PER]\4ANENT MISSIONOF SINGAPORE TO THE UNTTED NATIONS
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STATEMENT BY TIIE DELEGATION OF SINGAPOREON ITEMS t22, 124,128,129 IN AND 136- INVESTTNG THE UN: DETATLEDRBPORT (A/60/846/ADD.5), FIFTH COMMITTEE,28 JLNE 2006

Thankyou Mr Chairman, 1 My delegationsupportsthe proposalput forward by the Group of 77 and Report N601846Add. 5 be deferred China that consideration the Procurement of to the 61st session the UNGA. There is simply no reasonable of alternative we if want to havean informeddiscussion. 2 Procurement of significant importance. It is a complex endeavour is that involves large amounts of money and UN staff. The issue has also become somethingof a lightning rod, given the attentionit has attracted. Many recent criticisms of the LrN have revolved around procurement and the apparent transgressions IIN staff. We know that some [N staff have been put on by administrative leave for 6 months now without formal charges. A senior IIN that the I-N is riddled with official has also played up in the media speculation comrption= 3 So it behooves to address us this topic in somedetail. But the Procurement just completed Reportwas very recently.All of us needtime to evaluate and study justice to it or to the broaderissueif we look at them the Report.We would not do in a cursory manner.With so much at stake,we cannot be seento be simply endorsing Reportand its contents the without a thoroughreview. 4 We also understand that the procurementreport was preparedtaking into account the findings of a study by Deloitte and Touche. This study was commissioned the USG/DM. None of us wereprovidedwith an opporturityto by seriouslystudythe D&T report or evaluate findings.lnstead,we had a cursory its presentation the samemorning when Managementand Secretariat on Reform was being debated.These unevaluated findings of the D&T report have apparently beenusedasreference the Secretariat draw conclusions.Frankly,we arenot by to convinced that the findings of the D&T reportarerobust. Hence,we are sceptical

that the findings should have been used in this way. Until we have a complete evaluationof the D&T report, we will have serious difficulty considering the Procurement Report. The Secretariat the USG/DM shouldavail themselves and to the 5th Comm to provide a clear and comprehensive presentation the D&T of report. 5 There are other issues related to Procurementthat we need to address. Besidesthis report, there is also the ongoing OIOS investigationsinto alleged procurement transgressions. Theseinvestigations should also be completed a as matter of urgency. 8 staff who have not been formally chargedremainin limbo. So there is the factor of due processand basic decency. But the outcomeof the investigations will also influence our views on the procurement process. If this was all a wild goosechase, then we will alsoneedto look into the reasons that. for