The Geneva-based Commission approved seven reports and recommendations of the panels of Commissioners concerning claims of corporations and governments. The function of the Commissioners is to verify and evaluate claims, and to determine whether they are directly related to Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait. They then assess the value of losses suffered by claimants and recommend compensation in reports to the Governing Council.

At its 39th session, the Council also discussed the report of the Executive Secretary on the distribution of payments awarded to successful claimants, the transparency of the distribution process, and the return of undistributed funds.

The delegations of Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Sri Lanka addressed the 15-member Governing Council at its opening plenary meeting. The session was adjourned until 2 April 2001 when the Council will meet to continue its consideration of the provision of technical assistance to Iraq.

To date, the Commission has awarded compensation of over $ 34.375 billion, including the awards approved in this session. Over $11 billion of the amount awarded has been made available to governments and international organizations for distribution to successful claimants in all categories of claims.

The Security Council established Iraq's legal responsibility for such losses in its resolution 687 of 3 April 1991, which stated that the Iraqi Government was "liable under international law for any direct loss, damage, including environmental damage and the depletion of natural resources, or injury to foreign Governments, nationals and corporations, as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and occupation of Kuwait."