Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO460
2009-04-24 12:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
COLOMBO PLAN APRIL SESSION READOUT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #0460 1141229 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241229Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9868 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 1602 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2960 RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0623 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 3987 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0834 RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 0389 RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 1002 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 6832 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 8596 RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 1585 RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3779
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000460
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/MPR/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC APECO APER ECON KUNR UN
SUBJECT: COLOMBO PLAN APRIL SESSION READOUT
REF: WITMER/NEVILLE email
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000460
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/MPR/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC APECO APER ECON KUNR UN
SUBJECT: COLOMBO PLAN APRIL SESSION READOUT
REF: WITMER/NEVILLE email
1. The Colombo Plan Council held a special session on April 2,
2009. Full minutes have been emailed to Colleen Neville and Matthew
Goldstein. Representatives from all member countries, with the
exception of Sri Lanka, attended. The next Colombo Plan Council
Meeting will be held on May 21, 2009.
2. Following earlier interview of short-listed candidates, the
council agreed to appoint Mr. Nguyen Cuu Duc of Vietnam to the
position of Director, Drug Advisory Programme. This two-year
appointment will commence on June 1, 2009.
3. Addressing fiscal responsibility, the representative from Japan
highlighted the need for additional transparency in Colombo Plan
financials and the need for the Secretariat to "constantly continue
its efforts on cutting expenditure as well as pursing [other] ways
of fund-raising." During the ensuing conversation, representatives
of Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan, Japan, Iran and Nepal
discussed the current accounting procedures for mandatory and
voluntary contributions. The Secretary General outlined the plan's
procedures, highlighting in particular the need for the Plan to
maintain a working capital account. Following further discussion,
the Council adopted "Guidelines on the Utilization of Accumulated
Fund" (ref a).
4. The President then briefed the Council on the report of the
Standing Committee on Administrative and Financial Matters for
2008/2009, specifically the "transfer of funds for programme
activities" and the "criterion for exemption of mandatory
contribution/arrears by member countries." Specifics of both
discussions have been forwarded to Washington.
5. Bangladesh reiterated its request to postpone the discussion of
an amortization plan for the Government of Bangladesh until a
decision is reached on the criterion for exemption of membership
fees/arrears. The representative from the Philippines requested
that Bangladesh pay its arrears (with no specific timeframe noted)
since a waiver of membership fee arrears for Bangladesh will not be
approved unanimously. The Secretary General noted that in 2004, the
Council rejected the request of Cambodia for a waiver of its
membership fee arrears, which led to the withdrawal of Cambodia from
the Colombo Plan. In the end, no final decision was made on
Bangladesh's request. However, the Council requested that the
Secretariat circulate the proposed criterion for exemption of
mandatory contribution/arrears by member countries together with the
comments and recommendations concerning the Bangladesh request.
6. Under "Any Other Business," Japan requested the Secretariat to
submit a report about the revision of the accounting/auditing
system. The Secretariat was also requested to provide an overall
picture of the financial situation of the Secretariat, including
measures taken to streaming expenses and alternative raising
initiatives.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR IO/MPR/EA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC APECO APER ECON KUNR UN
SUBJECT: COLOMBO PLAN APRIL SESSION READOUT
REF: WITMER/NEVILLE email
1. The Colombo Plan Council held a special session on April 2,
2009. Full minutes have been emailed to Colleen Neville and Matthew
Goldstein. Representatives from all member countries, with the
exception of Sri Lanka, attended. The next Colombo Plan Council
Meeting will be held on May 21, 2009.
2. Following earlier interview of short-listed candidates, the
council agreed to appoint Mr. Nguyen Cuu Duc of Vietnam to the
position of Director, Drug Advisory Programme. This two-year
appointment will commence on June 1, 2009.
3. Addressing fiscal responsibility, the representative from Japan
highlighted the need for additional transparency in Colombo Plan
financials and the need for the Secretariat to "constantly continue
its efforts on cutting expenditure as well as pursing [other] ways
of fund-raising." During the ensuing conversation, representatives
of Bangladesh, the Philippines, Pakistan, Japan, Iran and Nepal
discussed the current accounting procedures for mandatory and
voluntary contributions. The Secretary General outlined the plan's
procedures, highlighting in particular the need for the Plan to
maintain a working capital account. Following further discussion,
the Council adopted "Guidelines on the Utilization of Accumulated
Fund" (ref a).
4. The President then briefed the Council on the report of the
Standing Committee on Administrative and Financial Matters for
2008/2009, specifically the "transfer of funds for programme
activities" and the "criterion for exemption of mandatory
contribution/arrears by member countries." Specifics of both
discussions have been forwarded to Washington.
5. Bangladesh reiterated its request to postpone the discussion of
an amortization plan for the Government of Bangladesh until a
decision is reached on the criterion for exemption of membership
fees/arrears. The representative from the Philippines requested
that Bangladesh pay its arrears (with no specific timeframe noted)
since a waiver of membership fee arrears for Bangladesh will not be
approved unanimously. The Secretary General noted that in 2004, the
Council rejected the request of Cambodia for a waiver of its
membership fee arrears, which led to the withdrawal of Cambodia from
the Colombo Plan. In the end, no final decision was made on
Bangladesh's request. However, the Council requested that the
Secretariat circulate the proposed criterion for exemption of
mandatory contribution/arrears by member countries together with the
comments and recommendations concerning the Bangladesh request.
6. Under "Any Other Business," Japan requested the Secretariat to
submit a report about the revision of the accounting/auditing
system. The Secretariat was also requested to provide an overall
picture of the financial situation of the Secretariat, including
measures taken to streaming expenses and alternative raising
initiatives.
BLAKE