Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07OTTAWA1109
2007-06-12 20:36:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ottawa
Cable title:  

CANADA'S VIEW ON PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND

Tags:  EAID EFIN KUNR UNDP CA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0019
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHOT #1109 1632036
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 122036Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5856
UNCLAS OTTAWA 001109 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN KUNR UNDP CA
SUBJECT: CANADA'S VIEW ON PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

REF: STATE 80349

UNCLAS OTTAWA 001109

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID EFIN KUNR UNDP CA
SUBJECT: CANADA'S VIEW ON PROMOTING TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

REF: STATE 80349


1. (SBU) On June 11, POL M/C discussed U.S. plans to raise
UNDP accountability issues at the current Executive Board
meeting in New York. He spoke with Ferry de Kerckhove,
Director General for International Organizations at Foreign
Affairs (DFAIT) and with Roger Erhardt, Director General for
UN Affairs at the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA). Following the points in reftel, he covered the Board
of Auditors report, focusing on North Korea,s wrongful use
of UNDP funds, and asked for support for the U.S.
transparency initiative.


2. (SBU) Both de Kerckhove and Erhardt reaffirmed that we
were preaching to the converted. Canada was fully in
agreement with our approach to the UNDP,s accountability
deficiencies. Canada had joined the U.S. in criticizing the
North Korean program at the last Executive Board meeting.
Their delegation had already departed for New York for the
current Board meeting and was working with the U.S. and other
like-minded countries on ways to enhance accountability
issues. Erhardt promised to convey the points from our
demarche to the CIDA representatives, who have leadership of
the Canadian delegation. In any case, Canada is on the
record in favor of transparency.


3. (SBU) Patrick Wittman (Director for UN Affairs),who also
attended the meeting, said some in Foreign Affairs were
concerned by allegations appearing in the press that the DPRK
had used UNDP funding to purchase property in Canada.
DFAIT,s International Organizations Bureau is not aware of
what was bought and when, and would like some background and
clarification in case the story gets legs in Canada and lead
to a query by senior officials.



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