GOVERNING COUNCIL OF COMPENSATION COMMISSION AWARDS MORE THAN $40 MILLION TO KUWAITI INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
Press Release
IK/245
GOVERNING COUNCIL OF COMPENSATION COMMISSION AWARDS MORE THAN $40 MILLION TO KUWAITI INDIVIDUAL AND GOVERNMENT CLAIMS
19980311 GENEVA, 11 March (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission concluded its twenty-seventh session today and awarded more than $19 million on an individual claim and more than $20 million to two Kuwaiti Government claims.The Council approved the recommendations of the Panel of Commissioners concerning part two of the first instalment of category "D" claims -- individual claims for damages above $100,000 -- covering one claim filed by the Government of Kuwait. The claim concerned the loss of a collection of Islamic art and a collection of rare books and other personal property losses as well as damage to real property. The Panel recommended a total award of $19,694,518.81 in compensation in respect of the claim.
The Council also approved the recommendations of the Panel of Commissioners concerning part two of the first instalment of category "F" claims -- government claims -- covering two claims filed by the Government of Kuwait, one concerning a claim by the Kuwait Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the other concerning a claim by the University of Kuwait. The Panel recommended a total award of $20,853,796 in compensation in respect of the two claims included in the report.
The Council met under the Presidency of Ambassador Gonçalo de Santa Clara Gomes of Portugal. The delegations of Kuwait and Iraq addressed the 15-member Governing Council at its opening plenary meeting.
During this session the Governing Council discussed the activities of the Commission from December 1997 to February 1998 on the basis of a report presented by the Executive Secretary. The Council also considered the reports provided by governments on the distribution of funds received from the Commission.
The Council considered a number of issues relating to the processing of claims. In that respect, the Council set the date of 11 May as the deadline for the filing of unsolicited supplements or amendments to previously filed claims in categories "E" -- corporate claims -- and "F" -- claims of governments and international organizations, with the exception of
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environmental claims. After this date, such unsolicited supplementation will not be accepted under any circumstances. The Council also discussed the question of the compensability of claims of preparation costs and is expected to continue its discussion of this issue in the future.
The Council held a preliminary discussion on an information note prepared by the Secretariat on the selection of Commissioners to serve on two Panels of Commissioners to be appointed by the Council in June. The Panels will be responsible for reviewing a number of corporate and Government claims respectively. Further discussion of the subject will take place at a future meeting of the Council.
The next session of the Council is scheduled to be held from 29 June to 1 July.
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