Investigators of the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq said Tuesday there was not enough evidence to show that Secretary-General Kofi Annan knew of a contract bid by his son’s Swiss employer.
The report accused Annan’s son, Kojo, and the company, Cotecna Inspection S.A., of trying to conceal their relationship after the contract was in place. It also criticized the U.N. chief for not determining the exact nature of his son’s relationship with the firm.
The conclusion in the investigators’ report was not the clear vindication that the secretary-general wanted, although the investigation led by Paul Volcker did not accuse the U.N. chief of corruption.
The report said “there is no evidence” the selection of Cotecna for an inspection contract “was subject to any affirmative or improper influence of the secretary-general in the bidding or selection process.”
Well there it is – - the second report Volcker issued. And just as Kofi stated he was misled by Kojo he now has Paul’s report to back him up. It stated Kojo Annan was not forthcoming with the committee or his father. It also stated they wanted to dig deeper into Kojo’s relationship with Cotecna, but said nothing further about his father.
And as the good son Kojo has admitted he was not completely up front with his dad about Cotecna – - and he even apologized for having caused his dad and the UN any embarrassment.
Many asked Kofi Annan if he was going to resign from the United Nations:
Annan Refuses to Quit U.N. Over Report
A defiant Annan said “Hell no” when asked at a news conference if he would resign, noting the report’s findings that he committed no wrongdoing.
“After so many distressing and untrue allegations have been made against me, this exoneration by the independent inquiry obviously comes as a great relief,” he said.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say “exonerated” – - the report did not vindicate Kofi. In the report Paul Volcker said there was insufficient evidence to show that Kofi knew about the bid – - that doesn’t an exoneration make.
I question why it took an outside investigation, and a threat of what was to be in the repost for Kofi to acknowledge the problem and to address it.