EIGHTIETH SESSION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSIOM TO BE HELD ON 28 OCTOBER

The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its eightieth session on 28 October 2015. Delegations from Iraq, including representatives from Iraq’s Committee of Financial Experts, and Kuwait will address the Council at its opening plenary session.

During the session, the Governing Council will consider a request from the Government of Iraq for a further one-year postponement of Iraq's obligation to deposit five per cent of oil proceeds and five per cent of the value of any non-monetary payments to service providers into the Compensation Fund. The Council will also consider reports relating to the work of the Compensation Commission since its last session in June 2015 and discussions will be held on issues associated with the $4.6 billion remaining to be paid to the Commission's only outstanding award.

General background information on the work of the Compensation Commission is provided below.

A press release with information on the results of the eightieth session will be issued on 28 October 2015.

The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) is a subsidiary organ of the United Nations Security Council. It was established in accordance with Security Council resolutions 687 (1991) and 692 (1991) to process claims and pay compensation for direct losses and damage suffered by individuals, corporations, Governments and international organizations as a direct result of Iraq’s unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait (2 August 1990 to 2 March 1991).

The Compensation Commission received approximately 2.7 million claims. The total asserted value of these claims (i.e., the amount sought by the claimants) was approximately $352.5 billion. Ninety-seven Governments filed claims on behalf of their nationals, corporations and themselves, and thirteen offices of three international organizations filed claims on behalf of individuals not in a position to submit their claims through a Government. Six categories of claims were established: claims of individuals for departure from Kuwait or Iraq (category A claims); claims of individuals for serious personal injury or death (category B claims); claims of individuals for losses up to $100,000 (category C claims); claims of individuals for losses over $100,000 (category D claims); claims of corporations, other private legal entities and public sector enterprises (category E claims); and claims of Governments and international organizations (category F claims). In June 2005, the Commission completed its processing of all submitted claims. The total compensation awarded was approximately $52.4 billion.

To date, the Compensation Commission has made available to Governments and international organizations approximately $47.8 billion for distribution to successful claimants in all categories, leaving $4.6 billion remaining to be paid. Funds to pay compensation are drawn from the United Nations Compensation Fund, which receives five per cent of the proceeds generated by the export sales of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products. With the adoption of decision 272 by the Governing Council in December 2014, Iraq's obligation to deposit this five per cent has been postponed until 1 January 2016, and as a result, no compensation payments towards the outstanding award have been made in 2015.

Further information about the Compensation Commission can be found on its website located at www.uncc.ch.


For use of the information media; not an official record

UNCC15/003E