16 January 2003
U.N. Inspectors Find 11 Chemical Warheads in Iraq
(Empty warheads in excellent condition, UNMOVIC says) (600) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- U.N. weapons inspectors discovered 11 empty chemical warheads and another warhead that will require further evaluation, a spokesman for the inspectors said in Baghdad January 16. The 122 millimeter warheads were in excellent condition and were similar to ones imported by Iraq during the late 1980s, according to Hiro Ueki, spokesman for the U.N. Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). The team used portable X-ray equipment to conduct a preliminary analysis of one of the warheads and collected samples for chemical testing. The warheads were found during an inspection of a large group of bunkers constructed in the late 1990's at the Ukhaider Ammunition Storage Area, Ueki reported. Press reports of the inspectors' discovery broke as the U.N. Security Council was holding private discussions on the schedule for reports from UNMOVIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the progress of the U.N. efforts to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said that the report "sounds like an interesting development." "It is very difficult to reach a conclusion just on the basis of a press report," the ambassador noted. "I'm sure the inspectors are giving this their most rapid attention possible and I'm sure we'll be getting further information." The council had received no other notice than the press reports, the ambassador said. During the council session January 16, the ambassador said, council members were in agreement that they would work together to "keep the pressure on Iraq to cooperate immediately, unconditionally, and pro-actively with the inspection regime." "That was the universal message that came from all the members of the council who spoke to the subject today," Negroponte said. The U.S. position since the inspections began is that "Iraq's cooperation has been sorely lacking, unanswered questions (remain) and there are many, many ways Iraq could show much greater cooperation with the inspectors," said Negroponte. The next report from the weapons inspectors to the council is set for January 27. However, UNMOVIC chief Hans Blix has said that he would bring any significant development or so-called "smoking gun" to the council immediately. Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is investigating Iraq's nuclear weapons activities, are on their way to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi officials January 19 and 20. According to press reports from Brussels, where Blix met with European Union officials, the UNMOVIC chief said that inspectors found illegally imported conventional arms materials, some dating from the last two years, but had not determined as yet whether they were related to any of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. "It's clear they have violated the bans of the United Nations in terms of imports," Blix said. Blix said that during his Baghdad visit he would warn the Iraqis that the situation is "very tense and very dangerous." In a report to the council on January 9 Blix said that Iraq's declaration of its weapons programs did not provide any new evidence or help clarify the questions about its disarmament, and the prompt access to sites has been accompanied by "no serious effort" to cooperate. UNMOVIC spokesman Ueki also reported that another inspection team visited the residences of two Iraqi scientists in Baghdad in a search for documents. Some documents from the early 1990s relating to past activities on weapons of mass destruction were taken, Ueki said. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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