UNTAI: ITU STEPS FORWARD ON ACCESS TO INTERNAL AUDIT

UNCLAS GENEVA 000825 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AORC KUNR ITU SUBJECT: UNTAI: ITU STEPS FORWARD ON ACCESS TO INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS AND IPSAS IMPLEMENTATION ¶1. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council Working Group on Financial Regulations (FINREGS) met on October 1 and approved the U.S. proposal to modify ITU financial regulations to permit ITU Member states access to internal audit reports. The proposal will be considered and most likely approved at the ITU Council meeting in November. The ITU Secretariat will draft an implementing rule and present it at the next FINREG meeting in the Spring. The proposal met no objection while Canada and Australia voiced support. Switzerland opposed distribution of reports but agreed to support member access only. ¶2. At the external auditor's request, FINREGS also approved a specific resolution approving the transition to the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). The external auditor did not recognize the previous approval which had only been the members noting an informational document. In addition, the FINREGS approved a motion to propose to council to begin the rotation of the external auditor. External auditors are appointed by the Plenipot, therefore any change of auditor will not be approved until the ITU 2010 Plenipot. In regards to improved access to procurement information, the Secretariat noted that this would require additional software and once the transition to the new procurement system was complete, the ITU could consider its purchase. Russia proposed a results-based management scorecard for ITU. They also mapped the key performance indicators (KPIs) of each of ITU's three sectors providing a clear picture for members of the overlap between divisions. ¶3. The access to external audit reports was lacking in ITU's UN Transparency and Accountability Initiative (UNTAI) compliance previously, and so represents a positive step. We hope that whistle-blower protection and financial disclosure policies will be ready for council consideration; the Secretariat has consulted us on those policies. TICHENOR