Inquiry into former Moscow envoy finds ‘very little indeed’

Date: 04/07/1996

By Rory Watson

THE European Commission is preparing to hand over the results of an internal investigation into the activities of its former ambassador in Moscow, Michael Emerson, to the Belgian authorities.

The decision to share the outcome of the six-month inquiry with the country's public prosecutor coincides with requests from the Belgian authorities for the lifting of three other senior officials' diplomatic immunity. The authorities want to question the trio in connection with a separate investigation into the operation of the institution's tourism department.

The Commission launched its inquiry into Emerson after allegations about possible business dealings with a Russian entrepreneur surfaced. According to one source, the investigation “has found out very little indeed”.

In the light of the paucity of the Commission's findings, the Belgian authorities will be asked whether they wish to pursue their request for Emerson's immunity to be waived so they can question him.

The Commission is also waiting for further information from the Belgian authorities about why they want to talk to three officials - Director-General Heinrich von Moltke, Alan Mayhew and René Guth - in connection with their tourism inquiry. Commission sources insist that the requests do not imply any wrong-doing, pointing out that unless their immunity is waived, they cannot even be questioned.