House International Relations Committee - United Nations Oil-for-Food Program - Panel II

Federal News Service April 28, 2004 Wednesday

April 28, 2004 Wednesday

HEADLINE: PANEL II OF A HEARING OF THE HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM

CHAIRED BY: REPRESENTATIVE HENRY HYDE (R-IL)

LOCATION: 2172 RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON

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REP. HYDE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question. I've listened to a lot of testimony, and read a lot, and I'm still unsure as to whose responsibility it was to make the determination that Iraq would control, supervise, oversee the handling of the individual contracts. Can you nail that down for me?

MR. CHRISTOFF: I wish I could. You begin in 1991 with proposals that the U.N. submitted to Iraq in which there were alternatives for the contract negotiations. One alternative was to have the Iraqi government negotiate the contracts directly, which became the preferred alternative.

But there were also suggestions for having a, quote, "independent agent" that was undefined, or having the United Nations to engage in the contract negotiations.

From the period between '91 until the final MOU was established, there was negotiations that I don't have all the details of, but the end result was to allow Iraq to negotiate the contract directly.

REP. HYDE: But going hand in hand with that judgment ought to have been effective, tight supervision, oversight. And that was omitted, evidently.

MR. CHRISTOFF: As part of the '91 proposal, there was also a proposal that U.N. officials be attached to certain ministries in order to provide that oversight. And I believe that also was rejected by the Iraqi government as the basis of their agreement to even come to terms with an oil-for-food program.

REP. HYDE: We were so anxious to get an agreement that we swallowed their intransigence. Is that right?

MR. CHRISTOFF: Well, again, let's look at what the program-what was happening in Iraq in '95. Truly there was a humanitarian situation and a crisis in Iraq in '95. After four years of economic sanctions, WHO, other U.N. agencies, were reporting malnutrition, problems with sanitation and health. So there was a growing need to resolve and get food into Iraq quickly.

REP. HYDE: Which we took more seriously than Iraq, of course.

MR. CHRISTOFF: Apparently.

REP. HYDE: They were willing to let people starve to death. We were unwilling.

MR. CHRISTOFF: Apparently.

REP. HYDE: So we should have proceeded with the war, should have torn up the cease-fire.

MR. CHRISTOFF: I'll pass on that.

REP. HYDE: Okay. (Laughter.) Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

REP. BEREUTER: You're welcome. The gentleman from New York, Mr. Meeks, is recognized.

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REP. HYDE: I just want to thank Mr. Christoff and congratulate you on first-rate work, indispensable work to the challenges that we have to face. We rely on you and we recognize the integrity of your product. Thank you.

MR. CHRISTOFF: Mr. Chairman, thank you for the help of you and your staff in trying to get us some of the documents that we really needed.

REP. HYDE: We'll be your silent stealthy aide.

MR. CHRISTOFF: No, be loud. Don't be silent. Thank you.

REP. HYDE: Some of us are louder than others. (Laughter.)

REP. BEREUTER: Mr. Christoff, I join in, of course, those commendations. And I would express the hope that the United Nations would be absolutely as transparent in information as possible, because I think the integrity of the institution demands that.

I would ask unanimous consent to include in the record the documents provided to the committee by Ms. Rosett, Claudia Rosett. Without objection, that will be the order.

And again, thank you very much. The committee stands adjourned.