GOVERNING COUNCIL OF UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION CONCLUDES ITS SEVENTY-FIRST SESSION

The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission, under the Presidency of Ambassador Reinhard Schweppe (Germany), today concluded its seventy-first session. At this session, the Council elected Germany as President to replace Austria, which held the presidency of the Governing Council for the period 2009-2010. Brazil currently holds the vice-presidency.

With the Governing Council having concluded at its seventieth session that the mandate of the Follow-up Programme for Environmental Awards under decision 258 (2005) can and should be fulfilled in the near-term and having indicated its intention to adopt a decision in this regard at the present session, delegations from the Governments of Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia attended the session at the invitation of the Governing Council and shared their views with reference to the future of the Programme. The Governments of Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also provided information to the Governing Council on the status of implementation of their respective projects.

In considering the progress made by the participating Governments under the Follow-up Programme for Environmental Awards, the Council adopted decision 269 (S/AC.26/269 (2011)) concerning the fulfilment of the Follow-up Programme for Environmental Awards.

The Council also considered a report from the Executive Head of the UNCC Secretariat on the activities of the Commission since the last session; and a report on payment of awards and distribution of payments to successful claimants, the transparency of the distribution process, and the return of undistributed funds.

At present, $21 billion remains owing to Kuwait for distribution to nine successful claimants. Claims are paid with funds drawn from the United Nations Compensation Fund, which currently receives 5 per cent of the proceeds generated by the export sales of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products in accordance with Security Council resolution 1483 (2003) and affirmed in subsequent resolutions, most recently in Security Council resolution 1956 (2010). The Council encouraged the Governments of Iraq and Kuwait to resume their consultations under the auspices of the UNCC, as soon as possible, on this outstanding balance.

The Council decided to hold its next regular session from 11 to 13 October 2011.


Further information about the Commission, including the text of Governing Council decisions, can be found on the United Nations Compensation Commission website located at www.uncc.ch.


For use of the information media; not an official record

UNCC11/003E