GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMPENSATION COMMISSION TO HOLD ITS EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION ON 8 OCTOBER 2019

The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission will hold its eighty-sixth session on 8 October 2019 under the Presidency of Ambassador Zbigniew Czech, Permanent Representative of Poland. 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 reports relating to the work of the Compensation Commission since the last session in November 2018. Discussions will be held on issues related to the current levels of income and the arrangements for ensuring the deposit of 1.5 per cent of the proceeds from export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas into the Compensation Fund under Governing Council decision 276 (2017), the $3.7 billion remaining to be paid to the Commission's only outstanding award, audit activities, and the progress being made with regard to winding down as the Commission nears the conclusion of its mandate.

General background information on the Compensation Commission is provided below.

A press release with information on the outcome of the eighty-sixth session will be issued on 8 October 2019.


Background

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.

With the most recent payment of compensation made on 23 July 2019, the Compensation Commission has paid out approximately $48.7 billion to Governments and international organizations for distribution to successful claimants in all categories, leaving $3.7 billion remaining to be paid. Funds to pay compensation are drawn from the United Nations Compensation Fund, which currently receives 1.5 per cent of the proceeds generated by the export sales of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products. Under Governing Council decision 276 (2017), this amount will increase to 3 per cent effective 1 January 2020.

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

UNCC19.003E