Rabat Hosts COSP to Arab Anti-Corruption Convention

Rabat Hosts COSP to Arab Anti-Corruption Convention
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Rabat Hosts COSP to Arab Anti-Corruption Convention

Rabat Hosts COSP to Arab Anti-Corruption Convention

Rabat is scheduled to host on January 7 the third session of the two-day Conference of the States Parties (COSP) to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention.

It will be held under the Moroccan presidency and organized in the framework of a partnership between the Arab League and the “National Authority for Integrity and the Prevention and Combating of Bribery” in Morocco.

According to a statement by the Authority, the first day will focus on activities of an Arab forum that will discuss national anti-corruption strategies and will showcase a comprehensive, integrated, participatory approach that guarantees effectiveness and optimal impact.

Heads and representatives of anti-corruption authorities and bodies in the Arab countries will participate, as well as the relevant national sectors and institutions, regional and international institutions, civil society representatives, experts and researchers specialized in the field of integrity and prevention and combating of bribery.

The second day will witness the participation of delegations of states parties to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention, which includes Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq and Oman, in addition to Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, and Morocco.

The conference will also be attended by delegations of other Arab countries that are not members of the agreement, namely Yemen, Libya, and Mauritania, in addition to a group of regional and international organizations, all acting as observers.

The participating Arab delegations will focus on following up on the implementation of the decisions issued during the second session of the Conference of the States Parties (COSP) to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention, which was held at the Arab League’s headquarters in December 2017.

They will also discuss the report and recommendations of the third meeting of the open-ended committee, consisting of governmental experts for the state parties to the Arab Anti-Corruption Convention.

A set of decisions proposed by member states will also be presented to the conference for approval, including a proposed resolution submitted by Morocco.

The establishment of this convention dates back to December 2010, when it was ratified by the Arab Ministers of Interior and Justice, based on the affirmation of the need for Arab cooperation to prevent and combat corruption, being a transnational phenomenon.

It entered into force in June 2013 and seeks to activate measures aimed at preventing, combating, and exposing corruption in all its forms, as well as all related crimes, prosecuting perpetrators and enhancing Arab cooperation in this field.

The convention further aims at enhancing integrity, transparency, accountability and the rule of law and encouraging individuals and civil society institutions to actively participate in preventing and combating corruption.



Egypt Rescues 28 People in Tourist Yacht Sinking in Red Sea

Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
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Egypt Rescues 28 People in Tourist Yacht Sinking in Red Sea

Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)
Sea Story had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March. (Red Sea Governorate on Facebook)

A tourist yacht sank in the Red Sea on Monday after warnings of rough waters and 16 people were missing, Egyptian officials said.

The governor of the Red Sea region, Amr Hanafy, said rescuers saved 28 people from the vessel south of the coastal town of Marsa Alam, and some were airlifted to receive medical treatment.

Hanafy visited the site where the vessel sank, according to a Red Sea Governorate update on Facebook. A total of 44 people were on board the yacht, including 13 Egyptians, who include crew members, and 31 foreign nationals from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Switzerland, Finland, China, Slovakia, Spain, and Ireland.

The governor confirmed that rescuers were still searching for the missing, including four Egyptians and 12 foreigners. Meanwhile, those who survived suffered only bruises and abrasions and were taken to a hotel in Marsa Alam in good condition.

The Egyptian military was coordinating rescue operations with the governorate.

The boat, named Sea Story, had no technical problems, obtained all required permits prior to the trip, and was last checked for naval safety in March, according to officials.

Preliminary reports, based on statements from the yacht crew and tourists, said a large wave crashed into the boat, causing it to capsize, according to the governorate’s update. Some of the passengers were inside the cabins when the incident unfolded within minutes, according to the statements.

The UK Foreign Office said it was providing consular support to “a number of British nationals and their families” after the sinking.

Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs also told The Associated Press in an email that it is “aware of this incident and is providing consular assistance” without revealing further details.

Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Ministry said it was not aware of any Spanish nationals among the missing. The ministry said that five Spanish nationals were rescued and are out of danger.

The governorate received a report shortly before dawn Monday of a distress call made from the yacht, which had left Marsa Alam for a five-day journey.

It was not immediately clear what caused the four-deck, wooden-hulled motorized yacht to sink. But the Egyptian Meteorological Authority on Saturday warned about turbulence and high waves on the Red Sea and advised against maritime activity for Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, founder of the Society for Marine Rescue and Environmental Conservation in the Red Sea Hassan al-Tayeb told Asharq Al-Awsat that the yacht likely sank because of the poor weather conditions, citing meteorological reports a day before the incident.

The vessel had set sail before the weather warnings were made.

Tayeb stressed that such accidents are uncommon and that vessels are inspected by the concerned authorities before taking any sea journey.

He did not hold anyone in Egypt responsible for tourist vessel sinkings, explaining that ultimately, the weather is out of anyone’s control.