Russia claims no oil-for-food violations (AP) Updated: 2005-08-26 09:44
Russian diplomats told members of a commission investigating alleged abuses
of the U.N. oil-for-food program Thursday that Russian companies did not violate
sanctions against Iraq while participating in the program, the Foreign Ministry
said.
The commission members, led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul
Volcker, met with Foreign Ministry officials during their third visit to Russia
while investigating the scandal-tainted humanitarian program.
The Russians told the commission that "our companies, as they have officially
informed the Foreign Ministry, acted in strict accordance with (U.N. sanctions
against Iraq) and with Russian law," the ministry said in a statement.
Russian companies and individuals were heavily involved in the U.N.
oil-for-food program, which allowed Saddam Hussein's Iraq to sell oil to pay for
humanitarian goods despite the U.N. sanctions imposed on his country after its
1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Investigations have found that Saddam manipulated the program to obtain
illegal revenues and try to influence officials and political figures in foreign
countries, particularly those with veto power in the U.N. Security Council, such
as Russia and France.
Russia has criticized U.S. reports that alleged Russian involvement in the
machinations, and companies and individuals involved have denied wrongdoing. The
ministry said commission members also et with company representatives during
their visit.
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