YouSaid · the spoken record

Sevan

lines on the record: 54
first: 2003-10-28
most recent: 2003-10-28
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: un-security-council

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“President, for all the support and cooperation I have been receiving from all the Members of the Security Council, its Committee, Ambassador Pleuger and his delegation, and I think we will go back to the drawing board, taking into account the suggestions made. We will come up with some suggestions in return, I hope by the end of this week, when the 661 Committee meets, unless the meeting postponed again.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“In fact, there is another audit in progress as I speak for the current six months, which will be made available to Security Council members; it will be a public document. The external board of auditors will continue to do the auditing. Concerning an issue I have been working on for a while, I would like to inform the Council that this has been: that, with regard to the 2.2 per cent assets, the Secretary-General has directed that assets purchased with the funds from the 2.2 per cent account will not be required by the United Nations for its activities relating to Iraq, either at Headquarters or in the field, and should be transferred to the Coalition Provisional Authority for the benefit of the people of Iraq. I would like to thank you again, Mr.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“I would like to also thank the Ambassadors of the United States and the United Kingdom for the assurances given, which I was seeking in my own statement, that they will provide all the necessary information regarding arrangements in place beyond 21 November in terms of such questions as authentication. This is necessary, at least, in view of a letter I received from the Coalition Provisional Authority's senior advisor, the Minister of Trade, stating that they expect to take a decision very soon. I hope it does come very soon, because it is only fair that we inform all the suppliers in that respect. In terms of auditing the escrow account, as you know, pursuant to resolution 986 (1995), it was decided that an external board of auditors would do the auditing. They have been conducting audits every six months on the escrow account.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Now, regarding the suggestions made by Ambassador Pleuger, Ambassador De La Sabliere and others, we have taken detailed notes and we will be looking through them to see what we can do on our part with respect to matters that fall within our purview. And then of course, there are others who are also involved in this exercise, including the Council and its 661 Committee. Therefore, I will review the suggestions thoroughly with my colleagues and come up with some proposals as to how we can meet at least part if not all of the concerns expressed with regard to such issues as priorities of contracts, payments and amendments, etc.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“I had mentioned also in my statement that we are undertaking a further review of the contracts thus far reviewed, in order to determine whether they have been established as having relative utility or not, or if they are, for example, of questionable utility, and so on, and we want to prepare lists with different categories indicating which contracts have been prioritized, which contracts have not been prioritized and the reasons for the rejection or non-utility. Whatever it is, we will find an appropriate way of presenting such lists. The issue that came up, of course, regards how long we can go on with the amendment process. The reason for our own Office to have set an internal deadline was because of he need to do so in order to conclude the process; but when a deadline has been established, the programme has to be completed.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Mr. Sevan: I also would like to thank everyone, on behalf of my colleagues, for all the kind words addressed to my office, to my colleagues in the field and to the agencies. I would like to say one thing with regard to the prioritization of contracts: we are talking about a deadline in terms of processing amendments, rather than prioritization. Prioritization will continue up until 21 November - and I hope beyond that - and my hope is that we will be able to prioritize all the approved and funded contracts in the pipeline that have to be prioritized before that date.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The Secretary- General has rightly described this attack on the ICRC as a crime against humanity. On behalf of all my colleagues, I wish to express our deepest sympathy and most sincere condolences to the ICRC and to the families and loved ones of all those who were killed or injured. Finally, I also wish to appeal to all Member States to close ranks, condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks and take all necessary measures to provide for the safety and security of all humanitarian personnel. I also appeal to all Member States that have not yet done so to sign the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“I wish to thank all parties for their understanding and cooperation with us in fulfilling all of the tasks entrusted to us by the Security Council. In conclusion, I should like to reiterate what I said in the Council's informal consultations held on 29 September. The terrorist attack against the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on 19 August 2003 was not only a heinous act of terror against United Nations personnel serving in Iraq, but also an attack on every single Member State of the United Nations. These acts of terror against humanitarian organizations have continued. The latest outrage, unequivocally condemned by the Secretary-General, was the attack yesterday on the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“In addition, before the start of the war in March 2003, the delivery pipeline contained goods worth approximately $10 billion, fully funded. As of 27 October 2003, over $7.56 billion worth of goods in the pipeline had been prioritized pursuant to resolutions 1472 (2003), 1476 (2003) and 1483 (2003). A number of outstanding matters still remain to be resolved in consultations with the Authority and the relevant Iraqi authorities, with whom we have established the necessary working relations, in Iraq, Amman and at the Headquarters level. We remain confident, however, subject to security conditions, of meeting the challenge of terminating the Programme by 21 November 2003, pursuant to resolution 1483 (2003).”