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Thanks to Peter Brooks for alerting us about his very good report on the UNCC. Sandeep
[Le Monde diplomatique] [-----------------------------------------------------] October 2000 [ ] OIL FOR FOOD: THE TRUE STORY Contents How the UNCC works A.G. The real price of the cheap euro The United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) (1) is a subsidiary body of the UN Security Council. It originated A debt of on 3 April 1991 with Resolution 687, paragraph 16 of which dishonour * reaffirmed that, "Iraq, without prejudice to the debts and obligations of Iraq arising prior to 2 August 1990, which How the UNCC works will be addressed through the normal mechanisms, is liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, The unread reports including environmental damage and the depletion of natural resources, or injury to foreign Governments, The well-connected nationals and corporations, as a result of Iraq's unlawful rich * invasion and occupation of Kuwait." In paragraph 18 of the resolution, the Security Council also decided "to create a Wired to the fund to pay compensation for claims that fall within counterculture paragraph 16 above and to establish a Commission that will administer the fund." The other Yugoslavian On 20 May 1991 the Security Council approved Resolution election 692 which set up the UNCC in Geneva. It also decided that 30% of Iraqi exports of oil and petroleum products should Ivory Coast be allocated to paying compensation and UNCC operating democracy expenses (from December 2000 this percentage will be deferred * lowered to 25%). Only in December 1996, when the "oil for food" programme started, did the UNCC begin to receive Alienation in large sums, amounting to a total of $11bn by the end of Abidjan July. At the end of September the UNCC had paid out $8bn. 'You ought to show UNCC organisation more courage' The governing council determines UNCC policy, within the Repackaging the guidelines set by Security Council resolutions. On the World Bank * basis of proposals by the commissioners it decides how much to pay out in compensation. There is no appeal 'Do not forget against its decisions. The governing council consists of ideas are also representatives from the 15 Security Council member weapons' countries. Non-permanent members are appointed for two years. The right of veto is expressly excluded and a Australia's majority of at least nine is required for decisions to be forgotten taken. The governing council meets four times a year. Its dreamtime * budget for 1998-99 amounted to $82.3m and should reach $100m for 2000-2001. The governing council, which met for Golden, but still the first time between 23 July and 2 August 1991, should girls * have finished work by July 2003 and has set aside funds to tide it over till then. Olympic belles There are 54 commissioners - specialists in international Iran: the CIA plot law, experts in finance or insurance, accountants, and so that failed * on - representing 40 different nationalities, selected for a limited period by the secretariat, from a list provided Iran: the key by the UN secretary general. Applicants are confirmed by dates the secretary general and the governing council finalises their appointment. There are 18 panels, each comprising three commissioners (some have already completed their mission), responsible for examining a specific category of claim (A, B, C, D, E or F, which in turn are sub-divided) search the site: and proposing compensation. Claims under categories B, D, E and F are examined individually, whereas simplified procedures and statistic models have been used to process category A and C claims. The commissioners, whose presence in Geneva is distinctly irregular, are assisted by "experts" provided by the secretariat and responsible for most of the actual work. The various panels submit their compensation proposals to the governing council which has, to receive our so far, always followed their recommendations. free monthly summaries, please The executive secretary is appointed by the secretary fill in your general, after consulting the governing council. He or she e-mail address directs the secretariat, which consists of 240 people from 60 different countries. It takes care of the day-to-day running of the UNCC, prepares claims for the commissioners, and so on. The secretariat is the seat of real power. From the outset it was taken in hand by representatives of the United States, who "guided" its work. English is the working language, which forces Iraq to translate all its documents, and accentuates (*) Star-marked Anglo-Saxon influence at the UNCC. articles are restricted to Compensation claims subscribers only. See subscription The UNCC has fielded 2.6m claims worth more than $320bn information. (2). It has established four categories of claim for private individuals (A, B, C and D), one for companies (E) and one for governments (F). National governments centralise claims belonging to the various categories. The governing council has decided that in addition to compensation interest must be paid for the period between the loss of goods and the refund, "at a rate sufficient to compensate the claimants for the loss of use of the principal during this period." Interest will only be paid once the principal has been refunded. It has not yet been decided whether categories D, E and F will qualify for compensation for legal fees preparing their cases. About 100 governments have filed claims. Categories of claim Category A: people who were forced to leave Iraq or Kuwait (920,000 applications). Category B: people who suffered severe injury or whose spouse, child or parent died (6,000 applications). Category C: individual claims for compensation of less than $100,000 (1,660,000 applications). Category D: individual claims for compensation in excess of $100,000 (10,700 applications). Category E: claims by companies (5,840 applications). Category F: claims by governments and international organisations (431, of which 134 belong in both categories E and F). Out of 2.6m claims, 2.5m have been processed and 1.5m have received compensation totalling $13bn. Payment of category A and C claims was completed in September. It should be remembered that the largest number of claims (categories A and C) only add up to $12.5bn out of an overall total of more than $320bn. ----------------------------------------------------------- (1) Internet address: www.unog.ch/uncc/ (2) Except for displaced persons it is now too late to file a claim. Translated by Harry Forster ----------------------------------------------------------- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 1997-2000 Le Monde diplomatique