Allegations over Iraq oil-for-food programme point to a drive to tarnish image of the UN

Boutros Boutros-Ghali

Sir, I should like to respond to a number of recent reports in your newspaper [The Financial Times] that have mentioned the United Nations and me personally. With reference to the statement by Samir Sumaidaie, the current ambassador of Iraq to the UN, which blamed the UN and me personally for «bending over backwards» to help Saddam Hussein’s regime during the establishment of the oil-for-food programme (February 5), I wish to note that the decision to establish this programme had been taken by the UN in 1991, before I assumed the function of the Secretary-General. As concerns the launching of the programme itself, in which I was involved, my efforts and «bending over backwards» were inspired by the desire to help the Iraqi people and offset their suffering caused by the sanctions applied by the UN. Indeed, this was also the very reason for which the UN had established the programme.
For the record, I also wish to note that for a long period the Security Council was not able to reach an agreement on how to implement the oil-for-food programme, and that it is thanks to the efforts of Madeleine Albright, the then US permanent representative to the UN, and her initiative that it was possible to arrive at a solution that was reflected in the Security Council resolution 986. The Iraqi people should be grateful to her personallyfor having made it possible to overcome the difficulties and launch the programme.
As concerns the memorandum of understanding that is the operative part of the oil-forfood programme, its detailed provisions were negotiated by the legal department of the UN with the Iraqi delegation and under close supervision by the US delegation to the UN. I was involved in these negotiations from time to time, when required. The final text was revised and approved by the US delegation.
Your article has given great importance to the selection of Banque Nationale de Paris for the escrow account. I note that the relevant paragraph of the Volcker report is somewhat unclear and could be interpreted in different ways.
However, had your journalist read the various annexes to the report, he would have
been able to see with greater clarity what had transpired and this would have tempered his enthusiasm to insinuate shady dealings on my part and on the part of the UN. In trying to agree on a bank where to open the escrow account, we had six banks on the shortlist established by a steering committee: BNP, two Swiss banks, one German bank and two US banks. Iraq found the two US banks unacceptable, the US objected to the Swiss banks (as documented in the Volcker report), as well as to the German bank, and we were left with BNP as the only bank not opposed by either of the two principal parties.
I also wish to note that the implementation of the oil-for-food programme had started after I had left the UN. As a matter of principle, I have stayed away from the UN during the last eight years and have visited its headquarters on only one occasion to be present at the time of the unveiling of my portrait as one of the former secretaries-general.
As regards the mention of «my relative» who was involved in the oil-for-food programme (February 1), he is a very distant relation indeed, and has been in the oil business all his professional life, with extensive connections and dealings. To insinuate that I had somehow something to do with his involvement in the oil-for-food programme because he happens to be «my relative» is irresponsible and unfair.
Indeed, I cannot but suspect that a wholly political strategy and drive to destabilise the UN and tarnish its image is at work, which is not in the interest of peace, development and democratisation of international relations.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali,
Former Secretary-General of the United Nations.