ogaili, told IraqiNews.com news agency today. The statement was made two days after several journalists from the Kurdistan region had called on Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani, Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barazani and other regional officials to follow in the footsteps of Premier Nouri al-Maliki and 20 ministers who presented theirs financial statements to the commission. The Iraqi Commission on Public Integrity (CPI) is an independent commission within the government of Iraq tasked with preventing and investigating corruption at all levels of the Iraqi government nationwide. It is the coordinating umbrella organization for the other two pillars (The Board of Supreme Audit and the Inspectors General) of the national strategic anti-corruption campaign. The CPI seeks to promote and advance open, honest and accountable government through public education and awareness programs allowing citizens to report corruption through anonymous means. CPI works closely with the Inspectors General (IGs) of each ministry and with the Board of Supreme Audit (BSA) to coordinate anti-corruption efforts. The CPI is also working with Ministry of Education officials to implement curricular materials in ethics and civics in public schools. Judge Rahim al-Ogaili is the current Commissioner, appointed in December 2007. SS (S) 1