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Ros-Lehtinen, Berman slam WIPO's review into alleged shipments to Iran, North Korea
House Foreign Affairs Committee leaders Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.) on Friday said the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) plans to review whether it allegedly supplied Iran and North Korea with computers and other sensitive technology fell "far short" of their demands to open an investigation into the issue.
The two had called for the United Nations agency to launch an independent, external investigation into the alleged transfer of technical equipment to the two countries.
"Instead, the WIPO leadership has announced that it will institute a mere ‘review,’ which falls far short," Ros-Lehtinen and Berman said in a joint statement. "What’s needed is an immediate and credible investigation."
The committee and State Department have launched separate investigations into the matter.
The two lawmakers said WIPO should cooperate with the committee and State Department's investigations and provide "immediate, unfettered access to all documents and personnel."
"Those responsible for this outrageous misuse of U.S. technology and U.S. taxpayer dollars must be held fully accountable, and meaningful safeguards must be put in place to prevent these kinds of technology transfers in the future," the committee leaders said.
WIPO said in a release on its website Thursday that "initial steps are being undertaken for a full external and independent review of the technical assistance provided to countries subject to U.N. sanctions," among a list of other actions. It added that the organization is treating concerns relating to the agency's technical assistance programs in U.N. sanctioned countries "with the utmost seriousness."
The 185-member U.N. agency is responsible for promoting the use of intellectual property to encourage innovation and economic development, according to WIPO’s website. Part of its mission also includes assisting developing countries in building IP infrastructure, such as updating patent systems.
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