Volcker Commission failed in some respects: Russia

Moscow, Apr 7: Russia today said the United Nation ''Volcker commission'' failed to prove the alleged involvement of some Russian companies in the Iraq Oil-For-Food scam.

''Documents presented to the Russian side by the ''Volcker commission'' do not contain proof, and they cannot be the basis for an investigation into the relations of the companies named in the commission's report,'' the official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement.

Authenticity of some documents appeared questionable, added Mr Kamynin He said that Russia co-operated with the Volcker commission since its inception and even established a working group to handle relations with the United Nations' investigative body.

''Three rounds of mandatory consultations with the commission's Moscow representatives have been held. During these meetings the commission was fully informed about Russia's involvement in a UN former humanitarian programme in Iraq.'' ''In our opinion, the Oil-For-Food programme helped to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe for the Iraqi people, notwithstanding some mistakes and errors,'' Kamynin added.

UNI