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Since the start of the implementation of the Programme in December 1996, approximately $65 billion worth of oil was exported. More than $46 billion of that amount was allocated to the Programme after deductions for other accounts pursuant to relevant resolutions. I say this for the record, Mr. President, because we are convened in a formal meeting for the first time. Under the Programme, more than $30 billion worth of goods have been delivered to Iraq as a whole, including foodstuffs worth $12 billion; food handling worth $2.2 billion; agriculture worth $2.4 billion; medicines worth $2.3 billion; water and sanitation worth $1.3 billion; electricity sector goods worth $2.2 billion; housing worth $1.7 billion; and, for the oil sector, goods worth $1.9 billion.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Those commodities that relate to ongoing projects and activities will be assigned as part of the transfer of operational responsibility to the Authority, and a similar arrangement will need to be made with regard to those items that are related to maintenance of stocks. As you well know, Mr. President, from 1999 onwards, the range of operations covered under the Programme grew exponentially to include at its conclusion some 24 sectors, including, inter alia, food, food handling, health, nutrition, electricity, agriculture and irrigation, education, transport and telecommunications, water and sanitation, housing, settlement rehabilitation, mine action, special allocation for especially vulnerable groups, oil industry spare parts and equipment, as well as construction.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“According to United Nations agencies and programmes, more than $55 million worth of outstanding goods are being shipped, while currently, there are already about $25 million worth of goods either in transit or warehoused outside Iraq. Every effort is being made to minimize the quantity of goods to be delivered or still in transit, as of 21 November 2003. The Coalition Provisional Authority will assume responsibility for the safety of ESC (13 per cent) account assets stored in warehouses and goods in transit within Iraq. Regarding goods in warehouses outside the country, the Authority would, on transfer of the relevant contracts and purchase orders, likewise assume responsibility for their safety.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“There is also a category of projects that will be terminated prior to 21 November 2003 and that still require an agreement on termination procedures and takeover of liabilities and commitments. No agreement has as yet been reached with the Authority with regard to the databases established under the Programme that contain detailed information on issues such as key socio-economic indicators, mapping and various surveys, as well as matters which may also relate to intellectual property. We remain confident, however, that we will soon resolve our differences in that regard. In addition to the various categories referred to earlier, special arrangements are being made with regard to goods in transit.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“As requested by the Authority, we are currently in the process of compiling detailed information on goods in transit and warehoused outside Iraq. As indicated earlier, the United Nations is committed to the timely preparation of dossiers on all projects and activities to enable the Authority and the relevant Iraqi authorities to manage Programme assets once they are transferred. There are four types of dossiers: those for completed projects; ongoing projects scheduled to be completed prior to 21 November 2003; projects whose completion dates extend beyond 21 November 2003; and, finally, dossiers for all assets in warehouses, as well as relevant databases.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“This is of particular importance for those United Nations agencies that, for a variety of reasons - including lack of security, lack of warehousing space in the three northern governorates, and delays in contracting the items - maintain significant stocks outside Iraq. Currently, there is approximately $25 million worth of goods either in transit or warehoused by the United Nations agencies outside Iraq, with additional goods being shipped by the suppliers. Given that after 21 November 2003 the United Nations will not have funds available from the escrow account to continue payments for the ongoing storage and ultimate transportation, the Authority and the Iraqi authorities will need to commit themselves to providing all necessary support for delivery into Iraq.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“In cases where active international and local contractors demand terms and conditions that are not acceptable to the United Nations or the Authority, or where it would be cost-effective to re-bid such contracts, the Authority may advise the United Nations to terminate them. In that event, however, the Authority should provide adequate legal commitments to ensure that the United Nations will not be held ultimately liable for any such decisions. Otherwise, the United Nations will have no alternative but to retain adequate funds to cover such liabilities. With regard to goods held or warehoused outside the country, largely in neighbouring States, special arrangements will need to be made.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“However, it is of paramount importance that the United Nations not be held liable for any residual commitments or obligations that may arise from such contracts. Similar negotiations will be carried out and completed with regard to active local contracts. Currently, the Coalition Provisional Authority, working mainly with national United Nations staff and the team composed of international staff that arrived recently, is reviewing active local contracts in Iraq. The Authority will determine which local Iraqi entities will eventually take over such contracts. We are confident that arrangements for the handover of such contracts will also be completed before the termination of the Programme.