Anti-bribe clause draws ire

This is hilarious. Everyone know Turks don't accept bribes! Apparently, something that has been accepted by every country Japan has had business with for the last 10 years is an outrage to Turkey:

" TURKISH MPs rejected a $US2.4-million ($3.3-million) grant agreement with Japan because of a clause demanding that Turkey ensure the deal will be corruption-free, a senior MP said.

The clause is in an annex to a 2005 agreement under which Japan will grant Turkey funds to build an archaeological research institute, a museum and a Japanese garden in the central Turkish town of Kaman.

It calls on Ankara to “take the necessary measures to prevent any proposals, gifts, payments or benefits that may be interpreted as bribes” in the execution of the project."

“This is like an insult. How could we adopt or sign this text?” Mr Dulger said.

"The Japanese embassy in Ankara said it was “astonished” by the controversy surrounding the article, which has been included in every international economic agreement Japan has signed since 1996."

“Document of shame,” bannered the popular daily Aksam, while the mass-circulation Hurriyet, tongue-in-cheek, headlined: “We promise we won't take bribes!”
The Australian: Anti-bribe clause draws ire [March 11, 2006]