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Tracking Inspections: 25 January 2003

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) noted in its daily briefing that there are currently 256 persons working for UNMOVIC and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iraq, including 108 inspectors (97 UNMOVIC and 11 IAEA). The remainder are support staff, including 50 air crew and 27 local staff.

IAEA inspectors arrived at the Al-Rimah Factory in Mosul to interview an Iraqi scientist who works there. The Foreign Ministry noted that the IAEA wanted to meet the scientist privately but he insisted on the presence of National Monitoring Directorate representatives. The meeting lasted for more than two hours and the scientist answered all questions, according to the ministry. UNMOVIC confirmed that the individual refused to be interviewed privately and that it was indeed carried out in the presence of a NMD official.

A UNMOVIC inspection team also requested to meet privately with two Iraqi scientists. The Foreign Ministry stated that it encouraged the scientists to interview alone, "But after they met with inspectors, they insisted that a witness who represents the Iraqi side should be present with them," the ministry added. Apparently the inspectors tried to convince the Iraqis to speak with them without the presence of the NMD. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated, "In fact, this conduct of the two Iraqis who are required to be interviewed is a personal one. All attempts failed, so the interview did not take place." In its daily briefing, UNMOVIC stated that, "The two individuals concerned did not agree to it [private interviews] without the presence of a witness. Thus, the interviews did not take place today." The statement added that UNMOVIC "Will continue to seek interviews in private, as allowed in Security Council resolution 1441."

A Mosul-based joint inspection team returned to the North Oil Company in Kirkuk to check the storage areas and tour the facilities, "including vehicles that were loaded with apparatus and the equipment existing in the courtyard of the stores," the Foreign Ministry noted. Inspectors also checked Iraqi declarations related to the stores. UNMOVIC stated that the site "Stores chemicals and spare parts for the oil industry."

Fifteen biological inspectors visited the Al-Qadisiyah University in Al-Diwaniyah City. Some inspectors questioned the dean of the College of Education about the college's departments, faculty, postgraduate students, and staff specialized in microorganisms. Other inspectors questioned the dean of the Veterinary Medicine College along the same lines. They also asked about the number of colleges of veterinary medicine in Iraq and whether there are any stations or farms for animal breeding at the college, as well as cooperation between the college and veterinary clinics, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the university, located approximately 200 kilometers south of Baghdad, includes one of four veterinary colleges in Iraq. It added that the College of Education "primarily" graduates high school teachers.

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