Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK926
2007-10-26 22:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED
USUN New York
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE DELIVERED:DEMARCHE TO HEADS OF UN

Tags:  AORC KUNR UNDP UNFPA UNGA UNICEF 
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VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0926 2992225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 262225Z OCT 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2903
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
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