UNGA/C-5: UNGA FIFTH COMMITTEE MEETS ON OIOS:

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001015

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC KUNR PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: UNGA/C-5: UNGA FIFTH COMMITTEE MEETS ON OIOS:
SPARKS FLY ON INTERNET POSTINGS OF REPORTS, THE MECHANISM
OF SUBMISSION, AND THE FULFILLMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS


1. (U) SUMMARY: The Fifth Committee formally convened to
consider Item 140 on the Report on the activities of the
Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the annual
report of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC),
and Agenda Item 141 on the implementation of GA resolutions
48/218B, 543/244 and 59/272 ("Five Year Review of OIOS").
The Pakistan statement appeared to advocate reversing the
policy, established in the 59th GA, of having OIOS reports
submitted directly to the General Assembly. Several
delegates criticized the practice of posting OIOS reports on
mission websites. However, other delegations spoke in favor
of the need for more transparency in regard to the reports.
Both the G-77 and the EU called for OIOS recommendations to
be implemented, particularly critical ones, to the greatest
extent possible. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) PAKISTAN DEBATES SUBMITTING OIOS REPORTS TO GA:
Ambassador Amjad Hussain B. Sial, Deputy Permanent
Representative from Pakistan, cited what he understands to be
discrepancies between previously passed resolutions regarding
the manner by which OIOS reports are submitted. He observed
that resolution 59/272, paragraph 3, which calls for reports
to be submitted directly to the General Assembly (rather than
first to the Secretary General) contradicts paragraph 1 of
59/272, which maintains procedures found in resolutions
48/218B and 54/244. His decision to recall the early
resolutions of the 48th and 54th General Assemblies ignores
the prevailing practice, since the passing of 59/272, of
having reports submitted directly to the General Assembly. He
goes on to say that it is an internal matter if reports are
not submitted from the Secretariat to the General Assembly
and believes that it is acceptable that some reports (as
suggested by the IAAC) be withheld. OIOS Under Secretary
General Inga-Britt Ahlenius defended the current practice as
supported by the body of resolutions governing OIOS,
remarking that "I would like to mention the importance of
resolution 59/272, also referred to as the "Transparency
Resolution", which decided that OIOS reports should be
submitted directly to the General Assembly."


3. (U) INDEPENDENCE OF THE OIOS: A number of countries
stressed the importance of maintaining the operational
independence of the OIOS. The Permanent Representative of New
Zealand speaking on behalf of CANZ remarked that "the
operational independence of OIOS is critical to its effective
functioning." To this end, CANZ believes it is essential for
Member States to agree to a "robust" definition of the
concept of "operational independence." (Note: G-77 and
Russia do not agree with the definition of "operational
independence" as provided by the IAAC and have offered
language to clarify.) CANZ also is supportive of an internal
oversight charter for OIOS that would detail the mandate,
operations, accountability and reporting procedures of the
office and its relationship with the General Assembly, the
Secretary General, management and other oversight bodies.


4. (U) TRANSPARENCY AND THE INTERNET: The delegate of
Switzerland noted that previous resolutions were passed "to
ensure respect for the separate and distinct roles of
internal and external oversight mechanism. In the case of
OIOS, this distinction has become somewhat blurred." The
delegate then directed his attention to the practice of
publishing OIOS reports on the internet, noting, "At present,
such reports appear on the Internet before management has had
an opportunity to react to their content. In our view, this
practice is difficult to reconcile with the original purpose
of OIOS, which is to assist the Secretary-General in
fulfilling his internal oversight responsibilities." The
Chairman of the Independent Audit Advisory Committee (IAAC)
David Walker made a brief unscripted remark and offered his
opinion that there is a difference between posting a report
on the internet and providing the material upon Member
States' request. His preference was clearly in favor of the
latter. The IAAC suggested Member States have access to
reports so as not to limit their ability to obtain the
information they need or decrease transparency. OIOS U/SYG
Ahlenius did not directly address the internet aspect of the
reports, but certainly let her overall sentiment be known,
declaring that "The United Nations is a publicly financed
Organization, accountable to its stakeholders and financers.
While such transparency in the very short-run might not
always be pleasant, transparency serves in the long-run to
improve the Organization."


5. (U) G77 CONCERNS ON CONTRADICTIONS AND LACK OF FULFILLMENT
OF OIOS RECOMMENDATIONS: Sudan, speaking on behalf of the G77
and China raised a concern that "some recommendations
contradict the mandates and decisions of the General
Assembly." While the delegate did not provide a specific
example of such a contradiction, he promised to address the
matter further. The delegate also expressed G77



dissatisfaction as to the progress made on some key OIOS
recommendations, noting that, "we are concerned at the
decreased rate of implementation and the higher number of
recommendations that received no response." Later he
addressed a concern over "recommendations not started,
especially those which are listed as critical."


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Pakistan's objectives in raising a supposed
contradiction are not fully clear, but may indicate the
personal interest of the DPR in reverting to a system where
the OIOS sends reports only through the Secretary General.
The G-77 have offered language in the draft resolution on the
Five Year Review of OIOS that seeks to change the current
reporting procedures. Many in the G-77 view resolution
59/272 as an anomaly that needs to be overturned. However,
the U.S and other western allies will not support such a
change. END COMMENT.
Rice