December 9, 1994
                                       DO-94-045

MEMORANDUM

TO:       Designated Agency Ethics Officials, General Counsels and
          Inspectors General

FROM:     Stephen D. Potts
          Director

SUBJECT:  International Conference on Ethics in Government

     The U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) and the United
States Information Agency (USIA) recently cosponsored the
International Conference on Ethics in Government.  The Conference
was held in Washington, DC, from November 20 through November 23,
1994.

     Over eighty representatives from 49 countries attended the
conference.  Attendees represented a varied spectrum of ethics
experience, from countries with highly structured ethics systems to
those nascent democracies in which ethics systems are only in the
conceptual stage.  Highlights of the Conference included a series
of lively and informative panel sessions, engaging keynote and
luncheon speakers, including Counsel to the President Abner Mikva
and former Attorney General Elliot Richardson.  In addition, a
Socratic Dialogue was moderated by Michael Josephson.       

     By any measure, the Conference was an overwhelming success. 
This Office continues to receive favorable comments from
participating delegates, and has received inquiries regarding
follow-up meetings with foreign participants.  This is perhaps the
most important product resulting from the Conference.  At no time
was the Conference conceived as a one-time effort.  The Conference
was envisioned to serve as a starting point for a worldwide ethics
community.  Already regional meetings in Latin America and the
Middle East are being planned which will continue to strengthen the
ties established here in Washington.

     It is particularly gratifying to note the extensive
participation by many departments and agencies throughout the
Conference.  As members of our worldwide ethics community continue
to request advice and assistance from the United States, the
continued participation of ethics officials throughout the
executive branch is much needed and appreciated.

     Video tapes of the panel sessions, speakers, and the Socratic
Dialogue will be available at OGE's Ethics Resource Center.  I
encourage all ethics officials to make use of their availability.