Francisco Queiroz expressed the position when speaking this Monday at the 9th session of the Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which takes place in Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt.
In his intervention, the government official launched "a strong appeal" for compliance with existing international legal instruments, on cooperation in matters of repatriation of capital and goods that are illicitly transferred to other countries.
"These capitals and these goods belong to the countries of origin. In our case, this money and these goods belong to Angola and the Angolans. They must serve the country's development programs, fight poverty and improve the living conditions of Angolans", mentioned.
The minister of Justice and Human Rights said that Angola is in agreement and supports the actions of foreign states that act against Angolan citizens who have capital and assets in their countries resulting from acts of corruption and misuse of public money.
"But after being arrested or apprehended and with a sentence of confiscation in favor of the Angolan State, these assets should not remain abroad, but [be] returned to Angola", he stressed.
According to the minister, the State expresses its commitment to the fight against corruption worldwide and will continue to work with the United Nations and the States parties to the Convention, in the identification and recovery of all its assets.
"We appeal, however, to strengthen cooperation and reduce the discrepancy between the application of national jurisdiction and international measures, so that countries that have suffered deviations from their treasury are not penalized in the recovery process and consequent repatriation", urged the minister.
Francisco Queiroz recalled that it was 15 years ago that Angola adhered to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and is satisfied with the substantial advances in the fight against corruption, money laundering and other forms of economic crime.
The recovery of assets, added the minister, "has only been possible given the effective implementation of international instruments to combat corruption and money laundering to which Angola is a party, namely the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the Union Convention Policy on Preventing and Combating Corruption, the SADC Protocol against Corruption and others".
According to Francisco Queiroz, Angola has already seized, in the last four years, movable and immovable assets constituted with public funds of more than 12.9 billion dollars, half of this amount abroad, namely Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, Bermuda , United Kingdom, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Monaco, among other countries.
Government asks that goods and money seized abroad be returned to the country
The Minister of Justice and Human Rights appealed to the States where goods and money resulting from acts of corruption committed in Angola were arrested or seized to return them to the country.
