Iraq-Kuwait border drawn by UN Commission.

• Position: Five-member Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission's work on 240 kilometer border

Stretching across 240 kilometres of windswept a series of 106 pillars stand like tomb-stones dividing the territories of Iraq and Kuwait. The recently erected markers are the result of two years of work by the UN Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission.

"It was such a unique, undertaking", said Miklos Pinther, Chief Cartographer for the UN, who served as Secretary of the Commission. "Everyone understood that they were making history."

The five-member Commission was established under Security Council resolution 687 (1991), which sets the terms of the cease-fire for the Persian Gulf war.

In May 1991, the body began its pain-staking work, summarized in its final report (S/25811). The Commission then met in September 1993 to certify three sets of technical documentation, including maps and reports from the survey team. Both countries received a set of documents, and another set was deposited in UN archives.

Although it was the first time that the UN was called on to demarcate an international boundary, it is unlikely to be the last. Similar requests might be in the offing from newly-formed nations in Eastern Europe, said Mr. Pinther.

"The Commission eventually completed its task much faster than you would normally do a job like this - and below our estimated budget", he said, adding that the boundary demarcation was paid for by Iraq and Kuwait.

In conducting negotiations between the two countries, the Commission had to overcome several hurdles. And, Mr. Pinther added, the field was extremely demanding.

"The initial Problem was the enormous amount of unexploded materials in the area - thing,l like mines, grenades and leftover. stuff from the war", he said. "They were scattered all over the place. The wind would blow them and the sand would cover them."

In order to clear the mines, a team of Canadian engineers accompanied the survey team. The UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) also...