The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
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