UNITED NATIONS, June 13 (UPI) -- The United Nations is plagued by poor management and morale problems but should be supported in proposed changes, a U.S. panel says.
The report's authors said the United Nations needs corporate-style oversight bodies and personnel standards, The New York Times reported Monday. The Times was given a copy of the 174-page report ahead of its Wednesday release.
The report, the Times said, suggests support be given for changes that have been proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The report states the panel was "struck by the United Nations' own receptivity to needed reforms" but also said any changes need to be implemented quickly, the Times said. It said some of the biggest problems were poor management, "dismal" morale and a lack of professional ethics.
The United States is the largest donor to the United Nations, putting up about 22 percent of the operation's regular budget and 27 percent of the funds for peacekeeping.
The panel, put together by Congress in December, was led by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., and former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine.
