§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement his Department will have in negotiating the use of Iraqi oil assets. [177889]
§ Mr. RammellUnited Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR 1546) of 8 June 2004 reaffirms the right of the Iraqi people to exercise full authority and control over their financial and natural resources from 30 June 2004.
UNSCR 1483 of 22 May 2003 determined that revenue from the sale of Iraq's oil is to be paid into the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI). As determined in UNSCR 1546, upon dissolution of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) on 30 June, funds in the DFI will be disbursed solely at the discretion of the Government of Iraq. DFI funds are to be used in a transparent and equitable manner through the Iraqi budget to benefit the Iraqi people Before this time, as determined in UNSCR 1483, DFI funds are to be disbursed at the discretion of the CPA, in consultation with the Iraqi Interim Administration.
§ Harry CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reference the draft United Nations resolution on Iraq recently proposed by the United Kingdom and the United States makes to paragraph 20 of Resolution 1483; what the implications of this is for(a) payments required to be made by Iraq and (b) payments required to be made to Kuwait; and if he will make a statement. [178142]
§ Mr. RammellUnited Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1546, adopted unanimously on 8 June 2004, provides for the continuation of the712W arrangements for the sale, audit, and handling of proceeds to the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI), as established in paragraph 20 of UNSCR 1483.
UNSCR 1546 also provides for the continued payment of five per cent. of Iraq's oil revenues into the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Fund, as established in paragraph 21 of UNSCR 1483. The conditions for the review of this arrangement remain as in UNSCR 1483, i.e. the current arrangements continue unless an internationally recognised, sovereign Government of Iraq and the Governing Council of the UNCC decide otherwise.
The remaining 95 per cent. of Iraq's oil revenues will continue to be handled through the DFI, and will continue to enjoy the privileges and immunities given to it under UNSCR 1483. The Iraqi Interim Government will have sole control over disbursements from the DFI.
Kuwait, and other states, whose claims against Iraq as a result of the 1990 invasion of Kuwait are accepted by the UNCC, will continue to receive the compensation due to them. This arrangement is subject to change only if the conditions for reviewing the five per cent. transfer of oil revenues to the UNCC—as outlined above—are met.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the statement of 7 June 2004,Official Report, column 31, on Iraq, when he expects to receive the results from the US Administration of their investigation into the deaths at Makr-al-Deel on 18 to 19 May. [178869]
§ Mr. RammellThe US investigation into the deaths at Makr-al-Deel continues. We have no indication of when it will be completed.