UN task force urges overhaul of Assembly president's office

A UN task force recommended a major overhaul of the General Assembly president's office today following the embarrassing arrest of an ex-president accused by US authorities of turning the post into a "platform for profit" by accepting over USD 1 million in bribes.
A sharply critical report by the task force said the General Assembly president's office operates in an environment of "significant loopholes and blind spots," with a lack of financial oversight, "insufficient transparency and accountability measures," and no code of ethics.
It paints a picture of an operation with no continuity that changes every year with the arrival of a new president of the 193-member world body at the start of their one-year term.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ordered a review after the arrest last October of John Ashe, who served as assembly president from September 2013-September 2014. US prosecutors allege he accepted bribes from a Chinese real estate mogul and other businesspeople who have also been arrested to pave the way for lucrative investments. Ashe, a former foreign minister of the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbados, has pleaded not guilty.
The task force said the allegations against Ashe have "tarnished the image and reputation" of the United Nations and urged the General Assembly to undertake major reforms of the president's office.
It made 18 recommendations including calling on the world body to adopt a code of conduct for presidents, requiring disclosure of all funds received by the president's office from all sources, ensuring that private individuals and businesses that want to make contributions are screened, and establishing a new post to provide continuity between presidents.

The task force also suggested the appointment of an oversight body to review the handling of financial and staffing issues.

At the heart of the problem is the fact that the president of the General Assembly is not a United Nations employee and the UN only funds about five positions in the president's office. Its operating budget has remained static since 1998 except for adjustments for inflation, and now stands at USD 326,000.
This means all additional financial and staff needs of the president have been met by voluntary contributions of money, personnel, airplanes for travel and other in-kind services from various donors including governments, UN bodies, foundations and non-governmental organizations, the task force said.

Ban said in a letter transmitting the report to the current assembly president that he agrees with the task force's conclusions and recommendations. He has also ordered an audit, which is due shortly.