Tracking Inspections: 1 February 2003

The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) noted in its daily briefing that it had requested an interview with an Iraqi individual but added that the interview did not take place because the individual arrived with a "witness" to observe the meeting.

A team of three International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors returned to Saddam University in Al-Jadiriyah (Baghdad) where they questioned the university president about the number of undergraduate and doctoral students, postgraduate research, teaching staff, and the number and location of colleges and their budgets, sources of funding and whether the colleges are funded thorough contracts with government agencies, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors also asked about equipment procured since 1998 and whether there is "any staff in the university from the nuclear program working on the petrochemical project," the ministry noted. Inspectors also questioned the deans of the Engineering College and the College of Science along the same lines. The following departments were inspected: ongoing experiments were checked, as well as computers, and a photo treatment lab at the Physics Department (College of Science), and radioactive materials were also checked against the Iraqi declarations. In addition, inspectors tested the communications laboratory at the College of Engineering. The Laser Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Medical Engineering Departments were also inspected, the Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC acknowledged but did not elaborate on the inspection of Saddam University.

Three other IAEA inspectors carried out a motorized radiation survey in several areas, according to the Foreign Ministry and UNMOVIC. They are: The Arab Iraqi Company for the Development of Animal Wealth (a cow-milking plant in 7 Nisan); the Al-Quds Army Camp for Arab Volunteers (at 7 Nisan); Mabayn Al-Nahrayn State Company for the Production and Improvement of Seeds (Al-Nahrawan); "A camp made up of abandoned buildings" belonging to Al-Fao State Company; the Physical Training School of the Physical Training Directorate (Ministry of Defense); a private farm; the Al-Nahrawan site belonging to the Al-Basil State Co.; the 7 Nisan Company in Al-Nahrawan; the Truck Maintenance Section of the Oil Products Distribution Company; and the Salman Bak Asphalt Plant belonging to the Al-Jihad State Company (Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction). UNMOVIC did not elaborate on this inspection.

A third team of two IAEA inspectors went to the National Monitoring Directorate (NMD) to inquire about inventories of RDX and nitrates at the Hittin and Al-Qa'qa companies. The inspectors also visited the Dhu Al-Faqar Plant belonging to the Al-Rashid State Company where they examined 81-millimeter aluminum tubes. UNMOVIC stated that the plant is an industrial machining and manufacturing facility.

Eight biological inspectors also went to Saddam University and focused their inspection on the Biotechnology Department at the College of Science. Inspectors asked the same questions that IAEA inspectors asked in the departments they inspected. They also inquired about ongoing research in microbiology, the types of microorganisms used in fermentation, and if the department has a scientific council, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors also checked tagged equipment in the department.

A team of six biological inspectors went to the Ibn Al-Haytham College of Education at Baghdad University in Antar Square. Inspectors asked similar questions to those asked at Saddam University. In addition, they asked whether the college conducted research in the field of genetic engineering or microbiology. They also wanted to know about types of bacteria used in the laboratories and conducted a routine inspection of equipment and laboratories. The Foreign Ministry complained that inspectors also went through student exams at the "examination committee center," which the ministry said had nothing to do with inspections.

Another team of five biological inspectors went to the Eastern Distillation Company, which the Foreign Ministry stated is a private company located in Al-Karadah (Baghdad). Inspectors questioned the manager about employees and their degrees, the reason for the suspension of work, the types of products produced there, and production quantities. They also asked whether medical or industrial alcohol is produced there, the method for producing alcohol, and the fermentation process, the ministry reported.

A team of eight missile inspectors returned to the Al-Ma'moun Factory of Al-Rashid State Company where they verified tagged equipment on mixing cauldrons and casting tanks. Inspectors also asked about Al-Fatah missiles and their specifications before checking and photographing warehouses and buildings. UNMOVIC stated that the factory "manufactures composite propellant and performs the casting of the Al-Fatah and other missiles and rockets." Inspectors asked questions relating to Iraq's semiannual January 2003 declaration on the site and catalogued equipment. Inspectors also continued with their "capability assessment."

A second team of five missile inspectors went to the Al-Rayah State Company (owned by the Military Industrial Organization) in Al-Taji, 20 kilometers north of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the general manager and some scientists about the company's name, specialization, departments, products, and future plans, as well as about research conducted at the company since 1998. Inspectors "requested an explanation of the guidance and control mechanism of the Al-Sumud rocket and the names of the factories and companies that contribute to this mechanism," the Foreign Ministry stated. They also requested a "list of the devices and equipment used in the inspection of the guidance and control mechanism from the Al-Quds Factory." The packaging department, quality control laboratories, the "tankers'" department, and the oxidized-fuel laboratories, the warhead department, and the machinery warehouses were all inspected, the ministry reported. UNMOVIC noted that the site is "a material and metallurgic research center dedicated to research in plastics, ceramics, and catalytic materials."

Six missile inspectors traveled to the Al-Karamah site of Al-Karamah State Company located in the Al-Waziriyah area of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the quality control manager about the Al-Sumud rocket and which factories and companies are affiliated with the construction of the rocket. Inspectors also asked for a list of "the devices and equipment used in the inspection of the guidance and control mechanism from the Al-Quds Factory, which is affiliated with the same company," the Foreign Ministry reported. In addition, inspectors asked for specifications, origin, and date of arrival for three devices: "the environmental conditions inspection device, the processor inspection device and the gyroscope-balancing device." Inspectors checked the quality control labs, the "tankers department," the oxidized-fuel labs, and the packaging department, as well as the "machinery warehouses" and the warheads department, the ministry noted. UNMOVIC identified this site as the Al-Waziriyah Industrial Complex and stated that it is located 10 kilometers north of Baghdad. It described the site as "a research and production center dedicated to the development and production of gyroscopes and guidance systems," and said that inspectors went to the site to obtain "clarifications" on the present status of Al-Sumud ballistic missile guidance and control activities, as well as information on the January 2003 Iraqi declaration on the site.

A team of 13 chemical inspectors went to the Al-Shahid State Company in Amiriyat Al-Falluja, located 80 kilometers west of Baghdad, where they met with a representative from the NMD and the company's planning manager. The inspectors asked the usual questions about company personnel before inspecting the furnace unit, a chemical warehouse, and a waste dumping site, as well as the water treatment unit and a nonionized water unit and a copper-plate production plant. UNMOVIC did not elaborate, except to say that the company produces copper and brass.

A joint team of seven inspectors went by helicopter to the Al-Siddiq Airport at the Al-Hurriyah Air Base in Kirkuk belonging to the Ministry of Defense and located 170 kilometers north of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the deputy commander of the airport about the site's name, the types of munitions stored there, what activities have occurred there since 1998, and whether or not inspections of chemical and biological munitions are conducted there, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. In addition, inspectors asked about personnel and their specializations, as well as whether there is an onsite disinfection unit, and whether parts of the airport are used by other sectors. Inspectors checked the air munitions storage area, fuel tank warehouses, a bakery and a food-storage area, the ministry added. UNMOVIC stated in its daily briefing that inspectors had gone to the Tuz Airfield, which it stated is not currently in active use for flight operations. Inspectors reportedly questioned a senior officer and inspected the ammunition storage areas and aircraft shelters. In addition, "a portable X-ray unit was used to verify the contents of a sample munition," UNMOVIC stated.

Another joint team of 11 inspectors went to the State Company for Fertilizers in Bayji. Inspectors questioned the general manager about changes at the site since 1998, as well as products produced at the site, sources for raw materials, and production plans, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC did not mention this inspection in its daily briefing.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections: 1 February 2003