Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK647
2007-08-07 19:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:
USUN MEETS WITH NEW CMP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 RR RUEHWEB DE RUCNDT #0647 2191956 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071956Z AUG 07 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2413
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000647
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: USUN MEETS WITH NEW CMP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REF: USUN 00584
On Thursday, August 2, 2007, USUN Ambassador Mark Wallace,
Management and Reform section counsellor Bruce Rashkow and
adviser LeRoy Potts met for the first time with incoming
Assistant Secretary General Michael Adlerstein, to discuss
the Capital Master Plan. Adlerstein who also holds the title
of CMP Executive Director sat down with Wallace, Rashkow, and
Potts and gave his perspective on where the CMP project stood
in light of the recent GAO and Board of Auditor reports that
suggest the CMP is already over budget by as much as $148
million. In addition, Adlerstein discussed the significance
of naming Skanska as CMP Construction Manager and the
possibility of keeping the $1.9 billion renovation project
within budget and on time.
Adlerstein had been on the job 3 days when he met with the
USUN management and reform officers. He is well aware that
his "honeymoon" period would be short lived given the
complexity and cost of the CMP project, the various federal
and local constituencies with a vested interest in the
success of the project, and recent calls by Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon and others for the renovation to achieve LEED
certification as a "green" building.
Adlerstein suspects that there is some "fat" in the overall
budget to incorporate both security and green initiatives
but he will have a better sense once Skanska, the new
construction manager has had a chance to review the project.
He believes Skanska will be able to report to the CMP office
in 3 months time with (1) a realistic estimate of the full
cost of the project and (2) where savings can be realized to
bring the project within the GA approved budget.
Although he noted a "pause" in the progress of the CMP,
Adlerstein also acknowledged that important aspects of the
project continued to move ahead such as the search for leased
swing space and design elements for the temporary General
Assembly building. He envisions the temporary General
Assembly building can be completed within a year. Under this
scenario the 64th General Assembly could have use of the
temporary facility in 2009.
Ambassador Wallace emphasized to Adlerstein the importance of
keeping the CMP within the original scope and budget as it
was sold to the USG. Adlerstein, with his extensive
background in project management committed himself to being
fiscally responsible and offered to tweak the budget wherever
necessary in order to comply with the GA approved budget. In
addition, he also committed to making frequent briefings to
the UNs Fifth Committee and other delegates on CMP progress.
In reftel, USUN reported three letters having been sent from
Ambassador Wallace to Under-Secretary General for Management
Alicia Barcena requesting information on the status of the
CMP. Last week in a July 30 letter to Ambassador Wallace,
Barcena explained that although the cost to complete the CMP
is "technically" over budget, no unforeseen costs have been
expended to date and initial expenditure on design,
preparation of construction documents, and support services
by staff and consultants are within budget
Comment: Michael Adlerstein in his first meeting with USUN
staff as CMP executive director conveyed confidence in his
resolve to bring the CMP project within budget. He
understands US concern with the CMP's slow start and the
related cost implications for every month of delay. Upcoming
GAO and IO/MPR visits to meet with Adlerstein will also serve
to reinforce USG concern regarding the cost of the project.
In addition to budgetary concerns, Adlerstein also faces the
problem of resolving the UN's dispute with the city over fire
and safety code violations. Some 800 plus fire code
violations remain and New York City officials have threatened
in the past to take some action against the UN if it does not
move quickly enough to address this problem. Adlerstein may
call on USUN to act as an intermediary with the city of New
York.
KHALILZAD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR UNGA
SUBJECT: USUN MEETS WITH NEW CMP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
REF: USUN 00584
On Thursday, August 2, 2007, USUN Ambassador Mark Wallace,
Management and Reform section counsellor Bruce Rashkow and
adviser LeRoy Potts met for the first time with incoming
Assistant Secretary General Michael Adlerstein, to discuss
the Capital Master Plan. Adlerstein who also holds the title
of CMP Executive Director sat down with Wallace, Rashkow, and
Potts and gave his perspective on where the CMP project stood
in light of the recent GAO and Board of Auditor reports that
suggest the CMP is already over budget by as much as $148
million. In addition, Adlerstein discussed the significance
of naming Skanska as CMP Construction Manager and the
possibility of keeping the $1.9 billion renovation project
within budget and on time.
Adlerstein had been on the job 3 days when he met with the
USUN management and reform officers. He is well aware that
his "honeymoon" period would be short lived given the
complexity and cost of the CMP project, the various federal
and local constituencies with a vested interest in the
success of the project, and recent calls by Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon and others for the renovation to achieve LEED
certification as a "green" building.
Adlerstein suspects that there is some "fat" in the overall
budget to incorporate both security and green initiatives
but he will have a better sense once Skanska, the new
construction manager has had a chance to review the project.
He believes Skanska will be able to report to the CMP office
in 3 months time with (1) a realistic estimate of the full
cost of the project and (2) where savings can be realized to
bring the project within the GA approved budget.
Although he noted a "pause" in the progress of the CMP,
Adlerstein also acknowledged that important aspects of the
project continued to move ahead such as the search for leased
swing space and design elements for the temporary General
Assembly building. He envisions the temporary General
Assembly building can be completed within a year. Under this
scenario the 64th General Assembly could have use of the
temporary facility in 2009.
Ambassador Wallace emphasized to Adlerstein the importance of
keeping the CMP within the original scope and budget as it
was sold to the USG. Adlerstein, with his extensive
background in project management committed himself to being
fiscally responsible and offered to tweak the budget wherever
necessary in order to comply with the GA approved budget. In
addition, he also committed to making frequent briefings to
the UNs Fifth Committee and other delegates on CMP progress.
In reftel, USUN reported three letters having been sent from
Ambassador Wallace to Under-Secretary General for Management
Alicia Barcena requesting information on the status of the
CMP. Last week in a July 30 letter to Ambassador Wallace,
Barcena explained that although the cost to complete the CMP
is "technically" over budget, no unforeseen costs have been
expended to date and initial expenditure on design,
preparation of construction documents, and support services
by staff and consultants are within budget
Comment: Michael Adlerstein in his first meeting with USUN
staff as CMP executive director conveyed confidence in his
resolve to bring the CMP project within budget. He
understands US concern with the CMP's slow start and the
related cost implications for every month of delay. Upcoming
GAO and IO/MPR visits to meet with Adlerstein will also serve
to reinforce USG concern regarding the cost of the project.
In addition to budgetary concerns, Adlerstein also faces the
problem of resolving the UN's dispute with the city over fire
and safety code violations. Some 800 plus fire code
violations remain and New York City officials have threatened
in the past to take some action against the UN if it does not
move quickly enough to address this problem. Adlerstein may
call on USUN to act as an intermediary with the city of New
York.
KHALILZAD