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Preliminary discussions in Amman have been positive, and we, as well as the Authority, remain confident that agreement will be reached on the transfer of such active international contracts and deeds to the Authority prior to the termination of the Programme. Details on the status of negotiations in Amman regarding active international contracts will be provided to the 661 Committee later this week. In accordance with the relevant provisions of resolution 1483 (2003), the United Nations can transfer remaining responsibilities for the Programme only to the Authority. The Coalition Provisional Authority, in turn, will identify and subsequently hand over the responsibilities to the appropriate Iraqi entities.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Any LGF-funded projects that continue beyond 21 November 2003 will be transferred to the Authority under the same terms as other ongoing projects whose completion extends beyond the termination date of the Programme. With respect to Authority responsibilities, ongoing projects and activities will be transferred in a manner similar to that for completed projects. The basic difference between the two categories of projects is the transfer of active international and local contracts and deeds between international firms and the United Nations agencies. The Coalition Provisional Authority and the United Nations are reviewing such active international contracts in Amman, Jordan.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The team will complete its work and submit a report thereon to the Authority Senior Advisor by 31 October 2003. An agreement has also been reached on the disbursement of locally generated funds (LGF). The Coalition Provisional Authority approved the recommendation of the high-level tripartite working group, made up of senior representatives of the United Nations, the Authority and local authorities, to disburse LGF emanating from agricultural projects in the three northern governorates. In that context, I have approved $7.7 million worth of agricultural projects, submitted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and endorsed by the Authority and the United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (UNOHCI), for funding under the LGF budget.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“In September 2003, it became apparent that the joint inventory of assets - to be carried out by the United Nations, the Coalition Provisional Authority and the local authorities - in the warehouses would not be physically possible, owing to the prevailing security situation and relocation of United Nations international staff. Since then, the Coalition Provisional Authority has informally agreed to accept items warehoused in the three northern governorates on the basis of inventories prepared by the United Nations, subject to sampling checks by the Authority. A team of experts from the Authority has been conducting the sampling of assets in the warehouses, and its initial assessment indicates that the inventory records provided by the United Nations agencies are accurate.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“To facilitate that process, the Coalition Provisional Authority, the relevant Iraqi authorities and the United Nations are considering the establishment of a central authority to manage such projects. Details of that proposed central authority are still being worked out; they are primarily a matter between the Authority and the local authorities. With regard to assets held by the United Nations on the last day of the Programme, on 21 November 2003, it has been agreed that on that day inventory items will be categorized as follows: stocks inside Iraq; stocks held outside Iraq; and goods in transit.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The Authority has accepted our recommendation, as also advocated by the local authorities, to fund all viable ongoing projects, estimated to total 159, at a total cost of $1.08 billion. In a letter dated 23 October 2003 addressed to the United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in the three northern governorates, the Authority's senior adviser of the oil-for-food transition team in the north reaffirmed that "it is the Coalition's decision to continue current projects in the Northern Governorates after 21 November, provided that we reach a satisfactory outcome on the transfer of contracts involving third parties". The expected that all but a few of the ongoing projects - perhaps three or four that might not have fulfilled expectations - would be continued.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“With regard to the listing and status of all completed contracts, the dossiers would highlight the status of retention fees due and any warranties in the listing. Original copies or photocopies of all contracts in the United Nations agencies' file system will be added to the dossiers. That is intended to provide guarantees to the Iraqi people that contractors who may have executed projects poorly are held liable. With regard to applicable acceptance and transfer documents, those include assets loaned or on transfer to the local authorities and final acceptance certificates. With regard to ongoing projects to be completed after 21 November 2003, an agreement has been reached with the Coalition Provisional Authority for the funding of ongoing projects that will continue beyond 21 November.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“With regard to agreements reached with the Coalition Provisional Authority to ensure project viability, the United Nations and the Authority have agreed that the project dossiers should contain, at a minimum, the following information: a United Nations Office of the Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq (UNOHCI) project status checklist, including annexes, sectoral overviews and exit strategies, to provide all relevant information on completed projects, including those that have been implemented during several phases; narrative description of projects, which is all the basic information that would be needed to administer and manage the project and related files; and a list of project assets, facilities, and their respective locations.