DEMARCHE DELIVERED:DEMARCHE TO HEADS OF UN

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000926 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR IO/MPR/SC M GLOCKNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KUNR UNDP UNFPA UNGA UNICEF SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED:DEMARCHE TO HEADS OF UN ORGANIZATIONS ON UN TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY INITIATIVES (UNTAI) BEFORE MEETING OF CEB. REF: A. SECSTATE 146848 ¶B. GENEVA 2413 1.(U) Per instruction in reftel A, on October 25, 2007 Ambassador Wallace met with UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis and UNFPA Executive Director Mari Simonen, respectively, to deliver a demarche concerning two important issues on the agenda for the UN Chief Executives Board for Coordination (CEB) on October 26-27: 1) Member State access to internal audit reports and 2) system-wide jurisdiction of the UN Ethics Office UNEO. In addition, since neither UNICEF Executive Director nor one of her deputies was available to meet with USUN during the week, Ambassador Wallace delivered a letter to Ms. Veneman, dated October 25, 2007, which incorporated the demarche talking points. 2.(U) UNDP Administrator Dervis stated that while CEB participants are "staking out their positions" on these two issues, he believes that CEB participants generally feel that they have entered a "new period" with greater pressure to adopt reforms related to transparency and accountability. Dervis also expressed his belief that the UN Funds and Programs have made progress in areas related to transparency and accountability, but that the Specialized Agencies have lagged behind in this regard. Ambassador Wallace highlighted the importance of GA resolution 59/272, which made the reports of the OIOS available to Member States and how the implementation of this reform has improved the functioning of the Organization. Ambassador Wallace added that as agencies i.e. the UN Funds and Programs, adopt similar measures relating to transparency and accountability, it will become increasingly untenable for other agencies, including the Specialized Agencies, not to follow suit. Ambassador Wallace also noted that several agencies headquartered in Geneva had recently informed the U.S. that their internal audit reports were made available to Member States. Dervis indicated that he was doubtful of this and incorrectly stated that "there are no Funds and Programs in Geneva, only Specialized Agencies". Ambassador Wallace concluded by noting the high level of bipartisan support for these two initiatives within the U.S. Congress. 3.(U) UNFPA Deputy Executive Director Mari Simonen did not respond directly to any of the issues raised in the demarche, but reiterated that accountability is of the utmost importance to UNFPA. Simonen stated her intention to relay the message conveyed by Ambassador Wallace to Executive Director Obaid (who is currently on leave and will not attend the CEB) as soon as possible. Khalilzad