Sunday, June 1, 2008

WEOG denounces UNDP's non-transparent and retaliatory practices after UNDP misled them on when report was to be delivered

The Western European and Others Group (WEOG) is one of several unofficial Regional Groups in the United Nations that act as voting blocs and negotiation forums.

On friday the Bureau of WEOG discussed the preliminary findings of the External Independent Investigative Review Panel (EIIRP) on UNDP's operations in North Korea.

As it can be read in this email, members raised deep concern over the potential spin from UNDP of the report, prior to allow "their capitals" to read and comment on it. Their demand to UNDP not to release and put an embargo on the report, was meet with the usual UNDP disrespect towards anyone.
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WEOG BUREAU EMAIL:

  • Subject: Information regarding the external review on the DPRK

Dear colleagues,

While I wait for the secretariat to provide me the draft summary of yesterday's Bureau meeting, I would like to share the following information regarding the release of the external review on the DPRK:

UNDP informed us that the report is now expected for Monday morning, at which time it will be shared with the Administrator and the Members of the Board. In the afternoon the Administrator is planning to brief the press. I had previously asked that an embargo be placed on the report to allow the capitals to read it prior to hearing about it from the press, but UNDP thinks that it would leak and therefore prefers to be pro-active in informing the press.

In regard to the question of facilitators for the decisions in the upcoming Board session, the other groups have not yet proposed any facilitators. I will push for the WEOG facilitators, at least, to be confirmed at our next Bureau meeting which is scheduled immediately after the pre-session informal consultation on 2 June.

With kind regards and best wishes for the weekend,

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WEOG members are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (New York activities only), Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. US is also member of WEOG.

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