IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PERMANENT MISSIONS AND SUPPLIERS

28 MARCH 2003

ADOPTION OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 1472 (2003)

On 28 March 2003, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1472 (2003). The resolution authorized, on an interim and exceptional basis, technical and temporary adjustments to the Oil for Food Programme. The authorized adjustments include establishment of alternative locations for the delivery, inspection and authenticated confirmation of humanitarian supplies and equipment provided under the Programme, as well as re-direction of shipments of goods to these locations as necessary. Further authorization is given to the Secretary General and representatives designated by him to determine the relative priorities for essential civilian needs represented under the contracts approved under the Programme, to contact the suppliers of such contracts in order to determine the precise location of contracted goods and, when necessary, to require suppliers to delay, accelerate or divert shipment. The Office of Iraq Programme, in close cooperation with the United Nations agencies and programmes, is working on practical implementation of these steps. Contained below is the initial set of information to suppliers and permanent missions in relation to implementation of resolution 1472 (2003), to be followed by further updates in the future.

PRIORITIES: The Office of Iraq Programme and the relevant United Nations agencies and programmes have prepared the list of contracts containing goods that  are considered immediate priorities in the light of present circumstances. These contracts contain food items, medicines and basic medical supplies, some water-sanitation and electricity supplies, basic agricultural supplies and, in some cases, support equipment such as vehicles and diesel generators.  The lists of priority applications as at 28 March 2003 shall be forwarded to the relevant permanent missions for information.  The relevant UN agencies will shortly start contacting the suppliers directly to establish the precise location and status of goods in these contracts. Following their response, the suppliers may be contacted by the UN agencies with the request to proceed with shipment to alternative locations to be established by the United Nations. Please note that all contracts in the group of first priorities are approved, funded and have issued letters of credit.  As such, these goods are most likely to be ready for shipping on a short notice. However, the United Nations shall continue reviewing other approved contracts for possible inclusion in the priority list and may contact additional suppliers at later stage with the request for information of the status of goods. 

GOODS CURRENTLY IN TRANSIT: Goods belonging to a number of contracts have been in transit when of the crisis in Iraq started. Our previous advisory instructed suppliers of such goods to provide details of their respective shipments to the Office of Iraq Programme through their permanent missions.  On Wednesday, 2 April 2003, the Office of Iraq Programme will start contacting suppliers who have already submitted details of their shipments to this office with further details and instructions concerning delivery of their goods.  In some cases, the respective suppliers may be contacted by the relevant United Nations agency for the same purpose.  Please note that only the suppliers who can present valid documentation clearly indicating dispatch of the goods prior to the onset of the crisis and who contact the Office of Iraq Programme through their permanent missions will be included in this particular category and will be contacted regarding delivery of their goods.

OTHER GOODS: A number of suppliers have had the goods ready to be shipped, but did not do so due to the crisis in Iraq. If the goods in such contracts are not assessed as a priority, as outlined in the relevant paragraph above,  the suppliers will not be contacted directly by the United Nations agencies at this point.  However, the Office of the Iraq Programme will issue further instructions for such suppliers on Wednesday, 2 April 2003, with the request for information on the exact status of the goods and possible delivery times to alternative locations outside Iraq. The request for information, to be posted at the OIP Web-site, shall not constitute an instruction to ship these goods immediately, nor will it create any financial obligations for the United Nations. The purpose is to establish the precise status of goods and possible delivery times. Further instructions concerning actual shipping of the goods can be sent by the Office of Iraq Programme once responses are received.  

ESSENTIAL HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES OUTSIDE OIL FOR FOOD PROGRAMME (SUBMITTED AS TRADITIONAL “661” APPLICATIONS):  Paragraph 7 of the resolution allows for expeditious approval  of  applications for emergency humanitarian  supplies  submitted by the United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, other international and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) outside the scope of the Oil for Food programme during the next 45 days. Such applications, with the exception of foodstuffs, medicines and health supplies that remain subject to notification only, shall be approved under the 24-hour non-objection procedure. The relevant UN agencies, international organizations and Permanent Missions submitting such application on behalf of NGOs are urged to clearly mark only the relevant applications as “EMERGENCY” at the top left corner of an application form before submitting it to the Office of the Iraq Programme.

The Office of Iraq Programme regrets that it is not in a position to accept any direct queries from suppliers at this stage. All queries related to implementation of resolution 1472 (2003) should be directed through the relevant permanent mission. The suppliers and permanent missions are also advised to periodically check the Office of the Iraq Programme web-site www.un.org/Depts/oip for further updates.