10 February 2003
Iraq Says It Will Allow U-2 Flights
(Weapons inspectors preparing report to U.N. Security Council) (750) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- As chief weapons inspectors head back to New York February 10 to report to the U.N. Security Council on two days of meetings with Iraqi officials, it appears that Iraq has given in on two of the minor issues plaguing the inspectors. The inspectors are to make a crucial report to the Security Council February 14 on Iraqi cooperation. On February 5 U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell used audio tapes, reconnaissance photos, and details from informers to show evidence that Saddam Hussein is continuing to deceive the inspectors and has failed to rid his country of its weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Aldouri, said February 10 that he has delivered a letter to the U.N. Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) saying that Baghdad will allow the weapons inspectors to use U-2 surveillance planes as part of the inspection process. Asked by journalists if the U-2 flights would be allowed without conditions, Aldouri answered "yes." In the meantime U.N. efforts to interview Iraqi scientists in private have yielded mixed results. Inspectors have now conducted three private interviews with Iraqi scientists. Two separate private interviews were held on February 7: one with a senior scientist that lasted four hours, and another with a missile expert that lasted about two-and-a half hours. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also interviewed an Iraqi chemical engineer without the presence of official Iraqi "minders." "No Iraqi witness was present during the [IAEA] interview, which lasted approximately two-and-a-half hours. A broad range of technical matters was covered during the interview," UNMOVIC spokesman Hiro Ueki said. However, private interviews with two other Iraqi scientists were aborted, Ueki said. The scientists showed up alone, but both did not agree to the mode of the interviews as proposed by UNMOVIC. Therefore the interviews did not take place, he said. UNMOVIC chief Hans Blix and IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei met with Iraqi officials in Baghdad February 8 and 9 to try to resolve the serious problems the inspectors are having with Iraqi cooperation. Iraq, Blix said, must provide material the U.N. has asked for much more actively and promptly. Blix has reported to the council that there has not been sufficient Iraqi cooperation on substance. The 12,000-page report submitted by Iraq in December contained no new information or answers to outstanding questions the inspectors have on Iraq's weapons programs. Other issues included the U-2 flights, private interviews with scientists, and legislation which Iraq is required to pass. At a press conference in Baghdad February 9 Blix said that "we've had talks with Iraqi colleagues where I've seen the beginning of taking these remaining disarmament issues more seriously." ElBaradei said that he saw "the beginning of a change of heart from Iraq." "This is a crucial time, this is a critical time, we need 100 percent Iraqi cooperation," ElBaradei said. In an interview with Reuters News Service in Athens on his way back to U.N. headquarters, Blix said that the papers he was given by Iraq relating to anthrax and missiles provided no new evidence. The UNMOVIC chief also said that increasing the number of weapons inspectors would not help him get the job done faster. "The active cooperation of the Iraqi side" is what is needed, he said. France and Germany are suggesting that the number of weapons inspectors be increased from 100 to 300, and U.N. soldiers be added to help complete the inspection process. Meanwhile, the United Nations announced that Secretary General Kofi Annan will brief the Security Council in his private conference room on February 13 on the status of the United Nation's humanitarian contingency planning for Iraq in case of military action. "While the secretary general still feels that war is not inevitable, he thinks that he should share the status of the U.N. contingency plans with the council at this stage," said U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard. "About two months ago, he asked the deputy secretary general, Louise Frechette, to consult with U.N. agencies, funds, and programs for maximum coordination system-wide in the event of a humanitarian emergency. He wishes to report now on the results of her efforts," Eckhard said. "Such planning is a normal part of the U.N.'s work." (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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