New Delhi
October 30, 2005 

External Affairs Minister Shri Natwar Singh met the Prime Minister today on his return from Moscow. He categorically denied any involvement in the alleged illicit payments on oil transactions under the Oil for Food programme as stated by the UN Independent Inquiry Committee. The Prime Minister agreed that the facts mention in Table-3 of the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee are insufficient to arrive at any adverse conclusion against the External Affairs Minister and stands by him.