KATHMANDU, Jan. 14: United Nations meeting on Convention against Corruption has started in Vienna Monday which will focus on three key areas: private sector corruption, asset recovery and the way the convention will be monitored.

The meeting is the fourth in its series and will end on January 24.

The question of whether private sector corruption should be criminalized is one of the difficult issues delegates will face at the session, according to a press release issued by the United Nations Information Centre.

There is some opposition to including it in the convention because of concerns about the possible negative impact on businesses in terms of restraining trade.

Asset recovery is a key issue and remains a complex matter and the discussions so far have been about reaching a common understanding of the various aspects of the problem and what can be done about it most effectively, it said.

One of the issues under consideration is the treatment of public funds, which have been embezzled and transferred to another country and their return to the country of origin.

The meeting will also explore ways to monitor the implementation of the convention against corruption once it is in force.

There are two main proposals under consideration: one foresees a mechanism similar to that set down in the United Nations Convention against transitional organised crime and the second recommends more detailed monitoring of the implementation of the convention.

There will be further discussions on the question of a definition of ‘corruption’ and whether such a definition should be included in the convention.

Good progress has been made at the first three sessions of the committee and there has been a high degree of commitment and participation by member states.

There are two more sessions of the committee planned for 2003 and then the convention is expected to go before the United Nations General Assembly for approval at its fifty eighth session later this year.

The General Assembly in its resolution has approved the holding of a high-level political conference in Mexico for the purpose of signing the UN Convention against Corruption in 2003, the press release said.