Due to the prevailing security situation inside Iraq the United Nations independent inspection agent, Cotecna, has been fully withdrawn from

Iraq and Cotecna’s field offices in Aqaba (Jordan), Iskenderun (Turkey), Latakia (Syria) and Kuwait city have closed.

Suppliers must deliver goods prioritized pursuant to Security council resolution 1483 to Iraq via the entry point specified in their contract or the

latest amendment to the contract, ensure that all relevant paperwork is presented to Cotecna at the border and that the consignment is available for physical inspection. Due to limited facilities at the inspection locations, sufficient copies of all documentation should be presented to Cotecna to prevent delays in authentication. Following inspections, suppliers must transport the goods to the delivery locations inside Iraq, as specified in the latest amendments to their contracts. The revised authentication mechanism will require no further amendments to contracts already negotiated

by UN agencies, unless the amendment had specified that authentication would take place at an inland destination. If the contractual amendment does specify that authentication will take place at an inland destination, suppliers should request the relevant UN agency to prepare a further amendment, deleting this clause from the contract.

Cotecna has established inspection sites at Silopi (Turkey), At Tanf (Syria) and Al Karama (Jordan), where the inspection agents are collocated

with customs authorities across the Iraqi borders entry points at, respectively, Zakho, Al Walid and Trebil.

Trebil Al Karama customs, Jordan

Al Walid At Tanf customs, Syria

Zakho Silopi cutsoms, Turkey

At present, as before the war, bulk cargo is shipped directly to Umm Qasr, whereas the majority of containerized goods is discharged at Dubai

and Jabal Ali in the United Arab Emirates and subsequently delivered to Umm Qasr on feeder vessels.

This process will continue. Suppliers should notify Cotecna, at the Dubai office, telephone number 971 4404 7285, fax number 971 4345 0351 as soon as vessels have been discharged in Dubai or Jabal Ali, so that the containers can be inspected by Cotecna. Following such inspections,

Cotecna will apply a seal to each container which is not already under seal. The port authority at Umm Qasr will confirm to Cotecna the

arrival and discharge of the containers under intact seals, following which authentication will go forth. Authentication cannot be issued

immediately upon inspection of cargo in Dubai or Jabal Ali, since Security Council resolution 986 (1995) requires authenticated confirmation of arrival of goods in Iraq.

For bulk cargo or any other cargo which is to be delivered to Umm Qasr without use of feeder vessels, Cotecna will

rendez-vous with the vessels in launches outside the port of Dubai. Vessels should anchor 5-7 miles off Dubai (Port Rashid) at the location

2520 N Lat, 05510 E Long. The ships master should contact Dubai Port Control under the call sign “confidence” on VHF Ch 16 or 23, informing of their anchorage, position and the requirement for inspection by Cotecna. Suppliers should ensure that the port authority in Dubai is advised of all vessels requiring inspection and that a complete set of the normal documentation presented to Cotecna is readily available, to avoid delays. Inspectors will board the vessels at sea, draw samples for laboratory analysis, if required, and uplift all relevant documentation. Bulk cargo will

also be authenticated upon confirmation of its arrival and discharge in Iraq by the port authority.

Suppliers should take note that goods may not be imported and authenticated via any point of entry to Iraq other than Zakho, Trebil, Al Walid or Umm Qasr. Any prioritized contracts where the entry point is specified as Ar’ar on the Iraqi-Saudi border should be amended to show one of the

four operational entry points. Containerized cargo consigned to Umm Qasr cannot be inspected at any port other than Dubai or Jabal Ali.

For any goods which are delivered prior to the full implementation of the revised authentication arrangements on 10 October 2003, suppliers

should follow the procedures outlined in the OIP notice dated 26 September 2003.

This authentication mechanism will remain in place until midnight (Iraq time) on 21 November 2003. A further notice will be posted prior to this

date advising of any arrangements to supercede the above authentication process.

Suppliers are requested to advise OIP of any deliveries made to Iraq prior to 12 October 2003, or prior to 16 October 2003 in the case of goods imported to Iraq via Al Walid (At Tanf). Confirmation of the arrival of these goods will be sought from officials within Iraq in order that

authentication may proceed. Suppliers should notify OIP of such arrivals via the email address scr1483-delivery@un.org, providing