[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 105 (Wednesday, August 3, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
     ADMINISTATION LEADERSHIP PROMOTES CHANGE AT THE UNITED NATIONS

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to draw my 
colleagues' attention to the outstanding work being done by our 
Ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, and her staff, in 
promoting the establishment of an inspector general's office at the 
United Nations. The administration deserves kudos for advancing what I 
hope will be one of the most significant changes in the United Nations 
management practices in a long time.
  This is no easy task. Many nations, and at times the U.N. bureaucracy 
itself, are distrustful of U.S. ideas for reforming the organization. 
Nonetheless, through deft diplomacy, the administration has succeeded 
in pushing through the General Assembly a resolution establishing an 
Office of Internal Oversight Services that is roughly comparable with a 
U.S. inspector general.
  The resolution establishing the office is, as the administration 
itself has said, a starting point, not an end point. More work remains 
to be done. In particular, the United States will have to pay close 
attention to the implementing regulations prepared at the United 
Nations to carry out the resolution.
  Nonetheless, given the record of Ambassador Albright's success so 
far, I believe there are ample grounds for optimism. As Ambassador 
Albright noted in her op-ed:

       The new Office of Internal Oversight Services is part of a 
     process by which we may and must `reinvent' the U.N. and make 
     it more efficient, more accountable and more able to take 
     advantage of the unprecedented opportunities for cooperative 
     action that now exist. No single step will provide all the 
     answers. But by creating a strong and independent internal 
     inspection office, we have taken a giant step.

  Mr. President, I could not agree more with the Ambassador's 
sentiments. I ask unanimous consent that her op-ed appear following my 
remarks in the Record.
  There being no objection, the remarks were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                     [From the Sun, July 27, 1994]

                          Cleaning Up the U.N.

                       (By Madeleine K. Albright)

       Taxpayers from New York to New Delhi had reason to cheer 
     last week as the United Nations agreed to establish a new 
     Office of Internal Oversight Services, roughly analagous to 
     our own system of inspectors-general. The purpose is to crack 
     down on waste, fraud, corruption and mismanagement within the 
     world organization.
       America led the fight to establish the new oversight and 
     inspections office because of our interest in a U.N. that 
     spends its resources wisely, establishes sensible priorities 
     and emphasizes results. In an era of relative international 
     cooperation, more is possible at the U.N. and more is 
     expected. But members must instill sound and modern 
     management procedures for the U.N. to succeed.
       During negotiations we were concerned that the new 
     oversight mechanism be strong enough and independent enough 
     not simply to promise reform, but to deliver it. Similar 
     concerns were expressed by members of Congress. The 
     resolution approved by the General Assembly, when 
     supplemented by the necessary implementing regulations, 
     appears to meet these tests.
       First, the head of the new office will be at the level of 
     undersecretary general, the second highest U.N. rank. He or 
     she will have clout.
       Second, the new office will be operationally independent. 
     Like our own inspectors-general, the Internal Oversight 
     Services office will have full authority to carry out 
     inspections and evaluate programs. It will have access to 
     documents, information and U.N. officials. It will be able to 
     report directly to the General Assembly on key matters, 
     including the adequacy of its own budget. The head of the 
     office must be qualified technically. And he or she must be 
     appointed by, and cannot be removed without, the concurrence 
     of the General Assembly. Other important protections include 
     safeguards for whistle-blowers and mechanisms for ensuring 
     compliance with the new office's recommendations.
       Most Americans support the U.N. We had the largest hand in 
     writing the U.N. Charter. We stood with the organization 
     through years of Soviet obstructionism and times when radical 
     ideologies appeared ascendant. We did so because we believe 
     the principles embodied by the U.N. are worthwhile, and that 
     international cooperation is essential. But we also want to 
     be sure that our contributions to the U.N. are wisely used, 
     for purposes we can endorse, by managers who uphold high 
     standards.
       The new Office of Internal Oversight Services is part of a 
     process by which we may and must ``reinvent'' the U.N. and 
     make it more efficient, more accountable and more able to 
     take advantage of the unprecedented opportunities for 
     cooperative action that now exist. No single step will 
     provide all the answers. But by creating a strong and 
     independent internal inspection office, we have taken a giant 
     step. We have kept faith with our taxpayers and with those 
     around the world who want the U.N. to be an effective and 
     useful instrument of addressing global needs.

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