96-13088. Registration of Potential Claims Against Iraq

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 101 (Thursday, May 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25897-25898]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13088]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission


Registration of Potential Claims Against Iraq

AGENCY: Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission announces the 
establishment of an Iraq Claims Registration Program for registration 
of potential claims of United States nationals (individuals U.S. 
citizens, corporations and other legal entities) against the Government 
of Iraq.

DATES: The deadline for registration of claims is June 28, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David E. Bradley, Chief Counsel, 
Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States, 600 E 
Street, N.W., Suite 6002, Washington, DC 20579. Tel. [phone]; 
FAX [phone].

Notice of Commencement of Claims Registration Program, and of Program 
Completion Date

    This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Persian Gulf War. As a 
result of that conflict and related events, thousands of United States 
nationals (individual U.S. citizens, corporations and other legal 
entities) suffered injuries, losses and damages. Many claims arising 
directly out of Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait are being 
heard by the United States Compensation Commission (``UNCC'') in 
Geneva. However, at present there is no viable forum for the estimated 
$5 billion in outstanding claims against Iraq which fall outside the 
UNCC's jurisdiction (``non-UNCCC claims'').
    The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States 
(FCSC), an independent, quasi-judicial agency within the U.S. 
Department of Justice, has begun a program for United States nationals 
(private citizens, corporations, and other legal entities) to register 
these non-UNCC claims against the Government of Iraq for breach of 
contract, loss of and damage to property, physical injury or illness, 
and other losses and damages.
    Claims to be registered in this program are claims against the 
Government of Iraq (and its subdivisions and controlled entities) that 
are not within the UNCC's jurisdiction. The UNCC's jurisdiction is 
defined by relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions 
(particularly 687 and 692) and the decisions of the UNCC Governing 
Council.
    The claims covered by this Registration Program include: (1) All 
claims which arose prior to Iraq's August 2, 1990, invasion of Kuwait; 
(2) all claims of U.S. military personnel or their survivors which 
arose out of Desert Shield and Desert Storm (other than claims for 
inhumane treatment of prisoners of war, which are compensable by the 
UNCC); and (3) all claims arising out of Iraq's 1987 attack on the 
U.S.S. Stark (other than wrongful death claims, which have been 
compensated by Iraq).
    The information collected in the FCSC Iraq Claims Registration 
Program will be used to compile an accurate and comprehensive Registry 
of claimants and claims against Iraq, in preparation for the 
adjudication of those claims upon enactment of authorizing legislation. 
If such legislation is not enacted, the information will be used to 
ensure that all claims are taken into account in connection with any 
future claims settlement negotiations with Iraq.
    This Claims Registration Program will update and supplement the 
information on such claims compiled by the Treasury Department in 1991. 
(56 FR 5636, Feb. 11, 1991) Potential claimants who registered 
previously with the Treasury Department should also file in this new 
Registration Program.
    Requests for claim registration forms should be directed to the 
following address: Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, Attn: Iraq 
Claims Registration, Washington, DC 20579.
    Forms also may be requested in person at the offices of the Foreign 
Claims Settlement Commission, 600 E

[[Page 25898]]

Street, Northwest, Suite 6002, Washington, DC, or by telephone at 202-
616-6975 or fax at 202-616-6993.
    The deadline for filing a Registration Form is June 28, 1996.

    Note: The registration of a claim in this program will not 
constitute the filing of a formal claim against Iraq. In the event 
legislation is passed authorizing the Commission to adjudicate these 
claims against Iraq, instructions for the formal filing of claims 
will be forwarded to all those registered in this Iraq Claims 
Registration Program.

    Approval has been obtained from the Office of Management and Budget 
for the collection of this information. Approval No. 1105-0067.
David E. Bradley,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 96-13088 Filed 5-22-96; 8:45 am]
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