COMPENSATION COMMISSION'S GOVERNING COUNCIL APPROVES $721 MILLION FOR INDIVIDUAL LOSSES UP TO $100,000
Press Release
IK/222
COMPENSATION COMMISSION'S GOVERNING COUNCIL APPROVES $721 MILLION FOR INDIVIDUAL LOSSES UP TO $100,000
19970624 (Reissued as received.)GENEVA, 24 June (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission closed its twenty-fourth session today after approving a fifth instalment of over 76,000 claims from 43 countries and three international organizations for individual losses of up to $100,000 as a result of the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
With the approval of this instalment by the Council, the total number of resolved category "C" claims reached 277,730 with a total amount awarded of approximately $2.1 billion.
Taking into account the amounts already approved for individual claims for departure from Iraq or Kuwait (category "A"); claims for serious personal injury or death (category "B"); and individual claims up to $100,000 (category "C"), the total compensation awarded by the Council to date adds up to approximately $6 billion.
During this session, which opened yesterday, the 15-member Governing Council, chaired by the Permanent Representative of Portugal, Gonçalo de Santa Clara Gomes, was addressed by delegations of Kuwait, Iraq and Turkey, States non-members of the Council.
In addition, the Governing Council approved the proposal of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the appointment of six commissioners for two new panels to review corporate claims (category "E"). The first Panel will be assigned a number of petroleum sector claims and is chaired by Allan Philip (Denmark), with Bola A. Ajibola (Nigeria) and Antoine Antoun (Lebanon) as members. The second Panel will be periodically assigned a number of Kuwaiti private sector corporate claims and is chaired by Robert Briner (Switzerland), with Alan James Cleary (United Kingdom) and Lim Tian Huat (Malaysia) as members.
Finally, and on the basis of a report by Executive Secretary Jean-Claude Aimé, the Governing Council discussed means of expediting the processing of the category "D", "E" and "F" claims.
The next session of the Council is scheduled for 29 and 30 September.
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