[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 186 (Thursday, December 6, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S14998]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           NOTICE OF HEARING


                PERMANENT SUBCOMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATIONS

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I would like to announce for the 
information of the Senate and the public that the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs will hold a hearing entitled, ``United Nations 
Development Program Operations in North Korea.'' In April 2007, the 
United Nations Development Program, UNDP, took the unprecedented step 
of shutting down its operations in North Korea due to refusals by the 
North Korean government to allow UNDP to increase the transparency and 
accountability of its funding programs there. The Subcommittee's 
December 13th hearing will examine UNDP operations in North Korea, 
reviewing evidence and taking testimony on certain problems in the 
relationship between UNDP and the North Korean government, whether the 
problems in North Korea are localized or systemic, and whether UNDP has 
sufficient whistleblower and ethics safeguards in place. Witnesses for 
the upcoming hearing will include representatives of the Government 
Accountability Office and the Department of State. Following the 
hearing, the Subcommittee will receive a public briefing from 
representatives of the United Nations Development Program. A final 
witness list will be available Tuesday, December 11, 2007.
  The Subcommittee hearing is scheduled for Thursday, December 13, 
2007, at 2 p.m., in Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. For 
further information, please contact Elise Bean of the Permanent 
Subcommittee on Investigations at 224-9505.

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