The long-awaited report investigating the UN’s Oil for Food scandal has exhonerated Kofi Annan.
Annan Didn’t Improperly Influence Cotecna Awards, Report Says
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan didn’t improperly influence the bidding or selection process for contracts awarded to Cotecna Inspection SA, a Swiss company hired in 1998 to monitor humanitarian goods for Iraq, a report said.
The report by former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker said that, while procurement rules weren’t followed in the awarding of UN contracts to Cotecna, Annan didn’t know the company was seeking the work during his son’s employment by the company. “There is no evidence that the selection of Cotecna in 1998 was subject to any affirmative or improper influence of the secretary-general in the bidding or selection process,” the report said. It said Cotecna was awarded $66 million in contracts to inspect goods coming into Iraq because it was the lowest bidder.
Hell of a coincidence, though.
