Tracking Inspections: 21 DECEMBER 2002
A total of 98 Inspectors visited nine sites in and around Baghdad, as a team of 11 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Al-Rayat State Company and the Al-Zahif Al-Kabeer Company, where inspectors toured all departments, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. In addition, a radiological survey was conducted at Al-Zahif Al-Kabeer, and three samples of aluminum powder were taken, the ministry stated. UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) reported that Al-Rayat is a "materials science center engaged in research on metals, ceramics, and plastics for Iraqi industry." Al-Zahif Al-Kabeer is "engaged in a number of metal and plastic production jobs, such as recycling valuable scrap and producing waterproofing coatings."
A second group of four IAEA inspectors visited Al-Nasr Al-Adheem Company at Al-Doura and the Ibn Al-Walid Company. Ibn Al-Walid manufactures metal goods, according to UNMOVIC, and contains a number of high-quality machine tools. Inspectors then proceeded to the 14 Ramadan Factory in order to inspect machinery there. UNMOVIC stated that the factory is declared as a wool and textile facility.
A group of seven chemical inspectors visited the Al-Fao Company where they met with specialists at the engineering firm, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC called this site the Research and Analytical Center for Pesticides. It is located 20 kilometers northwest of Baghdad. According to UNMOVIC, it was previously part of the Al-Tariq State Company, and it was moved to Falluja III in 2001 where it merged with the Quality Control Department located there.
Another group consisting of 14 inspectors visited the Al-Furat State Company for Chemical Industries, where they toured the chemical and plastics factories, took photos, and checked three computers at the "information center," according to the ministry. UNMOVIC reported that Al-Furatis is a declared and previously monitored site. Inspectors verified data from the last semiannual declaration, UNMOVIC stated.
A team of 22 biological inspectors visited the Samara' Drug Industry, a pharmaceutical plant located some 140 kilometers northwest of Baghdad. Inspectors inquired as to any changes that have been made at the site since 1998, and inspected facilities, checking declarations and photographing tagged equipment. UNMOVIC reported that the site contains over 50 buildings and produces a wide-range of pharmaceutical products.
A team of 11 missile inspectors returned to the Al-Fida State Company to continue with their inquiry. This hydraulic plant "is actively engaged in the manufacture of missile and rocket launchers as well as the refurbishment of tank transporters," according to UNMOVIC. The plant also produces a "wide range of parts" for hydraulic systems.
Another team of 15 missile inspectors returned to Al-Qa'qa State Company to inquire as to the activities of one factory located there, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC called Al-Qa'qa a "double base propellant plant" and said the inspection was part of the "ongoing monitoring of Iraqi missile propellant capability, including the propellant for the Arabil 50 [missile]." UNMOVIC reported that 40 buildings were inspected.
A joint UNMOVIC team of 11 inspectors returned to Al-Sumud State Company (affiliated with the Military Industrialization Organization), where they "took some photos for some parts of ovens which are out of order [since] they are old," the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC reported that the scrap yard was inspected at the site. Scrap is apparently sent to the Al-Sumud factory to be reprocessed into steel. Chemists, toxicologists, and missile experts inspected all areas of the site, according to UNMOVIC.
Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
