Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

19 FEBRUARY 2003

      The Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducted a private interview with an Iraqi -- the interview was recorded. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) confirmed the interview, which it stated was with an Iraqi engineer who was previously involved in Iraq's former gas centrifuge enrichment program.
      Five inspectors from the IAEA visited the Al-Zawra State Company, located in a suburb of Baghdad, where they inspected all buildings related to the production, administration, and "services" of the company, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that Al-Zawra is an electronics company.
      A second team of three IAEA inspectors conducted a car-borne radiation survey in the area of Nahrawan, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC noted that the area surveyed was 25 kilometers to 60 kilometers east of Baghdad.
      Four IAEA inspectors visited the Al-Nida' State Company, located 15 kilometers south of Baghdad, where they toured the company's workshop and stores.
      The team then visited the State Company for Mechanical and Electrical Contracts, which the Foreign Ministry reports is an affiliate of the Ministry of Irrigation. Inspectors toured storage areas and the Heavy Equipment Mending Factory, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC reported but did not elaborate on this inspection.
      A team of three missile inspectors went to the Al-Fida State Company to place stickers on rocket launchers "that were at the company for maintenance," according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC stated that Al-Fida is a hydraulics factory.
      The inspectors then proceeded to Abu Gharib, which the ministry states is the launcher's exhibition area. Inspectors fixed tags on the launchers, the Foreign Ministry reported.
      A team of two missile inspectors returned to the Ibn Al-Haytham Factory to continue tagging the Al-Sumud missiles. Another two inspectors went to the factory to photograph and tag machines and equipment inside the factory, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry noted.
      Four missile inspectors visited the Al-Taji Technical Battalion to tag Al-Sumud missiles.
      The Inspectors then proceeded to an unnamed military site to tag Al-Sumud missiles there, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
      A fifth team of two missile inspectors went to the Al-Ma'moun Factory to inquire about production and manufacturing operations for missile engines, the Foreign Ministry stated.
      The team then proceeded to the Al-Qaid Factory where warheads are filled, the ministry stated.       UNMOVIC reported on missile inspections but did not provide details.
      A team of eight biological inspectors visited a number of colleges at Tikrit University, according to the Foreign Ministry. At the College of Agriculture, inspectors questioned the head of the Food Industries Department about the establishment of the college and department, and about personnel and their degrees. At the College of Science inspectors questioned the head of the Biology Department about postgraduate students. The team then proceeded to the Chemical Engineering Department in the Engineering College to check tagged equipment. Inspectors also went to the College of Education for Girls to check equipment and items declared by Iraq, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC acknowledged the inspections but did not elaborate on them.
      The same team of inspectors then entered the Tikrit Dairy Company, which the Foreign Ministry states is a private-sector company. Inspectors reportedly toured the facilities.
      A team of eight chemical inspectors visited the Vegetable Oils State Company belonging to the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals (MIM), the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors questioned the director-general of the company and "concerned persons" about personnel and their degrees, work hours, and changes at the company over the last four years, the Foreign Ministry reported.
      Inspectors then proceeded to the Al-Ma'moun and Al-Rashid factories at this company, and toured the company's stores, soap production unit, laboratories, a filling section, and a cosmetics-production unit, the ministry stated, adding that inspectors used metal detection equipment in their inspection. UNMOVIC noted that inspectors inspected Al-Ma'moun and Al-Rashid.
      A second team of 18 chemical inspectors returned to Al-Muthanna to continue with the destruction of mustard gas at the site. The Foreign Ministry reported that inspectors attempted to pierce 155-millimeter shells filled with mustard gas, but could not do so due to "technical difficulties." The operation was postponed, the ministry added. UNMOVIC stated that inspectors returned to continue destroying the shells. It made no reference to the technical difficulties mentioned by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
      UNMOVIC stated that a joint team of its inspectors went to the Ibn Al-Walid State Company, which is a factory "specialized in the repair and maintenance of military vehicles." The Iraqi Foreign Ministry made no mention of this inspection in its daily briefing.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections in Iraq