VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1015/01 3161511
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121511Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7580

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