CORRECTED COPY: EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION: 2009 EMBASSY

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000427

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR A/OPR/CR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT
SUBJECT: CORRECTED COPY: EMPLOYEE ASSOCIATION: 2009 EMBASSY
DAMASCUS COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION

REF: STATE 37649


1. As Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in
Damascus, I have taken the necessary measures to ensure that
our employee association is managed prudently and is in full
compliance with its charter and bylaws, 6 FAM 500
regulations, applicable to U.S. law, and all legal
requirements of the Government of Syria. I also assure you
that an adequate system of internal controls is in place to
protect the assets of the association and the interests of
the U.S. government. The Post Profile has been updated to
reflect the election of a new AEEA board. Finally, I certify
that Post does not procure services from the association or
does so only with an approved waiver from the Office of the
Procurement Executive (FAR 3.601).


2. The previous AEEA board requested an extension on
submitting an independent audit on May 25. According to AEEA
e-mail records, the stated reason for the delay was that the
auditor (Deloitte and Touche) had been working on other
Embassy issues. The aforementioned audit, along with the
auditor's statement of its compliance with US GAAP, is nearly
completed and should be forthcoming before the end of June,

2009. AEEA will also submit the board's statement of the
auditor's independence to A/OPR/CR after the auditor
completes final draft.


3. The 2009 AEEA board has learned that 2008 association
financial documents were not properly submitted. This has
been brought to the attention of the new Treasurer, who will
generate those statements and submit them to the appropriate
authorities this month.


4. AEEA is currently in the process of obtaining a written
agreement with the Chief of Mission in order to clarify the
handling of utility costs for the AEEA-administered
commissary. It is anticipated there will be nominal or no
charges assessed for the prior and current calendar years.


5. Regarding paras 2-4, AEEA will seek greater compliance on
deadlines for document submission by developing a schedule of
due dates and tasking appropriate officers. The Chief of
Mission's AEEA designee has taken a lead in compliance
oversight.


6. As previously reported, post continues to dispute an
erroneous transportation charge from 2003 in the amount of
USD 65,000. This disputed amount has been duly noted in each
audit report.


7. This certification was signed on June 21, 2009, by Charge
d'Affaires Maura Connelly.
CONNELLY