REPORT FOR 1990–91
'HE year under review has been dominated by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the resulting war and subsequent developments. Although the coalition casualties were remarkably low and the Commission was not involved in commemorating the dead, events in the Gulf were a major factor in the Commission's deliberations during the year. This was partly because of the concern for its staff and cemeteries within Iraq but also because this demonstration of the fragility of peace brought into sharper relief the significance of previous wars and the public's understanding of the role the Commission plays in preserving the memory of those who died in them.
The Commission met four times in the year. The June 1991 meeting was held at the New Zealand High Commission in London, because of the work connected with the replacement of the heating, cooling and ventilation system at the Commission's head office in Maidenhead. The cost of this work was one of the items considered by the Commission at its meeting in December, when the estimates for the financial year 1991-92 were discussed and approved. Before this meeting, the Commission's principal sub-committee, the Finance Committee, had met to scrutinise the financial plans in more detail.
Two Commonwealth war graves amongst French graves at N'Djamena (Farcha) Cemetery, Chad
For several years now the Commission has also taken a longer view of its future through its corporate plan, and in December the corporate plan for 1991-94 was approved. As the Commission's task is fixed by Royal Charter and the commitment does not alter significantly from year to year, the corporate plan reflects little fundamental change. In the context of the main objective of ensuring the highest possible standard of maintenance of cemeteries and memorials, the next three years are seen as a time for consolidation and refinement of the considerable organisational change and improvements in efficiency that have been made in recent years.
Joint Committee Meeting
There are several Joint Committees comprising representatives of the Commission and the foreign countries which have been established under the terms of War Graves Agreements to facilitate the Commission's operations in those countries. Although the larger committees meet only
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