FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	AT

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 2006	(202) 514-2007

WWW.USDOJ.GOV	TDD (202) 514-1888

THOMAS O. BARNETT TO PARTICIPATE IN FIFTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION NETWORK CONFERENCE IN CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

WASHINGTON — Assistant Attorney General Thomas O. Barnett will participate in the fifth annual International Competition Network (ICN) Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on May 3-5, 2006. At the conference, senior antitrust officials and private antitrust experts from around the world as well as representatives from intergovernmental organizations will meet to discuss competition issues.

The ICN conference will focus on the recent work of its four substantive working groups — Cartels, Mergers, Antitrust Enforcement in the Telecommunications Sector and Competition Policy Implementation — and discuss the formation of a new working group on unilateral conduct. ICN member agencies participate in these project-oriented working groups to address policy and enforcement issues and formulate proposals for ICN consensus. Private sector experts and intergovernmental organizations are active participants in the working groups. Conference discussions will address the issues considered by the four working groups and will include: obstruction of justice in cartel investigations; digital evidence gathering; the interaction of public and private enforcement in cartel investigations; the analytical framework for merger review; suggested best practices in antitrust enforcement in the telecommunications sector; and the promotion of competition policy in developing and transition economies. Participants will also discuss the implementation of the ICN Recommended Practices for Merger Notification and Review Procedures and other ICN work product. The conference will enable the participants to finalize work plans for the coming year.

In October 2001, the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) joined with antitrust agencies from 13 other jurisdictions around the world (Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Zambia) to create the ICN. The ICN now includes 97 member agencies from 85 jurisdictions. The ICN has two main goals — to promote greater substantive and procedural convergence among antitrust authorities on sound competition principles and to provide support for new antitrust agencies, both in enforcing their laws and in building strong competition cultures in their countries.

The following portions of the conference will be open to the press:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2006: 5th ANNUAL ICN CONFERENCE (DAY 1)

8:45 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 2:45 P.M. (EDT) – Opening Address

Opening remarks by Dr. Ulf B ge as Chairman of the ICN Steering Group.

9:00 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 3:00 P.M. (EDT) – Welcoming Address

Welcoming remarks by David Lewis and Shan Ramburuth, Competition Authorities of South Africa, as hosts of the ICN conference.

9:15 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 3:15 P.M. (EDT) – Competition Policy Implementation Working Group Session

Presentations will address successful business outreach techniques, technical assistance, and the perspective of the judiciary, in trying antitrust cases. William Kovacic, FTC Commissioner, is a panelist. Following panel presentations, delegates will discuss these topics in small group breakout sessions.

2:00 P.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 8:00 P.M. (EDT) – Merger Working Group Session
Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, will make introductory remarks, followed by presentations on the merger guidelines workbook, investigative techniques training materials, and notification and procedures implementation activities. Gerald Masoudi, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, will moderate the panel; Randolph Tritell, of the FTC, is a panelist. Following panel presentations, delegates will discuss these topics in small group breakout sessions.

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2006: 5th ANNUAL ICN CONFERENCE (DAY 2)

8:30 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 2:30 P.M. (EDT) – Telecommunications Working Group Session

Sheridan Scott of the Canadian Competition Bureau will moderate a panel on enforcement issues in the telecommunications sector and suggested best practices. Gerald Masoudi is a panelist. Norman Manoim of the South African Competition Tribunal will moderate a panel on the perspectives of young antitrust agencies.

11:15 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 5:15 P.M. (EDT) – Competition and Development Panel Discussion

The discussion will be moderated by Frederic Jenny, Judge, French Supreme Court and Chair of the OECD's Competition Committee, and panelists will include: Mrs. Elizabeth Farina, President of CADE, Brazil; Mrs. Mona Yassine, Chair of the Egyptian Competition Authority; Mr. Peter Njoroge, Commissioner of the Monopolies and Price Commission, Kenya; and, David Lewis, Chairperson of the Competition Tribunal, South Africa.

2:00 P.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 8:00 P.M. (EDT) – Cartel Working Group Session

Panel discussions will examine obstruction of justice in cartel investigations; digital evidence gathering; and the interaction of public and private enforcement in cartel investigations. Marc Siegel, Director of Criminal Enforcement, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, is a panelist. Following panel presentations, delegates will discuss these topics in small group breakout sessions.

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2006: 5th ANNUAL ICN CONFERENCE (DAY 3)

8:30 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 2:30 P.M. (EDT) – Implementation Session

Eduardo P rez Motta, President, Mexican Federal Competition Commission, will moderate a panel discussion on implementation of ICN work product by member agencies. Maria Coppola Tineo, of the FTC, is a panelist.

10:15 A.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 4:15 P.M. (EDT) – Unilateral Conduct Discussion

Deborah Majoras, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, will make introductory remarks and co-moderate the discussion on the formation of this new group together with Dr. Ulf B ge, President of the German Federal Cartel Office.

12:30 P.M. (GMT + 2 hours), 6:30 P.M. (EDT) – Closing Remarks

Dr. Ulf B ge, David Lewis, and Shan Ramburuth will deliver closing remarks.

Complete information about the conference is available at http://www.internationalcompetitionnetwork.org/capetown2006/index.html and http://www.icn-capetown.org.za. The ICN Conference will be located at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Media contacts:	U.S. Department of Justice, Gina Talamona, 202-514-2007

Federal Trade Commission, Nancy Ness Judy, 202-326-2180

Canadian Bureau of Competition, Sally Southey, 819-994-4994

The Competition Tribunal, South Africa, Jane Sussens, 27 (11) 483 2687; mobile, 082 920 0875; email, Jane.Sussens@mweb.co.za

###

06-249