A U.S. House panel has launched a probe into whether a UN agency sent computers and other technology to Iran and North Korea in possible violation of UN Security Council sanctions.
The Foreign Affairs Committee probe comes amid a U.S. review of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization, a 185-member body focusing on patents, copyright, trademarks, and designs.
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, Florida), chairwoman of the committee, said in a statement that "[p]roviding these thugs with sensitive technology has the potential to enable their dangerous agendas."
WIPO has said none of the technology provided to Iran and North Korea violated UN sanctions.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey however said on July 9 that WIPO will "systematically refer relevant cases of technical assistance to countries under a UN sanctions regime to the UN Sanctions Committee."
The Foreign Affairs Committee probe comes amid a U.S. review of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization, a 185-member body focusing on patents, copyright, trademarks, and designs.
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (Republican, Florida), chairwoman of the committee, said in a statement that "[p]roviding these thugs with sensitive technology has the potential to enable their dangerous agendas."
WIPO has said none of the technology provided to Iran and North Korea violated UN sanctions.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon's spokesperson Eduardo Del Buey however said on July 9 that WIPO will "systematically refer relevant cases of technical assistance to countries under a UN sanctions regime to the UN Sanctions Committee."