Kuwait eager to retrieve classified documents from UNCC

The Governing Council of the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) should speed up the process of returning some of Kuwait's classified and confidential documents, Chairman of the Board of the Public Authority for Assessment of Compensation for Damages Resulting from the Iraqi Aggression (PAAC) Khalid Ahmad Al-Mudhaf stressed Friday. The documents were submitted on written and oral understanding that they would be returned once the claims review process was completed, and the State of Kuwait made a formal request for their return in September 2005," said Al-Mudhaf at the UNCC's 76th session. The UNCC and the government of the State of Kuwait subsequently agreed, on July 25, 2006, to retain the documents at a location within the United Nations in order to maintain the integrity of the archiving policy adopted by the Governing Council at its fiftieth session in December 2003, as well as to facilitate unfettered access to the documents when needed by the UNCC or its auditors. Al-Mudhaf noted that Kuwait has formally requested the Council to take the necessary steps towards returning the documents and the Gulf country is appreciative of setting up a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UNCC in this regard; however, it urged the UN body to speed up the final writing up of this understanding. On the compensation front, the diplomat noted that Kuwait received USD 1.07 billion in July 25, 2013 and USD 1.24 billion in October 24, 2013. With these two payments, only USD 8.899 billion is left to be paid to Kuwait. He asserted that it's important for Iraq to continue its commitment to the process and to keep paying every three months until Kuwait is fully reimbursed. He clarified that five percent of Iraq's proceeds from its all export sales of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas should be deposited into the compensation fund established in accordance with resolution 1956 and another five percent of the value of any non-monetary payments of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas should also be deposited into the compensation fund. He also stressed the importance of keeping the compensation process transparent, accurate and within a timely manner.