Annan Quietly Files Disclosure Forms, But Public Loses Out

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October 30, 2006 12:52 PM

After originally claiming new financial disclosure rules did not apply to him, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has filed financial disclosure reports, reporting any gifts over $250, that are now required of all U.N. staff in the wake of the multi-billion dollar oil-for-food scandal.

But the catch is he's not releasing them to the public. They will be reviewed by the newly established U.N. ethics committee.

John Fawcett, a human rights activist whose work helped lead to the U.N. investigation, says it would be good for the forms to be made public, but at minimum a third-party outside of the U.N. needs to review them.

"Whoever receives this disclosure cannot be controlled by the person who is making the disclosure or influenced by him," says Fawcett. "It's got to be outside of the secretariat or anybody that's controlled or influenced by Kofi Annan."

Last year's investigation of the U.N. found Annan's son had questionable ties to a company that received U.N. contracts, but there was no suggestion that Annan himself had benefited in any way.

Given these recent scandals, Fawcett said, the United Nations should have accountability from the top down including a truly independent body reviewing Annan's disclosure forms.

Without that, "you have a corrupt disclosure process," says Fawcett. "You have one that is not transparent and does not provide any assurance that there's no conflict of interest."

A U.N. spokesman tells ABC News the new ethics committee is made up of U.N. employees that are deemed to be impartial and will be privy to sensitive financial information.

Annan is scheduled to leave the post this December when his term expires.