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Volcker to cooperate with India's probe

Assurance given to Nirupam Sen

New York: Paul Volcker, author of the report that has named Natwar Singh and the Congress party as beneficiaries in Iraqi oil payoffs, has offered full cooperation with Indian investigations into the allegations but was unsure whether he had sought Mr. Singh's comments before recording the observations against him. The assurance came during a 45-minute meeting India's Ambassador to the U.N. Nirupam Sen had with Mr. Volcker on Tuesday.

After the meeting, Mr. Sen said his impression from the discussions was that no notice had been sent to Mr. Singh by the Committee, prior to publication of his name as a ``non-contractual beneficiary'' of the Iraqi oil-for-food programme.

"Legal constraints"

Mr. Sen said the Committee was still examining documents to reach a final conclusion on that.

Asked to elaborate on the term ``legal constraints,'' he said evidence had been collected from several witnesses and some of them might have done so on the understanding that they should not be identified. In those cases, the Committee would need to get a waiver from them before releasing the documents.

Asked about the remarks of Mr. Volcker that responses were sought from all those who had been mentioned in the report, Mr. Sen said the report contained those who were thoroughly investigated and those who have been just mentioned on the basis of the documents that the Committee considered authentic.

On the remarks of Mr.Volcker that responses were sought from all those who had been mentioned in the report, Mr. Sen said the report contained those who were thoroughly investigated and those who had been just mentioned on the basis of the documents which the Committee considered authentic. Apparently, Mr. Natwar Singh's case was not thoroughly investigatged by the Commitee, he said. But he cautioned that the final judgment would have to await the examination of all relevant documents by the Committee. Those who were thoroughly investigated have been given the chance to respond.

Mr. Sen said that the Committee, as a policy, would share information and documents only with the investigating agencies after they inform it exactly what they are looking for. But it would be necessary to move quickly as the Committee's mandate ends in just over a month. India had sent a letter to the Committee on the information it is seeking but that would need to be fine-tuned, he said.

Asked whether the investigations would be stalled if some witnesses refused to give waiver, Mr. Sen said there were other ways to get information. For example, it could be asked bilaterally. ``We shall cross the bridge when we reach there.'' he remarked.

To a question, he said the Committee was aware of the political storm the report had created in India.

Mr. Sen said Indian investigators would have to look into the allegations that the names were not given by the Iraqis but by other ``vested interests.'' "That is why India is asking for documents and other information."

— PTI

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