UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROVES AWARDS OF $4.9 BILLION FOR COMPENSATION

UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION APPROVES AWARDS

OF $4.9 BILLION FOR COMPENSATION

(Reissued as received.)

GENEVA, 2 July (UN Information Service) -- The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission today approved awards of $4,880,400,537for compensation to cover claims relating to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq before concluding its forty-fourth session held in Geneva.  The session was held from 18 to 20 June, as scheduled, and then was extended to continue consideration of one agenda item. 

Representatives of Kuwait, Iraq and Palestine addressed the 15-member Governing Council at its opening plenary meeting, presided over by Sverre Bergh Johansen of Norway.

The Council also approved 10 reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners concerning claims from individuals in category “D”, claims from corporations in category “E”, and claims from governments in category “F”, as follows:

Part 1 of the twelfth instalment of category “D” claims (individual claims for losses over $100,000) involved 395 claims filed on behalf of individuals by 17 governments.  Of these, 346 claims filed by 14 governments were recommended for compensation, with a total award value of $100,698,098.58.

The thirteenth instalment of category “D” claims involved 593 claims filed on behalf of individuals by 22 governments and 3 international organizations.  Of those, 523 claims filed by 22 governments and 3 international organizations were recommended for compensation, with a total award value of $147,732,224.63.

Part 1 of the seventh instalment of category “E1” claims (oil sector claims) involved one claim filed on behalf of a corporation by one government.  The claim was approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $1,579,792,104.

Part 2 of the seventh instalment of category “E1” claims involved 11 claims filed on behalf of corporations by three governments.  Of these, two claims filed by two governments were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $212,387,402.

The tenth instalment of category “E2” claims (non-Kuwaiti claims, excluding oil sector, construction/engineering and export guarantee and insurance claims) involved 210 claims filed on behalf of corporations by 25 governments.  Of these, 71 claims filed by 17 governments were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $9,270,601.

The nineteenth instalment of category “E3” claims (non-Kuwaiti construction and engineering claims) involved 19 claims filed on behalf of corporations by seven governments.  Of these, 11 claims filed by seven governments were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $48,066,834.

The fifteenth instalment of category “E4” claims (Kuwaiti claims, excluding oil sector claims) involved 15 claims, 14 of which were filed on behalf of corporations by the Government of Kuwait and one directly submitted claim.  Of those, 14 claims were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $252,322,898.

The seventeenth instalment of category “E4” claims involved 20 claims filed on behalf of corporations by the Government of Kuwait.  All claims were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $154,718,071.

Part 2 of the third instalment of category “F3” claims (Kuwaiti Government claims, with the exception of environmental claims) involved four claims filed on behalf of Kuwaiti ministries and other government entities by the Government of Kuwait.  All claims were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $2,103,461,827.

The second instalment of category “E/F” claims (claims filed on behalf of insurance companies and export credit agencies) involved 33 claims, of which 32 were filed by 14 governments and one directly submitted claim.  Of these, 21 claims filed by 14 governments were approved by the Council for compensation, with a total award value of $271,950,477.

During the session, the Council had discussed a progress report of the Executive Secretary on the activities of the Commission, which addressed the processing of claims and the payment of approved awards.  The Council also discussed the report of the Executive Secretary on the distribution by governmentsof payments to successful claimants, the transparency of the distribution process, and the return of undistributed funds.

The Commission has so far awarded compensation of approximately $42.6  billion, including the awards approved in the forty-fourth session; approximately $14.8 billion of the amount awarded has been made available to governments and international organizations for distribution to successful claimants in all categories of claims. 

Further information about the Commission, including the text of Governing Council decisions and reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners, can be found on the United Nations Compensation Commission Web site located at www.uncc.ch.

The next session of the Council will be held from 1 to 3 October.

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