Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PARIS7742
2005-11-14 17:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Paris
Cable title:  

USUNESCO: DIRECTOR GENERAL BRIEFS ON UNESCO'S

Tags:  AMGT EFIN IZ FR UNESCO 
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UNCLAS PARIS 007742 

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION TO UNESCO
FOR IO/T

E.O.: 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT EFIN IZ FR UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: DIRECTOR GENERAL BRIEFS ON UNESCO'S
ROLE IN OIL FOR PEACE PROGRAM

UNCLAS PARIS 007742

SIPDIS

FROM USMISSION TO UNESCO
FOR IO/T

E.O.: 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT EFIN IZ FR UNESCO
SUBJECT: USUNESCO: DIRECTOR GENERAL BRIEFS ON UNESCO'S
ROLE IN OIL FOR PEACE PROGRAM


1. Summary. On Tuesday 8 November, the Director-
General convened an information meeting on UNESCO's
participation in the Oil-for-Food Program (OFFP). The
meeting, which was originally requested by the British
Delegation during the 172nd Executive Board in
September, was intended to review the results of the
Volcker Commission's report and UNESCO's role in the
scandal. The DG presented an upbeat picture of
UNESCO's accomplishments in Iraq and reported that
"only" .52% of the dollars 120 million entrusted to
UNESCO had been misspent. He also reviewed the
recommendations on oversight contained in the Volcker
report and steps taken to implement them. The director
of UNESCO's Office of Internal Oversight also responded
to questions. End summary.


2. In prepared remarks, the DG reviewed UNESCO's role
in Iraq. He reported that among numerous
accomplishments, the organization had helped rebuild
153 schools, 11 technical institutes and 3
universities, mostly in the northern part of the
country. The DG also pointed out that he reorganized
the management of the program when he took office in
2000 and noted that UNESCO had returned dollars 774,000
of unused funds. What he could not answer was what
happened in the program between 1995 and 2000 when
there was no internal oversight of the program at
UNESCO.


3. The Director General also discussed the lessons
learned and the management recommendations already
taken. Among these lessons has been: 1) the need for
better coordination between technical agencies; 2) the
need to use staff with experience and technical
knowledge; and 3) the need for improved internal
oversight.


4. During a question and answer session, John Parsons,
UNESCO's Director of Internal Oversight insisted that
there has been good oversight since 2000 but was unable
to say what happened between 1995-2000. The Iraqi
ambassador also indicated his concern about this "black
hole." (Note: in a subsequent private conversation
with the Charge, the Iraqi ambassador expressed his
general dissatisfaction with the meeting and the
answers.)


5. The UK is particularly focused on this issue. Not
only did they request this meeting, but they also
raised numerous questions about the reforms that have
been implemented. During the information session, the
UK deputy expressed concern that UNESCO may pick and
choose among the recommendations in the Volcker report.
The UK ambassador also raised this issue in a November
10 meeting of the Geneva Group where it was felt that
many of the Volcker recommendation's were already
within the Geneva Group mandate.


6. Comment: Given the extent of corruption in the Oil
for Food Program and the lack of oversight at UNESCO
for five years, it is hard to believe that "only" .52%
was misspent. While we have no way to verify that
figure independently we can make sure UNESCO continues
to implement management reforms across the board. KOSS