The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during his visit Austria from 2-7 September 2010 has attended the official launch event for the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Laxenburg.
Speaking at the Conference: "From Vision to Reality: A New and Holistic Approach to Fighting Corruption" at the Hofburg Conference Centre on Thursday 2 September, Ban Ki-moon said: "The launch of the International Anti-Corruption Academy is a milestone in the efforts of the international community to fight corruption. It has great potential to advance the goals of the landmark United Nations Convention against Corruption.
"Too often in the past, corruption was perceived as a fact of life. Too often, many people simply resigned themselves to it. Rarely did corruption cases come to trial.
"Today, attitudes are changing. Across the world, intolerance of corruption is growing. The establishment of this Academy responds not only to this increasing sense of outrage and injustice, but also to an urgent need to train the experts we need to conquer this global menace.
"The Academy will help build a culture of integrity."
The International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) is the world's first educational institution dedicated to fighting corruption. Starting in September, it will train policymakers in governments, the private sector and civil society, as well as professionals such as judges, investigators, prosecutors, police officers, regulators and academics from all over the world.
Following the ceremony at the Hofburg the Secretary-General visited the Academy at Laxenburg.
Earlier he met the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Michael Spindelegger and introduced the new Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Director General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, Yury Fedotov.
During his visit to Austria the Secretary-General will be meeting the Federal President Heinz Fischer.
On Saturday 4 September he addresses the closing session of the European Forum Alpbach 2010 on "The International Financial Crisis and the Millennium Development Goals", and participates in a Security Council Retreat session on "Challenges for Prevention and Protection - Challenges of Implementation". On 5 and 6 September Ban Ki-moon is leading the annual retreat for UN senior officials.
From left to right: Austria's Interior Minister Maria Fekter, Austria's Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger,
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Governor of Lower Austria Erwin Pröll. (© UN Photo/Mark Garten)
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