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| International-UN-NGOs |
| UNSCUM Scandal Definitly Has Legs |
| 2004-04-21 |
| Even the NYT has taken notice of the elephant in the UN parlour. Russia has dropped its objection to a proposed investigation of the scandal-ridden United Nations oil-for-food program in Iraq, clearing the way for Paul A. Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman, to take up his post as chairman of the inquiry on Wednesday. The allegations of corruption and cover-up have damaged the reputation of the United Nations just as it is being asked to take the lead in shaping the interim government that is to take power in Iraq on June 30 and to assist the country in planning elections and drawing up a constitution. Critics of the United Nations have said the charges raise questions about the fitness of the organization for the Iraqi assignment and cast doubt on the willingness of Secretary General Kofi Annan to permit a thorough investigation. According to a report last month by the General Accounting Office in Washington, Saddam Hussein’s government pocketed more than $10 billion from the program between 1997 and 2002. An accusation that United Nations officials themselves might have benefited emerged in February when documents from Iraqi ministries reportedly cited Benon V. Sevan, a career United Nations official who led the program, as having accepted oil allotments himself. He denied the charges in a written statement. ABC News reported Tuesday that a letter it had obtained from the Iraqi Oil Ministry described Mr. Sevan as giving directions indicating which company should handle his personal oil deal, estimated to be worth as much as $3.5 million. Two other people identified only as "senior U.N. officials" were suspected of taking "multimillion-dollar bribes," ABC reported. Responding to the news report, Stephane Dujarric, a United Nations spokesman, said Tuesday night, "An extremely important aspect of the U.N.’s inquiry is to investigate allegations against any U.N. officials." |
| Posted by:mojo |
| #1 I think the goal should be to perform a better audit than the EU did investigating where their contributions to the PLA ended up. My motto is: see the bar low its better for one's self-esteem. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-04-22 4:21:57 AM |