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31 March 2005: Programme Number 41

PAUL VOLCKER ISSUES A REPORT ON OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAMME: ARMED MILITIAS HAND IN THEIR WEAPONS IN THE DR CONGO: TOGO PREPARES FOR ELECTIONS IN APRIL

New York: The Chairman of the Independent Inquiry Committee on the oil-for-food programme, Paul Volcker issued a report on the alleged role of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in corruption involving his son, Kojo Annan, during the implementation of the programme.

"While I am gratified by that, I also note, of course, that the Committee does criticize me for not referring the matter to the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services, or its Legal Office, for a formal investigation after I became aware that Cotecna had been awarded a contract in January 1999. I accept that criticism"

DRC: The 31st of March is the deadline for armed militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to surrender their weapons or to be forcibly disarmed. The disarmament programme is now proceeding well.

"Those who have not disarmed before the first of April are considered outlaw. And they can definitely expect to have MONUC troops going after them and forcibly disarm those who have not complied."

TOGO:Togo recently came from the brink of a political crisis which started with the installation of the late President Gnassingbe Eyadema's son, Faure Gnassingbe as the new president. ECOWAS intervened and the crisis was averted.

"The United Nations stands for free, fair and peaceful elections. That is the goal we expect to be replicated in Togo as well...this is, above all, an attempt to stabilize this country so that it get back of the road to constitutionality."

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