[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 18722]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9498]



[[Page 18722]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Office of the Secretary

[Public Notice 4337]


Amendment of the Restriction on the Use of United States 
Passports for Travel To, In or Through Iraq

    On February 1, 1991, pursuant to the authority of 22 U.S.C. 211a 
and Executive Order 11295 (31 FR 10603), and in accordance with 22 CFR 
51.73(a)(2) and (a)(3), all United States passports, with certain 
exceptions, were declared invalid for travel to, in, or through Iraq 
unless specifically validated for such travel. The restriction was 
originally imposed on the grounds that (1) armed hostilities then were 
taking place in Iraq and Kuwait and (2) there was an imminent danger to 
the safety of United States travelers to Iraq. American citizens then 
residing in Iraq and American professional reporters and journalists on 
assignment there were exempted from the restriction on the grounds that 
such exemptions were in the national interest. The restriction has been 
extended for additional one-year periods since then, and was last 
extended through February 25, 2004 by Public Notice 4283 of February 
25, 2003. (68 FR 8791).
    The armed hostilities now taking place in Iraq have increased the 
danger faced by U.S. citizens in Iraq, and current conditions in Iraq 
are extremely hazardous for Americans. Nevertheless, in light of U.S. 
national interests in facilitating the provision of humanitarian and 
other critical services in support of the Iraqi people, and pursuant to 
the authorities set forth in 22 U.S.C. 211a, Executive Order 11295, and 
22 CFR 51.73, I have decided to amend the restriction on the use of 
U.S. passports for travel to, in, or through Iraq to exempt from its 
coverage certain persons providing humanitarian and other critical 
services in support of the Iraqi people.
    Accordingly, Public Notice 4283, published on February 25, 2003 (68 
FR 8791) is hereby amended by deleting the penultimate paragraph 
(beginning with ``Accordingly'') and replacing it with the following:

    ``Accordingly, United States passports shall continue to be 
invalid for travel to, in, or through Iraq unless specifically 
validated for such travel under the authority of the Secretary of 
State. This restriction on the validity of U.S. passports for travel 
to, in or through Iraq shall not apply to U.S. passports held by (1) 
persons resident in Iraq since February 1, 1991; (2) professional 
reporters and journalists on assignment there; (3) persons 
conducting humanitarian activities, as defined in 31 CFR Section 
575.330, through nongovernmental organizations registered with the 
U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control 
(OFAC) pursuant to 31 CFR Section 575.527(a); (4) persons conducting 
humanitarian activities subject to a specific license issued by 
OFAC; (5) persons conducting humanitarian activities funded by the 
U.S. Government; (6) personnel of the United Nations and its 
agencies; or (7) U.S. States Government personnel and contractors on 
official U.S. Government assignment in Iraq.''

    This Public Notice amending Public Notice Number 4283 shall be 
effective from the date it is published in the Federal Register and 
shall expire at midnight on February 25, 2004, unless sooner extended 
or revoked by Public Notice.

    Dated: April 11, 2003.
Colin L. Powell,
Secretary of State, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 03-9498 Filed 4-15-03; 8:45 am]
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