Annan cleared of scandal
Edited by Shen Yang


UN Secretary General Kofi Annan speaks about the independent committee probing alleged misconduct and mismanagement in the oil-for-food program, in New York City, March 29.

The United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has been cleared of wrongdoing in the scandal over the UN "oil for food" program for Iraq. But investigators criticized him for failing to determine his son's relationship with the Swiss company involved in the affair.

Paul Volcker is head of the Independent Inquiry Committee investigating the UN oil-for-food scandal. He said the evidence was insufficient to accuse the UN chief of any wrongdoing.

"The committee finding is clear - diligent and extensive searches of written and electronic records and intensive interviews with all of those involved have provided no evidence of any influence by the Secretary General on the bidding and selection process for humanitarian goods inspectors in 1998."

However, he said the committee was not satisfied with the UN chief's failure to determine his son's relationship with the Swiss firm.

"The committee finds that given the nature and importance of the issues presented, the UN inquiry initiated by the Secretary General was inadequate. There was no referral to the UN departments carrying the responsibility for thorough and independent investigation of such matters."

"After so many distressing and untrue allegations have been made against me, this exoneration by the independent inquiry obviously comes as a great relief." Annan said.
The report, released on March 31, also accused the Swiss company, Cotecna , and Annan's son, Kojo, of trying to conceal their relationship after the contract was awarded.

Volcker's Independent Inquiry Committee found that Kojo Annan was not forthcoming with either his father or the committee, and accused him of consistently trying to hide the nature of his relationship with Cotecna.

It said an investigation was continuing into Kojo Annan's dealings with the program.
Some critics, including several US politicians, have been calling on Annan to resign, something the UN chief says he will not contemplate.

Vocabulary
referral 提名
distressing 使烦恼的
allegation 宣称
exoneration 证明无罪
conceal 隐瞒
contemplate 考虑

 

 

World in Pictures
Photo source: ImagineChina

	Eye-catching outdoor ad 街头广告别出心裁 An eye-catching outdoor advertisement of a sheet-metal figure sitting on a toilet while holding a book in its hands near Efringen, Germany, April 1. The figure advertises a store specializing in sanitary wares.
	Attempt for a new record 富豪欲破热气球飞行纪录 Indian industralist and aviator Vijaypat Singhania poses during the announcement of his intention to fly a hot air balloon to the edge of space in Bombay, March 29. Singhania announced his attempt to attain a height of 70,000 feet above sea level to break the existing record set for high altitude in a hot air balloon by American Peter Lindstrand who reached the height of 64,997 feet in 1988. The sixty-seven year old has previously flown solo in his micro-light the 5,420 miles from London to the Indian city of Ahmedabad in 22 days.
	Five-meter long cigar 5米长雪茄亮相 Candon Mayor, Allen Singson (L) together with contestants of the first ever Tobacco rolling competition called the "Pinagdublahan" poses with a huge cigar in the Philippines, April 1. The 5-meter cigar was the longest made by contestants during the competition.
	Old silver coins 小孩发现珍贵古币 Andreas, Stefan and Michael present silver coins which date back to the Middle Ages in Oberviechtach, Germany, March 31. While playing in dirt the children found the treasure from the Middle Ages. "The 204 silver coins from the time of the Hussite invasions are of great importance for the region's history," explained coin expert Helmut Friedl.
	Driving on a wooden wall "木墙飞车"引人驻足 A Pakistani daredevil drives a vehicle around a wooden wall in Kabul, March 31. The adventure, the first of its kind in the war-weary Afghanistan, was warmly welcomed by Afghans.

 

 

World in Words
Collected & translated by George

"We are so proud to have Hans Christian Andersen, so proud that he was born in our town."
"我们为拥有汉斯·克里斯蒂安·安徒生, 并为他出生在我们的镇里而感到无比自豪."
As Danes feted the 200th anniversary of the birth of fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen on April 2, none are more proud than those in his hometown of Odense.
--4月2日丹麦人庆祝安徒生诞辰200周年, 这个时刻最感到自豪的莫过于生活在他家乡欧登塞的居民.


"Youngsters don't have a watch anymore today. If they want to know the time, they look at their mobile, which never leaves them."
"现代的年轻人已不再戴手表了. 如果想要知道时间的话, 他们可以看手机, 因为他们一直带着手机."
Said Patrick Besnard, a representative for the French watch-making industry at the Basel international watch and jewelry fair.
--一家法国手表制造商的代表帕特里克·贝斯那德在瑞士巴塞尔国际手表和珠宝展览会上如是说.


"Making music together is not just a team effort. It requires us to respect each other, to share our passion and to understand each other - feelings I thought underpinned these 20 years of work at La Scala."
"在一起创作音乐不仅仅靠团队的努力. 它要求我们互相尊重, 共同分享激情, 并且互相理解. 我认为这些是我在史卡拉歌剧院工作20年的精神支柱. "
Riccardo Muti fell on his baton and resigned from La Scala on April 2, ending his 19-year reign at Milan's glittering opera house.
--里卡尔多·穆蒂于4月2日从史卡拉歌剧院辞职, 结束了他在米兰星光灿烂的歌剧院长达19年的指挥工作.