Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

10 FEBRUARY 2003

      The Iraqi Foreign Ministry acknowledged that the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) requested an interview with an Iraqi scientist on 10 February. The individual arrived at the appointment but requested that the interview be recorded. UNMOVIC declined to meet the scientist's request and cancelled the interview.
      A team of six International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors visited the Umm Al-Marik State Company and the Badr State Company. Both are affiliated with the Iraqi Military Industrialization Organization (MIO) and located just south of Baghdad. Inspectors verified and photographed tagged machines, and questioned personnel at the sites, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC noted that the inspections "were undertaken to establish the current disposition of machine tools monitored by the IAEA."
      A second team of three IAEA inspectors conducted motorized-radiological testing over agricultural areas in Al-Dawrah, and "some military units, the Iraqi Meat Production and Marketing Company (public/private), and the Al-Dawrah poultry slaughterhouse," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC only stated that the radiation survey was conducted along the Tigris River, south of Baghdad.
      Eight UNMOVIC chemical inspectors visited the 7 Nisan Stores belonging to the Agricultural Equipment Company and located in the Jarf Al-Naddaf suburb of Baghdad. Inspectors questioned the manager about personnel, and the number of staff holding bachelor degrees, as well as about changes made at the site since 1998. Inspectors also asked about the company's sources for local and imported pesticides while searching the warehouses, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the store serves as a central storage area for Iraqi pesticides.
      A joint UNMOVIC team of 10 inspectors visited the Al-Musayyib Ammunition Depot, located in the province of Al-Musayyib (Babil Governorate). Inspectors questioned the site custodian about the number of warehouses and the number of new buildings at the site, as well as the types of ammunition stored there, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated. Inspectors reportedly searched the warehouses using chemical sensors and X-ray devices and collected samples from an 81-millimeter missile, the ministry added.
      A Mosul-based joint inspection team of 10 inspectors visited the Al-Suwaywafiyah Rubay'ah Railway Project belonging to the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation, as well as grain houses belonging to the Ministry of Trade, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors questioned a site official about the name and ownership of the site and future plans for the railway station, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that inspectors went to the "Mosul Raiyard AR Rayanihay RR Siding" located 20 kilometers outside Mosul. The site is a location where goods are transported from train to truck.
      A team of five biological inspectors went to the Al-Kut Military Hospital to survey the hospital garden using metal detectors, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC noted that the hospital is located some 160 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. It acknowledged that inspectors carried out a ground survey on part of the hospital compound.
      A second team of eight biological inspectors went to the Al-Ahrar Agricultural Unit belonging to the Ma Bayn Al-Nahrayn Company, as well as the Al-Ahrar site located 150 kilometers south of Baghdad, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors searched buildings, storage areas, and a grain-dusting factory, the ministry added. UNMOVIC said that the agricultural unit is a seed processing facility located 20 kilometers east of Al-Nu'maniyah.
      Four UNMOVIC missile inspectors went to the Dhu Al-Faqqar Factory of the Al-Rashid State Company (MIO owned) 35 kilometers north of Baghdad to question the factory director about Al-Fatah, Al-Nida, and Ababil missiles. Inspectors toured the factory workshops and checked stickers and tagged machines. UNMOVIC stated that the factory manufactures parts and subsystems for rockets, adding that the inspection was conducted to verify Iraqi declarations on the site and to establish a comprehensive monitoring mechanism.
      A second team of missile inspectors (number unknown) went to the Al-Ma'moun Factory to question the director and specialists there about factory operations. Inspectors also verified Iraqi declarations regarding the site and photographed equipment during their search of workshops and buildings, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC did not give details on this inspection, but stated that that the inspection was conducted to verify Iraqi declarations on the site and to establish a comprehensive monitoring mechanism.
      A third team of five missile inspectors went to Al-Mutasim Military Airport at the Al-Bakr Military Base to question the airport commander about the types of planes that use the airport and the date of the last test of a remote-controlled plane, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors also searched the airports hangers and buildings. UNMOVIC stated that the inspection took place at the Samarra East Airfield, which tests remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs).
      A fourth team of four missile inspectors visited the Ibn Firnas State Company located 20 kilometers north of Baghdad to inspect a workshop that manufactures remote-controlled planes. Inspectors also inquired about the specifications of the remote-controlled planes, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC only noted in its briefing that the company designs and manufactures RPVs.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections in Iraq