Central America Officially Anti-Corruption
Central American presidents and representatives from Belize and the Dominican Republic signed the Declaration of Guatemala Wednesday, in which they committed to fight corruption and promote transparency in the region.

At the 12th International Anti-Corruption Conference, the Central American presidents expressed their will to increase collaboration between countries to prevent corruption.

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger announced this important document, and assured that his counterparts accept the challenge to create conditions to eradicate administrative corruption in Central America by 2010.

In the Declaration of Guatemala, presidents proposed to speed free access of citizens to public information, adoption of systems for periodic payment of bills and improve procedures for purchases of goods and services.

Also, there is promotion of behavior regulations in the public as in the private sectors, with prevention and punishments.

Presidents Manuel Zalaya (Honduras), Martin Torrijos (Panama), Oscar Arias (Costa Rica), Antonio Saca (El Salvador), Enrique Bolanos (Nicaragua) and Oscar Berger (Guatemala) signed the text.

John Briceño signed for Belice, and Ambassador Luis Manuel Piantini for the Dominican Republic.

After the ceremony, they went to a mini-summit of the Central American Integration System to discuss reforms to the regional parliament and customs office union.