From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith)
Newsgroups: rec.travel
Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Iraq
Date: 12 Jan 1993 16:44:20 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Iraq
============================================================
Iraq - Travel Warning
 January 8, 1993

The Department of State warns all U.S. citizens against traveling 
to Iraq.  Conditions within the country remain unsettled and 
dangerous.  The United States does not maintain diplomatic relations 
with Iraq and cannot provide normal consular protective services to 
U.S. citizens.  U.S. passports are not valid for travel to, in or 
through Iraq, unless they are specially endorsed by the U.S. 
Government.  There is a U.S. trade embargo which severely restricts 
financial and economic activities with Iraq, including 
travel-related transactions.

Further details can be found in the Department of State consular 
information sheet on Iraq.

 No. 93-003

This replaces the Department of State travel advisory dated April 
8, 1992.

Iraq - Consular Information Sheet
 January 8, 1993

Warning:  U.S citizens are warned against all travel to Iraq.  
There are no diplomatic relations between the United States and 
Iraq.  U.S. Government interests are represented by the government 
of Poland, which as a protecting power is able to provide only 
limited emergency services to U.S. citizens.

Embassy Location:  There is no U.S. embassy or consulate in Iraq.  
The U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of Poland is located 
opposite the Foreign Ministry Club (Masbah Quarter); P.O. Box 2447 
Alwiyah, Baghdad, Iraq.  The telephone number is (964-1) 719-6138, 
719-6139, 719-3791, or 718-1840.  The workweek in Iraq is Sunday 
through Thursday.

Country Description:  The Republic of Iraq is governed by the 
repressive Revolutionary Command Council.  Iraq has a developing 
economy that was seriously damaged in the 1991 Gulf War.  Islamic 
ideals and beliefs provide the conservative foundation of the 
country's customs, laws and practices.  Tourist facilities are not 
widely available.

Entry Requirements:  Passports and visas are required.  On February 
8, 1991, U.S. passports ceased to be valid for travel to, in or 
through Iraq and may not be used for that purpose unless a special 
validation has been obtained.  Without the requisite validation, use 
of a U.S. passport for travel to, in or through Iraq may constitute 
a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1544, and may be punishable by a fine 
and/or imprisonment.  An exemption to the above restriction is 
granted to Americans residing in Iraq as of February 8, 1991.

In addition, the Department of the Treasury prohibits all 
travel-related transactions by U.S. persons intending to visit Iraq, 
unless specifically licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets 
Control.  The only exceptions to this licensing requirement are for 
journalistic activity or for U.S. government or United Nations 
business.

The categories of individuals eligible for consideration for a 
special passport validation are set forth in 22 C.F.R. 51.74.  
Passport validation requests for Iraq should be forwarded in writing 
to the following address:

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services
U.S. Department of State
1425 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20522-1705
Attn:  Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance (Rm. 300).

The request must be accompanied by supporting documentation 
according to the category under which validation is sought.  
Currently, the four categories of persons specified in 22 C.F.R. 
51.74 as being eligible for consideration for passport validation 
are as follows:

(a)  Professional reporters:  Includes full-time members of the 
reporting or writing staff of a newspaper, magazine or broadcasting 
network whose purpose for travel is to gather information about Iraq 
for dissemination to the general public.

(b)  American Red Cross:  Applicant establishes that he or she is a 
representative of the American Red Cross or International Red Cross 
traveling pursuant to an officially sponsored Red Cross mission.

(c)  Humanitarian considerations:  Applicant must establish that 
his or her trip is justified by compelling humanitarian 
considerations or for family unification.  At this time, "compelling 
humanitarian considerations" include situations where the applicant 
can document that an immediate family member is critically ill in 
Iraq.   Documentation concerning family illness must include the 
name and address of the relative, and be from that relative's 
physician attesting to the nature and gravity of the illness.  
"Family unification" situations may include cases in which spouses 
or minor children are residing in Iraq, with and dependent on, an 
Iraqi national spouse or parent for their support.

(d)  National Interest:  The applicant's request is otherwise found 
to be in the national interest.

In all requests for passport validation for travel to Iraq, the 
name, date and place of birth for all concerned persons must be 
given, as well as the U.S. passport numbers.  Documentation as 
outlined above should accompany all requests.  Additional 
information may be obtained by writing to the above address or by 
calling the Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance at 
(202) 326-6168 or 6178.

U.S. Treasury Restrictions:  In August 1990, President Bush issued 
Executive Orders 12722 and 12724, imposing economic sanctions 
against Iraq including a complete trade embargo.  The U.S. Treasury 
Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control administers the 
regulations related to these sanctions, which include restrictions 
on all financial transactions related to travel to Iraq.  These 
regulations prohibit all travel-related transactions, except as 
specifically licensed.  The only exceptions to this licensing 
requirement are for persons engaged in journalism or in official 
U.S. government or U.N. business.  Questions concerning these 
restrictions should be addressed directly to:

Licensing Section
Office of Foreign Assets Control
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Washington, D.C. 20220
Telephone: (202) 566-2701;  Fax: (202) 377-7222

Areas of Instability:  Hostilities in the Gulf region ceased on 
February 27, 1991.  United Nations Security Council Resolution 687, 
adopted on April 3, 1991, set terms for a permanent ceasefire, but 
conditions in Iraq remain unsettled.  Travel in Iraq is extremely 
hazardous, particularly for U.S. citizens.

Regional conflicts continue in northern Iraq between Kurdish ethnic 
groups and Iraqi security forces.  In southern Iraq, governmental 
repression of the Shia communities is severe.

U.S. citizens and other foreigners working near the Kuwait-Iraq 
border have been detained by Iraqi authorities for lengthy periods 
under harsh conditions.  Some detainees have been sentenced to jail 
terms of seven or ten years for illegally entering Iraq.

Medical Facilities:  Basic modern medical care and medicines may 
not be available.

Information on Crime:  Reports of crime in Iraq are increasing, 
especially in the larger cities.  Useful information on safeguarding 
valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is 
provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad."  
It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. 
Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Penalties for possession, use or trafficking in 
illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders can expect jail 
sentences and fines.

Terrorism:  Tension in the Persian Gulf region remains high because 
of continuing Iraqi defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions.  
As a result, the risk of terrorism directed against U.S. citizens in 
Iraq remains a continuing concern.

Tips For Travelers:  The Department of State publication "Tips for 
Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa" has useful general 
information on travel in the area.  It is available from the 
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, 
Washington, D.C. 20402.

Registration:  Persons contemplating travel to Iraq should be aware 
that there is no U.S. embassy there.  The U.S. government is not in 
a position to accord normal consular protective services to U.S. 
citizens who, despite this warning, are in Iraq.

 No. 93-014