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“As indicated during my briefing to the Council on 29 September 2003, those will be transferred to the Authority through dossiers. A further 117 projects and activities, valued at $597.51 million, are expected to be completed by 21 November 2003. The United Nations will hand over to the Coalition Provisional Authority 159 projects, valued at $1.1 billion, that will not be completed by 21 November.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Common to each strategy are five distinct components: first, the transfer of fully completed projects and activities, including the transfer of ongoing warranties, deferred payment and performance-bond obligations and any residual United Nations liabilities, commitments and other obligations; secondly, the transfer of ongoing projects expected to be finalized before 21 November 2003; thirdly, the transfer of ongoing projects and activities, including obligations and liabilities against local and international contracts that will continue after 21 November 2003; fourthly, the transfer of warehouse stocks, including goods in transit as at 21 November 2003; and, finally, the transfer of relevant databases of the United Nations, its agencies and programmes. To date, 151 projects and activities, worth $1.85 billion, have been completed.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“That includes salaries for national staff providing essential services and the cost of spare parts for critical equipment, beyond the termination of the Programme, on 21 November 2003. The Coalition Provisional Authority and the relevant Iraqi authorities have submitted budgets to cover recurrent expenditures. United Nations agencies and programmes have procured supplies to ensure the continuity of essential services. To achieve those broad objectives, each United Nations agency and programme has devised individual exit strategies, based on the levels of project implementation and the possible future humanitarian involvement of the organizations concerned under their respective regular programme activities.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The third is the transfer of any residual obligations, commitments or liabilities of the United Nations that could arise as a result of its implementation of the Programme. Fourthly, there is a need to assess the adequacy of local capacity to manage Programme assets and maintain ongoing projects beyond 21 November 2003. Fifthly, there is a need to ensure that the local authorities, which, following the hand-over to the Authority, will assume administrative responsibilities for the projects, receive all the relevant documentation needed to manage the assets and implementation of those projects beyond 21 November 2003. That includes detailed dossiers covering all projects and assets, their location and financial status. The last objective is to make adequate provision for the payment of recurrent costs for up to 12 months.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“With regard to the transfer of activities in the three northern governorates, the main objectives that have guided the United Nations, its agencies and programmes in their handover preparations are as follows. The first objective is the timely transfer of the Programme's activities, projects and assets to the Coalition Provisional Authority and the uninterrupted delivery of essential humanitarian supplies and services beyond the Programme's termination, on 21 November 2003. The second is the protection of the substantial investments made in the three northern governorates over the life of the Programme, investments worth some $3.5 billion, including fixed and mobile assets worth about $1.5 billion.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The Authority needs to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place, effective 22 November 2003, for the effective management of the billions of dollars' worth of supplies and equipment to Iraq from the Programme's delivery pipeline and for authenticating the arrival of those goods in order to facilitate payment to suppliers - perhaps through retention of Cotecna's services by the Authority for a limited period after the termination of the Programme. I have been given assurances by the Authority that a final decision in that regard will soon be taken, thus ensuring the continuation of authentication arrangements beyond 21 November 2003.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The Office of the Iraq Programme has adjusted its databases to include information concerning the delivery dates negotiated by United Nations agencies and programmes in connection with contracts prioritized pursuant to resolution 1483 (2003), as well as delivery locations and up-to-date contact information for suppliers. The entire oil-for-food database will be transferred to the Coalition Provisional Authority on 21 November 2003.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Furthermore, in July 2003, the Coalition Provisional Authority was provided with details of 21 contracts in connection with which suppliers claimed to have provided services prior to the war, which could not be authenticated due to the withdrawal of Cotecna. Despite repeated reminders, the Authority has only been able to produce a negative response in connection with two of the contracts concerned. The number of outstanding contracts with services to be authenticated has recently increased to 25, with a combined value of $4.9 million.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“In addition, I should like to register considerable concern that, although one month has passed since the mechanism was agreed upon, the Coalition Provisional Authority has not provided the Office of the Iraq Programme with information regarding contact points within the port or an update concerning any arrangements made to confirm the arrival of goods. Since 10 October 2003, Cotecna has inspected 25 consignments, including 111,917 metric tons of food destined for Umm Qasr, under the revised authentication procedures, with no confirmation of receipt. If that matter is not urgently addressed, the confidence of suppliers in the authentication process may erode, which may adversely affect the delivery pipeline.