ReliefWeb

Following is the official answer to a question taken at the January 16 regular State Department briefing; the answer was posted later in the day:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 16, 2003

QUESTION TAKEN AT JANUARY 16, 2003 DAILY PRESS BRIEFING

Non-Governmental Organizations and Iraq

Question: What is the State Department doing to help U.S. non-governmental organizations get permission to provide humanitarian assistance for Iraq?

Answer: Like many countries, the United States supports and facilitates the efforts of non-governmental organizations to engage in activities that benefit and assist the Iraqi people.

However, these efforts must be consistent with United Nations sanctions on Iraq, as well as relevant U.S. laws and executive orders that restrict most trade and transactions with Iraq.

With regard to license applications submitted to the U.S. government by non-governmental organizations seeking to assist the Iraqi people, the United States government is making every effort to expedite the licensing process in a manner consistent with domestic laws and United Nations obligations.

For further details about the licensing process, I would refer you to the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)