US Rep Hails Possible Oil-For-Food Investigator Statement

DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
May 6, 2005 5:48 p.m.
WASHINGTON (AP)--A U.S. congressman welcomed Friday the prospect that a former United Nations investigator could make a public statement on his concerns about U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's connection with problems in the oil-for-food program.
Robert Parton recently quit as an investigator for a panel appointed by the U.N. because he felt the group's report played down evidence that Annan knew more than he admitted.
On Friday the head of the panel, Paul Volcker, said Parton could be released from his obligation of confidentiality to make a public statement on his views concerning Annan's role.
Representative Christopher Shays, R-Conn., head of one of the U.S. congressional committees investigating oil-for- food matters, called Volcker's proposal a positive step. Shays said Volcker had acknowledged that Parton has something valuable to say and should be able to say it.
A voluntary presentation by Parton could meet Congress's legitimate need for information while maintaining the integrity of the Volcker committee's investigation, Shays said.
A statement by Shays said his committee was suspending its demand that Parton testify before it.
Volcker had demanded that documents turned over to Congress by Parton be returned. So far there has been no indication the U.S. Congress intends to do that.