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Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

9 FEBRUARY 2003

      The UN Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) stated in its 9 February daily briefing that two technical meetings were held on that day. The first was between UNMOVIC and Iraqi officials on chemical, biological, and missile files; the second meeting attended by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iraqi officials sought to clarify issues, including those regarding aluminum tubes, alleged uranium imports, and the use of high explosives, UNMOVIC stated.
      Both UNMOVIC and the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted in their daily briefings that UNMOVIC had requested private interviews with two Iraqi individuals on 9 February. Both individuals made their appointments but the first individual refused to be interviewed at the designated area (a hotel) and instead requested that the interview take place at the National Monitoring Directorate (NMD) in the presence of an official. The second individual asked to record the meeting. UNMOVIC declined to interview both individuals.
      A team of four IAEA inspectors carried out radiological testing in the Al-Taji suburb of Baghdad, including the Al-Rayah State Company, Al-Zahif Al-Kabeer Company, the Al-Karamah State Company, and the Ibn Al-Haytham site. All sites are affiliated with Iraq's Military Industrialization Organization (MIO), the Foreign Ministry stated. Inspectors also covered the area belonging to the Dhat Al-Sawari Company and an electric flashlight factory belonging to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM). UNMOVIC did not elaborate on the radiological testing by the IAEA.
      A team of 15 biological inspectors went to the Badr Al-Kubra Elementary School in the Al-Ghazaliyah area of Baghdad. According to the Foreign Ministry, inspectors surveyed the yards of the school with metal detectors. They also checked the underground drinking water and sewage pipelines. "They found no materials except for small pieces of iron and ceramic," the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that inspectors conducted a geophysical survey of an area of land within the perimeter of a school," adding, "A small area was excavated as part of the survey."
      A second team of four biological inspectors went to the Baghdad Dairy Company, Ltd., a private company. Inspectors questioned the production manager about the ownership and personnel of the company, whether it has other factories, and about tests made at the company laboratory. In addition, inspectors asked about the company's affiliations with other dairy firms, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC did not provide details on this inspection.
      A team of four missile inspectors went to the Al-Mutasim site to remove the tags it placed on buildings on 8 February and to search the buildings containing classrooms, offices, storage areas, and workshops, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that the site provides practical training for engineers of the (MIO).
      Another team of three missile inspectors visited the Al-Batani State Company (owned by the MIO) located in Al-Jadiriyah (Baghdad). Inspectors questioned company officials about Iraqi declarations regarding the site, changes at the site since 1998, and the future plans of the company, the Foreign Ministry reported. The site's laboratories were inspected. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the "Al-Batani Center," noting that the center works on space research and development.
      A third team consisting of four missile inspectors went to the Al-Ma'moun Factory belonging to the Al-Rashid State Company (owned by the MIO). UNMOVIC states that the factory manufactures solid propellant rocket motors. Inspectors asked the factory manager to fill out a UNMOVIC questionnaire before searching the factory's buildings, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
      A joint UNMOVIC inspection team of 13 inspectors visited the Al-Taji Ammunition Depot where inspectors checked an empty warhead found there for radiation, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC noted that the purpose of the inspection was to "extract a sample of the liquid contents of a [previously declared] 122-millimeter rocket chemical warhead." It added that during the course of inspection, inspectors discovered an empty 122-millimeter warhead and an empty plastic chemical agent canister. Inspectors took samples from both items for analysis, UNMOVIC reported.
      A second joint inspection team of nine UNMOVIC inspectors went to the Al-Aba' Center for Agricultural Research located in Abu Gharib, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Inspectors questioned the director about the center's branch offices, the center's activities and goals, and the ownership and budget of the center. Inspectors also asked if the center is affiliated with other Iraqi governmental offices, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC acknowledged the inspection of an agricultural research center and a breeding station belonging to the center, which is located about 20 kilometers west of Baghdad. UNMOVIC stated that this was a biological (but not joint) inspection.
      A Mosul-based joint team of 10 inspectors visited the Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Unit belonging to the Ninawa Health Department. Inspectors asked about department personnel and the date that the department was established, as well as about the department's funding, whether it had received any new vehicles, and if the center does vehicle maintenance or vehicle alterations, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC did not offer details on this inspection.

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