Dear Mr. President,

I have the honour to inform you and, through you, the members of the Security Council, that, pursuant to paragraph 8 (a) (ii) of Security Council resolution 986 (1995) of 14 April 1995, the Government of Iraq has submitted to me its distribution plan for the purchase and distribution of humanitarian supplies during the new period specified in paragraph 1 of resolution 1242 (1999) of 21 May 1999. The Government of Iraq was informed today that I had approved the plan on the understanding that its implementation would be governed by resolutions 986 (1995) and 1242 (1999) and the Memorandum of Understanding concluded on 20 May 1996 between the United Nations Secretariat and the Government of Iraq (S/1996/356), and would be without prejudice to the procedures followed by the Security Council Committee established by resolution 661 (1990).

A copy of the list of supplies and goods accompanying the distribution plan will be made available to the Security Council Committee. The list has been scrutinized by experts of the United Nations Special Commission, who concluded that, on the basis of the limited information given in the annexes, no prohibited items could be identified. They will keep the matter under review and provide further assessment in the light of additional information that may become available.

 The distribution plan and the letter conveying my acceptance of the plan are attached.

Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my highest consideration.

  

(signed) 

 Kofi A. Annan