Efficiency, Accountability: UN General Assembly Okays Series of Reforms
'Pakistan Times' UN Bureau

UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly has unanimously approved a series of reforms that were welcomed by the comity of nations with the United States—atop as a long overdue step toward greater efficiency and accountability at the United Nations.

The 191-member world body adopted the changes a week after it lifted a $950 million spending cap on the U.N. budget over objections from the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada.

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Mark Wallace told the assembly the United States was looking forward to the implementation of the reforms, but "we believe at the same time that critical elements are still missing."

Secretary-General Kofi Annan won support for a raft of management reform at a summit of world leaders in September, but developed and developing countries have been at odds over how to implement the measures.

The United States and other wealthy countries have demanded greater flexibility for the secretary-general and the U.N. Secretariat, but poorer nations have been reluctant to give up power over the U.N. budget and administrative matters.

Wallace said; "while long overdue, the measures represent positive first steps toward achievement of the types of Secretariat and management reform" agreed to at the September summit.

"They will only have value, however, if they are implemented in a timely and cost-effective manner, and if they are accompanied by additional reforms," he said.

The resolution authorized some improvements to the U.N.'s oversight system, approved internationally accepted accounting standards for the organization, established an information technology chief, and decided to replace the U.N.'s long-outdated information management system.

It authorized Annan "on an experimental basis," to spend up to $20 million in 2006-2007 and again in 2008-2009 to meet the U.N.'s needs, giving the U.N. chief some budget flexibility. It also gave Annan $706,600 to strengthen the U.N. purchasing system, pending action by the General Assembly at its next session, which starts in September, on his upcoming report on procurement reform.

Stiff Process

General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, while noting the reform process was still under way, welcomed the resolution's adoption by consensus after difficult negotiations in the budget committee and expressed hope that the "cooperative atmosphere" will prevail.

"Together we have taken a step to make the organization more efficient and effective," he said. "We have begun consolidating a culture of accountability, transparency and integrity in the Secretariat."

South Africa, as head of the Group of 77, which represents 132 mainly developing countries and China, said the resolution showed member states could reach consensus "because we are committed to the strengthening of this organization" — not due to the threat of a spending cap.

Members decided to put off key reforms until the next General Assembly session, including overhauling U.N. procurement rules and the internal U.N. justice system, as well as human resources reforms and proposals on governance and accountability.●