He also offered some tough talk. "I emphasized that this has to be a point in time in which we begin to write a new chapter based on improved governance, a much more serious effort to eradicate corruption, joint efforts to accelerate the training of Afghan security forces so that the Afghan people can provide for their own security,".

VOA: standard.2009.11.02

Other southerners, notably Spaniards and Portuguese, have both improved, though sleaze and corruption, especially at regional and city levels, is still common.

ECONOMIST: Is Europe corrupt? | The

Adopting anti -corruption measures and an improved governance structure can thereby ensure transparency in business operations.

FORBES: KMPG Examines India's Most Corrupt Cos in New Report

In 1999 Ford dipped a toe in the water with a small assembly plant near St Petersburg, and in the same year GM went for a seemingly risky joint venture with AvtoVAZ (at the time a byword for corruption and gangsterism) to produce an improved version of the Niva, a cheap SUV.

ECONOMIST: Theme and variations