Tracking Inspections: 30 January 2003

Amr al-Sa'di, Iraqi presidential adviser and head of the Iraqi delegation to the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), has invited UNMOVIC chief Hans Blix, and Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Muhammad al-Baradei to visit Iraq before 10 February to discuss "a series of issues related to consolidating cooperation and transparency [between Iraq and] UNMOVIC and the IAEA," according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry's 30 January daily briefing on inspection activities. "The visit will also allow for a bilateral discussion on the disarmament verification methods raised during the Security Council session held on 27 January 2003 and [an] improvement of the mechanisms for cooperation and consultation to restore the enhanced monitoring regime," the statement added.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry briefing for 30 January also noted that UNMOVIC requested two private interviews on that day. Both individuals showed up for their scheduled interviews; one brought along a colleague from the Ministry of Industry and Metals (MIM) where he works, and another requested that two National Monitoring Directorate (NMD) employees sit in on his interviews. Due to these conditions, UNMOVIC declined to interview the individuals.

UNMOVIC noted in its daily statement that the IAEA has installed air-sampling equipment on the roof of the Canal Hotel in Baghdad. "This is the initial step in the re-installation of both fixed and mobile air samplers as part of wide-area environmental monitoring in Iraq," the statement added. UNMOVIC/IAEA inspectors based in Baghdad reside at the Canal Hotel.

A team of three IAEA inspectors conducted radiation testing in the area of Al-Nahrawan, approximately 40 kilometers east of Baghdad. Inspectors checked tanning factories in the area, as well as a military unit and brick plant, the Foreign Ministry noted.

A second team of three IAEA inspectors went to the Precision Casting site at the 17 Nisan (April) Company (owned by MIM). Inspectors questioned the site manager about activities there, including the users of products produced there, and the number of personnel and how many hold advanced university degrees. Inspectors also toured production workshops, storage, and maintenance areas in order to verify Iraqi declarations on the site. They also photographed waste materials which are used in production, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The site was also tested for radiation. UNMOVIC stated that the facility "produces precision castings for industrial purposes."

A team of seven biological inspectors went to the Al-Awali Alcohol Distillery, which the ministry states is a private company located in Kahn Bani Sa'd, 30 kilometers east of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the distillery's manager about employees, engineers, and about the quality-control laboratory. They also checked tagged equipment.

A second team of seven biological inspectors went to the Al-Tharthar Distillery, also a private company in Khan Bani Sa'd, according to the Foreign Ministry. Inspectors asked about products produced at the site and took a rubbing from some molasses refuse, and inspected the facilities, the ministry noted.

UNMOVIC acknowledged that both distilleries are privately-owned and noted that they produce Arak, gin, and whiskey.

A third team of four inspectors went to the Central Health Laboratory, affiliated with the Ministry of Health, and located in Al-Andulus Square (Baghdad). Inspectors went to the immune deficiency labs in the Central Health Laboratory building. According to the Foreign Ministry, inspectors also asked about the existence of similar labs in other governorates, and whether the lab has ties with the World Health Organization. They also inquired as to employees and their degrees, and the types of devices used at the labs as well as the "date these laboratories were separated from the Central Health Laboratory," the ministry reported. However, UNMOVIC stated that it went to the Infectious Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory in the Central Public Health laboratories building. It did not elaborate further on this inspection.

Sixteen chemical inspectors traveling in two helicopters went to the State Company for Petrochemical Industries (of the MIM) located in Khur Al-Zubayr (Basra Governorate). Inspectors questioned the assistant to the general manager about the Ethylene Factory there. Inspectors also checked the factory and its production units, and took a "sample," according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC noted that the facility is "primarily involved in the production of chlorine and polymers."

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections: 30 January 2003