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Tracking Inspections: 19 January 2003

Two International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors met with representatives of the Al-Qa'qa State Company and the Hittin State Company at the offices of the National Monitoring Directorate (NMD) to discuss inventories of HMX material present in Iraq since inspectors left in 1998. Inspectors also asked about the "flow and use of this material in the (Al-Qa'qa, Hittin, and Al-Kindi) companies and their conformity with the semi-annual declarations" made by these companies, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Another team of four IAEA inspectors went to the First College of Engineering in Baghdad where they asked the dean about the science-related departments, their activities, the names and number of students, department heads, teachers, and postgraduate students, as well as the college budget, according to the ministry. Inspectors also asked about the college's relations with domestic and foreign institutions, new equipment, and research performed. The names and whereabouts of former department heads were also requested. Inspectors also wanted to know if staff from the petrochemical group PC3 were present at the college. Inspectors then proceeded to the Second College of Engineering, the College of Education for Girls, and the College of Science for girls, and asked similar questions.

A group of four biological inspectors went to the Serum and Vaccines Institute located in Al-Amiriyah (Baghdad) to inspect a cooling truck that contains measles vaccines. According to the Foreign Ministry, "The truck was parked at the gate of the institute and ready to leave." The ministry added that inspectors checked "a warehouse that contains an unused line for filling up the medical laboratory solutions imported two years ago." Inspectors also requested a list of the materials supplied for this line. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) stated that this was the inspectors third trip to the site.

A team of 11 biological inspectors went to Babil University's College of Medicine, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research and located approximately 120 kilometers south of Baghdad, according to UNMOVIC. Inspectors asked about the Microphysics Department, its funding, on-going research and expansion plans, the number of people there with doctoral degrees, which labs are shared between the College of Medicine and the College of Science, as well as cooperation with hospitals in research, the use of lab animals, and what virus-related research activities are going on there, the Foreign Ministry reported. In addition, "the group inspected the Microbiology Department and its affiliated laboratories under construction."

Inspectors also questioned the dean of the College of Science about the Biology Department's activities and cooperation with outside organizations, its funding sources, and staff working in the field of biotechnology, microbiology, and biological water treatment, as well as immunity and virus-related research, according to the Foreign Ministry.

A team of four chemical inspectors went to Al-Basil State Company located within the Scientific Complex in Al-Jadiriyah, the ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the company is a petroleum product research center.

Inspectors then proceeded to the Chlorine Factory of the Al-Tariq State Company (at Falluja II), located 60 kilometers north of Baghdad, where they questioned representatives of the NMD on production at the site and the users of chlorine products produced there before checking equipment at the chlorine and phenol factories, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC stated that a "metal analyzing instrument" was used in the inspection.

A second group of 16 chemical inspectors went to the Al-Qa'qa State Company and asked the manager about the number of chemists, engineers, and employees at the site, its activities and "any extra activities beyond the production plans." A sample of white cement was also taken from a floor in the factory, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC noted that "mobile sampling equipment was used during the inspection."

A team of 11 missile inspectors went to the Al-Mutasim site in Jarf al-Sakhr, 60 kilometers west of Baghdad, where they inspected the static test stand for the Al-Fatah rockets. UNMOVIC employed electromagnetic detectors during this inspection.

A joint team of 12 inspectors went to the Al-Rashid Factory belonging to the Hittin State Company (owned by Iraq's Military Industrial Organization) 70 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the manager about the name of the factory, its address, affiliation, activities, and types of equipment and raw materials, the ministry reported. The inspectors also inquired about employees and asked whether the factory was ever involved in banned activities, what its sources of funding are and "whether it produces the explosive fillings used in the white smoke bombs." They also asked about the types of fuses assembled there and the types of explosives used before touring the facility. UNMOVIC noted that Al-Rashid Factory manufactures fuses for artillery munitions.

A Mosul-based joint team of 16 inspectors visited the Al-Mishraq State Company for Sulfur located 4 kilometers south of Mosul. The company belongs to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. The general manager was questioned about activities at the company since 1998, joint projects with Mosul University and other firms, the company's employees, their degrees, and whether the company works with the Al-Ramah Factory or the Al-Qa'qa State Company. Inspectors also asked about the annual production of sulfuric acid and sulfur, who the company sells to, as well as equipment acquired since 1998 and the company's future plans, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors also checked Iraqi declarations pertaining to Al-Mishraq and inspected the production lines and computer center. UNMOVIC stated that this declared site "conducts sulphur mining and comprises a sulfuric acid and an aluminum sulfate plant as well as the required utilities."

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