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Currently, the United Nations independent inspection agent, Cotecna, is stationed at inspection sites outside Iraq, and authenticates the arrival of goods consistent with arrangements agreed upon between the United Nations, the Coalition Provisional Authority and the relevant Iraqi authorities. However, due to the fact that Cotecna personnel are not permitted to operate at the port of Umm Qasr, the issuance of authenticated confirmation for goods destined for Umm Qasr will need to be halted, unless the Authority provides appropriate indemnifications.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“The letters of credit for all contracts renegotiated and amended by the United Nations agencies and programmes will be retained by the United Nations until the contracted goods have been delivered in full and payments to the suppliers have been effected. The collateral funds of the letters of credit related to other approved and funded contracts that were not prioritized, or could not be amended by United Nations agencies due to their late prioritization, will be transferred to the Coalition Provisional Authority for direct payment to suppliers once those contracts have been executed.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“If such goods cannot be received by 21 November 2003, arrangements will also be made for their consignment to the relevant Iraqi authority. A list will be prepared of the goods falling under those two categories and handed to the CPA before 21 November 2003. A total of $398 million-worth of goods were established to be in transit to Iraq when the United Nations independent inspection agents were withdrawn from the country in mid-March 2003 due to security conditions. A total value of $315 million for such goods has been prioritized so far and arrangements have been made for the suppliers of the remaining goods to be compensated under paragraph 4 (g) of resolution 1472 (2003).”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“As of 27 October 2003, 100 contracts worth $69 million were submitted and approved under these projects in the health sector - $18 million; agriculture - $25.6 million; and education - $15.3 million. In addition, $189 million were allocated for the local procurement of wheat and barley. As of October 2003, under resolutions 1472 (2003) and 1476 (2003), United Nations agencies and programmes had arranged the delivery of goods worth over $1 billion. Part of the goods are still at locations outside Iraq and if they cannot be delivered to Iraq by 21 November 2003, arrangements will be made for their transfer to the CPA outside Iraq. Some of the goods are consigned to United Nations agencies and programmes under resolutions 1472 (2003) and 1476 (2003), but not yet received by them.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Furthermore, pursuant to paragraph 16 (b) of resolution 1483 (2003), action on "contracts determined to be of questionable utility and the respective letters of credit" will be postponed "until an internationally recognized, representative government of Iraq is in a position to make its own determination as to whether such contracts shall be fulfilled". (resolution 1483 (2003), para. 16 (b)) Based on the essential needs of the Iraqi people, as identified by the United Nations in coordination with the CPA and the relevant Iraqi authorities, and following my recommendation, the Committee established pursuant to resolution 661 (1990) approved, on an exceptional basis, 13 projects for the procurement of items, with a total value of $459 million, not covered by approved and funded or unfunded contracts.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“An urgent review will be undertaken by the United Nations of the contracts that have not been reviewed so far, in order to determine whether they have relative utility and to prepare a final list of such contracts by 21 November 2003, which we will submit to the Council. However, action is unlikely to be taken by United Nations agencies and programmes concerning contracts whose relative utility is determined after 28 October, owing to lack of time to process them. Prioritized contracts which cannot be amended by the United Nations agencies and programmes before the termination of the programme will be transferred to the CPA for appropriate action.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“There remain 3,319 of approved but unfunded contracts, with a total value of $6.5 billion. Out of the total of 3,154 contracts that have been prioritized, United Nations agencies and programmes have negotiated amendments to 1,653, representing 52.4 per cent of the total number. The United Nations agencies and programmes have repeatedly assured OIP that the amendment of remaining prioritized contracts will be completed by the deadline, now extended to 3 November 2003, unless additional lists of priority contracts are submitted just before that date. OIP has made arrangements to exceptionally process amendments received late due to reasons beyond the control of suppliers, but no later than 10 November 2003.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“An additional 322 contracts were initially determined to have relative utility but were later assessed as either fully delivered or the suppliers were otherwise not interested in completing deliveries at this point. These contracts will not be amended by the United Nations prior to 21 November 2003, but will rather be transferred to CPA for further processing, where applicable. The number of approved and funded contracts which have not yet been included in the initial review is estimated to be 1,621, with a total value of $1.5 billion, including 775 contracts with negligible balances of less than $30 million in total. As of 27 October 2003, 273 approved but unfunded contracts worth some $700 million have been funded following determination of their relative utility and urgent need.