Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK413
2006-04-14 13:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
Oil-for-Food: GOB Not Investigating Self
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHSK #0413 1041317 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141317Z APR 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4235 INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0014 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0023 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000413
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/PSC LIZ PARKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KFIN PGOV IZ BO
SUBJECT: Oil-for-Food: GOB Not Investigating Self
Refs: (A) State 40595, (B) 05 Minsk 300
UNCLAS MINSK 000413
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/PSC LIZ PARKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KFIN PGOV IZ BO
SUBJECT: Oil-for-Food: GOB Not Investigating Self
Refs: (A) State 40595, (B) 05 Minsk 300
1. The GOB has taken and almost certainly will not take any actions
as a result of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) looking into
Iraqi Oil-for-Food violations (ref A). Post asked the MFA if there
was any domestic investigation. The MFA replied that this is a
complicated situation, and that Post should submit an official,
written request if its wants an answer.
2. Most of the Belarusian entities mentioned in the IIC report are
GOB-owned. This includes Belpharm (a state monopoly provider of
pharmaceuticals),Belmetalenergo, and Belneftekhim (a major state
concern, which controls 40 major companies, responsible for 30% of
Belarus' industrial output and 35% of all exports). Lada-OMC is
believed to be a partially state-owned joint venture. Likewise,
the IIC report refers to a "Mr. Leonic Kosak." This refers to
Leonid Kozik, who was Belarusian Prime Minister from 1998 to 2000,
represented Belarus in the Belarus-Russia Union State from 2000 to
2001, and was Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration and
Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2002. He is now head of the
state-controlled Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus and was
recently placed on the list of Belarusian officials denied entry by
the EU and its member countries. The Belarusian Liberal-Democratic
Party, named in the IIC report, also has very close ties with the
Lukashenko regime.
KROL
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR IO/PSC LIZ PARKER
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KFIN PGOV IZ BO
SUBJECT: Oil-for-Food: GOB Not Investigating Self
Refs: (A) State 40595, (B) 05 Minsk 300
1. The GOB has taken and almost certainly will not take any actions
as a result of the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) looking into
Iraqi Oil-for-Food violations (ref A). Post asked the MFA if there
was any domestic investigation. The MFA replied that this is a
complicated situation, and that Post should submit an official,
written request if its wants an answer.
2. Most of the Belarusian entities mentioned in the IIC report are
GOB-owned. This includes Belpharm (a state monopoly provider of
pharmaceuticals),Belmetalenergo, and Belneftekhim (a major state
concern, which controls 40 major companies, responsible for 30% of
Belarus' industrial output and 35% of all exports). Lada-OMC is
believed to be a partially state-owned joint venture. Likewise,
the IIC report refers to a "Mr. Leonic Kosak." This refers to
Leonid Kozik, who was Belarusian Prime Minister from 1998 to 2000,
represented Belarus in the Belarus-Russia Union State from 2000 to
2001, and was Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration and
Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2002. He is now head of the
state-controlled Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus and was
recently placed on the list of Belarusian officials denied entry by
the EU and its member countries. The Belarusian Liberal-Democratic
Party, named in the IIC report, also has very close ties with the
Lukashenko regime.
KROL