<!-- Begin
function writeMarquee() {
document.write("<marquee scrolldelay='75' scrollamount='5'>May 17, 2002 - <a href='http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2002/2002.05.14.bpi.en.html'>Transparency International, Bribe Payer's Index 2002</a> - A study conducted for independent anti-corruption agency Transparency International by the Gallup International Association has identified Russian and Chinese companies as the most flagrant bribe-payers in richer nations seeking contracts. In the survey, the names of 21 industrial countries were given to business and banking leaders in emerging-market nations for comment and ranking. On a scale of 1 to 10 - with 1 being the most prone to bribery and 10 the least - the United States got a score of 5.3, the same rating as Japan. The 'cleanest' countries, though not perfect, were Australia, Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. Transparency International, whose founders are former World Bank officials, introduced the 'bribe payers` index' in 1999 in order to balance its older 'corruption perception index.'  That index routinely cited developing countries as the most corrupt in the eyes of international business analysts. The reaction from those developing countries often was a countercharge that somebody has to offer or agree to pay bribes for corruption to take place. It was the strong message that Jerry Rawlings, who was president of Ghana, brought to the United Nations in a General Assembly speech two years ago, in which he accused the rich nations of creating the corruption in Africa that they then criticized. <a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/17/international/asia/17brib.html'>The New York Times</a>, Barbara Crossette... </marquee>");
}
//  End -->
