Iraq 'tried to bribe former UN head'

Herald Sun (Australia) ^ | 08sep05 | From correspondents in New York

[cloud8]

IRAQ paid more than $US1 million ($A1.3 million) in cash to bribe former United Nations secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali but investigators said they had no evidence he ever received the money.

The findings were contained in a 1000-page report by the UN-appointed Independent Inquiry Committee, set up to investigate the defunct $US64 billion ($A84 billion) oil-for-food humanitarian program for Iraq.

Mr Boutros-Ghali was in office in 1996 when the program was created that allowed Iraq to sell oil in order to buy food, medicine and offset the impact of 1990 UN sanctions.

During negotiations to set up the program, "the back channel discussions evolved into something more: an Iraqi scheme to bribe Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali in order to ensure that he would be flexible", the report said.

But the report said it had no evidence that Mr Boutros-Ghali was aware of Iraq's intentions or received any money.

The money was to have been passed through Iraqi-American businessman, Samir Vincent, and Tongsun Park, a South Korean lobbyist. US federal prosecutors accuse both of attempting to bribe UN officials.

[cloud8]

I wonder where the money *did* end up. Hmm, 1996..."Boutros Boutros-Ghali, hounded out of office by the Clinton Administration in 1996, the only United Nations Secretary General ever to be denied a second term..." from The Unmaking of a Secretary, a review of Boutros's 1999 book, UNVANQUISHED A U.S.-U.N. Saga.

[Samurai_Jack]

PLAUSABLE DENIABILITY AT WORK

[Moral Hazard]

"Boutros Boutros-Ghali, hounded out of office by the Clinton Administration in 1996, the only United Nations Secretary General ever to be denied a second term..."

Of course he had originally promised to only serve one term, but was apparently greatly upset when the U.S. decided make him keep his word.

[The Sons of Liberty]

I suspect they found a more accomodating UN Chief in Kofi Annan.

[Moral Hazard]

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/june96/boutros-ghali_6-20.html

[pikachu]

Gee, 1 mil seems rather cheap for a UN General Secretary. At least Saddam got to take that off his taxes as a business expense :-)

[cloud8]

> Of course he had originally promised to only serve one term, but was apparently greatly upset when the U.S. decided make him keep his word.

I remember that the clintons found him difficult to work with or recalcitrant, I forget the exact words. But I suspect it it's fair to say, "Boutros wouldn't play along."

[knighthawk]

IRAQ paid more than $US1 million ($A1.3 million) in cash to bribe former United Nations secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali but investigators said they had no evidence he ever received the money.

No more UN for US-list

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