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International-UN-NGOs
Annan escapes inquiry censure
2005-03-30
Investigators probing the UN oil-for-food programme in Iraq have said that there is insufficient evidence to show Secretary-General Kofi Annan knew of a contract bid by his son's employer. However, the interim report released on Tuesday criticised the UN chief for not determining the exact nature of his son's relationship with a Swiss firm involved in the multi-billion dollar programme. The report also accused the company, Cotecna Inspection SA, and Annan's son, Kojo, of trying to conceal their relationship after the contract was awarded.

The conclusion from the report was not the clear vindication that the secretary-general had wanted, though the investigation led by former US Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker did not accuse the world-body chief of corruption or any other wrongdoing. The report concluded that "there is no evidence" that the selection of Cotecna for an inspection contract under the oil-for-food program "was subject to any affirmative or improper influence of the secretary-general in the bidding or selection process". Annan reacted to the finding, saying he would not resign as head of the UN and indicated he would continue to work to push through his ambitious reform plan.
Posted by:Fred

#11  Good-old-boy-ism at its finest.
Posted by: Secret Master   2005-03-30 1:45:36 PM  

#10  This latest septic tankload underscores the problems that are inherent in the nature of the UN as an organization. Cultural norms regarding graft, corruption, incompetence etc. vary quite a bit. When a person whose culture condones a consistent level of corruption with a nod and a wink gets into a position of power that entails spending other people's money this sort of crap is very predictable. Add in the fact that the organization that gives the power won't effetively police and punish such conduct, and it becomes a near certainty. Will it stop? "Hell NO!"
Posted by: Tkat   2005-03-30 11:45:41 AM  

#9  "'there is no evidence' that the selection of Cotecna ...'was subject to any affirmative or improper influence of the secretary-general in the bidding or selection process'."

You mean, other than the fact that Kofi's son worked for Cotecna? "Hmmm, lemme see. We got two companies here. One employs my boss' son, and the other one doesn't. Which one should I pick?"

Posted by: Matt   2005-03-30 11:19:14 AM  

#8  This story kind of reminds me of a Oakland City Mom who had no idea her son was involved in drugs and gangs. The son (who had no job) dressed nice (in gang colors), drove a nice car, and always had money (cash) for Mom. Kofi must have been too busy passing resolutions condemning Israel, appointing Cuba to the Human Rights Commission, and taking credit for other work with respect to Tsunami relief efforts. I can see why he would have no time to delve into who might be employing his non-skilled, un-educated oldest son. I am sure the last time he checked Kojo was doing a bang up job as the grill guy at Burger King and it’s only natural that a big company like Cotecna would scoop up a hot prospect like that for an executive position.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-03-30 10:12:09 AM  

#7  "see? I told you he was clean as the driven snow"
Spike Mylwester
Posted by: Frank G   2005-03-30 9:39:54 AM  

#6  Headline should have been,

"Annan escapes inquiry censure, for now."

As of now no UN employee has truly cooperated with the investigation. One reason for this is that they don't fear prosecution. However, its not out of the question that somewhere in the UN there is an honest employee who has seen the wrongdoing and will come forward.

Posted by: mhw   2005-03-30 9:17:24 AM  

#5  Oil-For-Food Investigator Condemns Company

The Swiss company at the heart of a new report on the oil-for-food scandal repeatedly lied about its links to Secretary-General Kofi Annan's son, one investigator said, going much further in his criticism than the document itself.

The investigator, Mark Pieth, also rejected Annan's declaration that the report, released Tuesday, exonerated him on the matter of Cotecna Inspections S.A. winning a $10 million-a-year U.N. contract while he was secretary-general and while it employed his son Kojo.

"We did not exonerate Kofi Annan," Pieth told The Associated Press. "We should not brush this off. A certain mea culpa would have been appropriate."
Posted by: .com   2005-03-30 4:46:17 AM  

#4  This Times Online story goes into the document shredding and Kofi's interactions with Cotecna.
Posted by: .com   2005-03-30 4:39:31 AM  

#3  And this story has something fun:

Asked if he was planning to step down, Annan replied with a rare use of profanity, saying "Hell, no" and noting the report's findings that he committed no wrongdoing.
Posted by: .com   2005-03-30 4:32:38 AM  

#2  However, the interim report released on Tuesday criticised the UN chief for not determining the exact nature of his son's relationship with a Swiss firm involved in the multi-billion dollar programme.

Don't ask, don't tell?
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-03-30 3:26:00 AM  

#1  Kofi: He didn't write a "Koji, Great Scam, son! Have one of the go-betweens buy me an island in the Canaries with my share of the loot. Make sure it's big enough to hold my ego." memo, so there's no clear proof.

Cotecna: They didn't write a "Cool! Wotta contract, Koji baby! W00t! We're Fucking the UN! Your cut's been deposited, per your instructions." memo, so there's no clear proof.

I feel so much better.
Posted by: .com   2005-03-30 12:16:45 AM  

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