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“As I informed the Council on 29 September, we had estimated that we would require at the minimum 115 international staff for an orderly transfer of over $3.5 billion-worth of completed and ongoing projects, including $1.5 billion-worth of assets, in the three northern governorates. Given the reduction in United Nations personnel and the late deployment of a hand-over team by the CPA, the intended joint physical review of all programme assets by the United Nations, the CPA and the local authorities has not been possible. Accordingly, completed and ongoing projects and activities will be transferred to the CPA through dossiers prepared for each project and activity. As of 27 October 2003, 3,154 approved and funded contracts worth some $6.36 billion have been classified to have relative utility.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“However, our preparations and best-case scenarios were undermined by chronic insecurity and, in particular, the tragic terrorist attack of 19 August on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, which necessitated a revision of the transfer strategy. Since then, the number of United Nations international staff and consultants has been reduced from a total of 769 countrywide to a small core group of international staff in Baghdad and Erbil. An inter-agency mission is currently in Erbil for a very short period to assist in the hand-over process in the three northern governorates. Most of the international staff have been relocated and. to the extent possible, have continued to work in Amman, Jordan, and in Larnaca, Cyprus, on programme hand- over assignments.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“With regard to the 15 governorates in the Centre and South of Iraq, prior to the war the role of the United Nations was limited primarily to monitoring and observing the distribution and utilization of humanitarian supplies provided under the programme. Hand-over arrangements for the Centre and South involve a tripartite review by the United Nations, the CPA and relevant Iraqi authorities of all remaining contracts for humanitarian supplies and equipment submitted under the programme. The review has covered approved and fully-funded contracts, as well as those approved but not funded. Adjustments have also been made for alternative delivery and authentication sites to enable the delivery of supplies and equipment to Iraq. It was envisaged from the outset that these activities would take place inside Iraq.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Most of our phase-down activities have been undertaken in the three northern governorates of Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, where the United Nations was responsible for the implementation of the programme on behalf of the former Government of Iraq. In the north, the hand-over involves the transfer of projects, assets, inventories and relevant documentation, contracts signed by the United Nations and its agencies and programmes with international and national contractors, as well as an agreement with the CPA on liabilities and calculations concerning ongoing costs of projects after their handover to the CPA. As members know, some $8.1 billion had been allocated to the three northern governorates since the start of the implementation of the programme in December 1996.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Handing over a multi-billion-dollar programme of such complexity and magnitude during the six-month period, as mandated by resolution 1483 (2003), would have been extremely difficult even under the best of circumstances. Doing so under the current conditions of insecurity and reduced on-site staffing capacity will require a degree of realism, understanding and pragmatism, as well as flexibility from all parties involved. Despite these constraints, however, the United Nations has remained fully committed to the humanitarian welfare of the Iraqi people and its approach to the transfer of responsibilities for the programme reflects an unswerving determination to safeguard the interests of the Iraqi people.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“It will also list the considerable range of activities that remain to be undertaken by the United Nations, the CPA and the relevant Iraqi authorities to complete the transfer of all remaining responsibilities under the programme to the CPA in a professional and comprehensive manner and, above all, with full transparency. I ask members to bear in mind, however, that the substance of my observations today has been compiled under the most difficult circumstances, with the unstinting support of my colleagues in the field operating in substantially reduced numbers, mostly at locations far removed from their normal working environment and, at times, without having access to all the necessary documentation.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“This, of course, does not preclude any normal country operations that may take place in the future using non-oil-for-food funding." In view of the common position taken by the United Nations and the CPA, I see no alternative, as I also stated in my briefing of 29 September 2003, to the transfer of assets, ongoing operations and responsibility for the administration of and remaining activity under the programme to the Authority - the Coalition Provisional Authority - "as is", together with the relevant documentation. My statement today will set out the actions identified and taken to date in order to meet this goal.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source
“Tesfaye Maru, Deputy United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the three northern governorates, Ambassador Steven Mann, Coalition Provisional Authority Senior Adviser, Oil-for-Food Transition Team, North, stated as follows. "In accordance with Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), and as reaffirmed by the United States in the Security Council meeting of 29 September, the Authority will assume responsibility for the phaseout and handover. There will be no further role for United Nations agencies in directing these programmes after 21 November.”
2003-10-28 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4851 (2003) · source