GENEVA, May 1, (KUNA): Kuwait on Tuesday “stressed need” for Iraq’s continuing regular deposits into the UN war compensation fund in line with relevant international resolutions.
Kuwait stressed the need for continuation of regular deposits in the Compensation Fund, as provided for in UN Security Council Resolution 1956 (2010), of five percent of the proceeds from all export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas of Iraq; as well as five percent of the value of any non-monetary payments of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, said Chairman of the Public Authority for Assessment of Compensation for Damages Resulting from the Iraqi Aggression.
Khaled Al-Mudhaf, who was addressing the 73rd session of the Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission, thanked the Governing Council and the UNCC Secretariat for the distribution, on Oct 27, 2011, Jan 26, 2012 and April 26, 2012, of compensation amounts to Kuwait in accordance with Decision 267, noting that the Kuwait was looking forward to continuing to receive future installments of quarterly payments of the outstanding balance awarded to Kuwait by the Council.
Moreover, he thanked Iraq for continuing with the previously established mechanism for the transfers, under oversight of international external auditors who will ensure that Iraq continues to meet its obligations as established in the provisions of paragraph 21 of resolution 1483 (2003), and “we also note that the UNCC and COFE are meeting on a regular basis and we welcome their cooperation.”
Elaborating, he said the balance of the award sums remaining to be paid to Kuwait from the Compensation Fund stands at about $16 billion.
“From the outset when it was agreed in 2008 that Iraq and Kuwait would meet under the auspices of the United Nations Compensation Commission, to discuss the issue of the outstanding awards of Kuwait, the Government of the State of Kuwait has remained committed to the process. However, despite the efforts of the UNCC, since the first meeting that took place in May 2009 in Amman, no other meeting has been held to further discuss this issue or the proposal that Kuwait put forward as an option,” he stated.
Kuwait again renews its commitment and readiness to discuss the issue of the remaining compensation owed to Kuwait through this mechanism and under the auspices of the UNCC and awaits confirmation of the Government of Iraq’s favorable response in this regard.
Kuwait Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said Monday his just-concluded visit to Iraq was “an important step” that would serve bilateral relations and region as a whole.
Sheikh Sabah, also Minister of state for Cabinet Affairs, said he signed, the minutes of the Kuwait-Iraq commission meeting which paved way for ironing out outstanding issues.
In an open discussion at the conclusion of the 9th Arab Media Forum, Sheikh Sabah said there was a clear understanding between Kuwait and Iraq over all issues discussed during the commission’s meetings.
He said His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah would visit Iraq during the fourth quarter this year. Iraqi premier Nouri Al-Maliki had paid a visit to Kuwait recently.
Sheikh Sabah said the border signs between Kuwait and Iraq were installed and fixed “and only need maintenance and removal of some overlapping,” and the Iraqi government pledged to finish this job before next October, and $600, 000 was transferred to the UN for the maintenance works.
Sheikh Sabah said the Iraqi ministry of human rights vowed to search for remains of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing in Iraq, as well as searching for Kuwaiti archive missing during the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91.
The top diplomat asserted that Kuwait played a big role to help Iraq regain its leading role in the Arab world, citing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s attendance of the Arab summit that was held last month in Baghdad.