A/RES/51/231 Page 2 Having further considered the concise summary of the principal findings, conclusions and recommendations of the Board of Auditors,7 especially paragraphs 20 to 36 thereof, as regards procurement, in conjunction with comments on the subject contained in the report of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions8 and the measures proposed by the Secretary-General to implement the recommendations of the Board of Auditors concerning procurement,9 Noting the progress made in the efforts to prepare a new procurement manual, Noting with concern the continuing weaknesses and deficiencies in the area of procurement, Emphasizing the importance of establishing a supplier roster on as wide a geographical basis as possible, Noting the observation of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions in paragraph 20 of its report,10 1. Takes note of the reports of the Secretary-General on procurement reform1 and the reported actions already taken or in progress to implement the reform measures; 2. Regrets that more progress has not been made, in particular, in improving the procedures and the cost-effectiveness of the procurement process and in broadening the representativeness of the supplier base; 3. Welcomes the review by the Board of Auditors of the implementation of the recommendations previously made by the General Assembly in its resolution 49/216 C on measures to improve the procurement process; 4. Takes note of the observations and recommendations contained in the reports of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions,2 and endorses in particular the recommendation that procurement reform should be given the highest priority in the United Nations and its funds and programmes; 5. Requests the Secretary-General to expedite efforts to develop a single format for the provision of data and a common reporting system for procurement undertaken in the field and at Headquarters under the responsibility of the Secretary-General, in order to produce a complete set of statistics to be included in future reports on procurement to the General Assembly; 6. Expresses concern that over the last two years eight procurementrelated arbitration claims have been instituted against the United Nations, totalling more than 90 million United States dollars, and requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its fifty-second session a comprehensive report on procurement-related arbitration cases, 7 A/51/283, annex. 8 A/51/533, paras. 20, 21, 34-36 and 52-60. 9 A/51/488, paras. 15-19 and A/51/488/Add.1, paras. 4-7, 14-21 and 26. 10 A/51/7/Add.3; see Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-first Session, Supplement No. 7. /...