15 April 2003
Secretary Powell Loosens Restrictions on Use of U.S. Passports in Iraq
(Loosened restrictions intended to facilitate delivery of assistance) (410) Secretary of State Colin Powell has lifted the ban that prohibits U.S. citizens engaged in Iraqi humanitarian relief operations from using U.S. passports in Iraq. According to a statement released by State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip Reeker April 15, the restriction was amended in order to facilitate the delivery of goods and services to the Iraqi people. "The Secretary is taking this step to enable these organizations to bring urgently needed humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Iraq," said the statement. Following is the text of the statement announcing the amendment on the use of U.S. passports in Iraq: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Office of the Spokesman For Immediate Release April 15, 2003 2003/400 Statement by Philip T. Reeker, Deputy Spokesman IRAQ: U.S. PASSPORT RESTRICTIONS AMENDED Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has amended the restriction on the use of U.S. passports for travel to, in, or through Iraq by certain U.S. citizens providing humanitarian and other critical services in support of the Iraqi people. The restriction is lifted for those people conducting humanitarian activities subject to a specific license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control; those conducting humanitarian activities funded by the United States; personnel of the United Nations and its agencies; or U.S. Government personnel and contractors on official assignment in Iraq. The passport restriction was amended to simplify the travel of staff of organizations designated to deliver critical goods and services urgently needed by the Iraqi people. The Secretary is taking this step to enable these organizations to bring urgently needed humanitarian and reconstruction aid to Iraq. General travel conditions in Iraq are still extremely hazardous for Americans. The Iraq Consular Information Sheet and Travel Warning on the Consular Affairs website (www.travel.state.gov) describe the risks in detail. The restriction on use of U.S. passports to travel to, in or through Iraq otherwise remains in place until the Secretary determines such travel is safe for Americans. U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or through Iraq, unless they are validated by the Department of State. The only exceptions are the passports of journalists on assignment in Iraq, U.S. citizens residing in Iraq as of February 8, 1991, and those of humanitarian workers affected by this amended restriction. (end text) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
