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Livedoor found to be member of U.N.-linked anti-corruption group+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, March 4_(Kyodo) _ Livedoor Co. has been found to be a member of Global Compact, a U.N.-affiliated organization set up to combat corruption and promote the protection of human rights, sources close to its membership said Saturday. The finding is expected to prompt other Japanese member companies to question the membership of Livedoor, whose former president Takafumi Horie and other former executives have been recently indicted for illegal securities transactions, the sources said. Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., which manages the steering committee for Japanese corporate members of Global Compact, will possibly decide at a meeting in March whether to hear from Livedoor about its membership, the sources said. Global Compact is a voluntary international corporate citizenship network set up to advance responsible corporate citizenship and universal social ethics. Based in New York, the organization began operations in July 2000 in line with 10 self-set principles, including the protection of human rights, elimination of forced labor, promotion of environmentally friendly technologies and prevention of all forms of corruption. A Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance official said the insurance company will ask Livedoor's new leadership formed following the resignation of Horie about whether the Internet firm wants to maintain its membership at the U.N.-affiliated organ. A Livedoor spokesman said the company basically supports the set principles of Global Compact and wants to continue activities while keeping its membership. Participating in the organization from Japan are the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture -- and 41 private businesses including Asahi Breweries Ltd., Toshiba Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. as well as Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance. Livedoor joined the group last October, said the sources. Member companies are asked to fulfill the 10 principles on a voluntary basis and there are no binding rules for expelling companies which engage in illicit business activities from the organization. |