Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

25 FEBRUARY 2003

      The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) announced in its 25 February statement that there are currently 97 inspectors in Iraq: 84 UNMOVIC and 13 from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In addition, there are also 118 international support staff, including 52 aircrew and 29 local staff. In addition, 13 IAEA inspectors will arrive in Baghdad on 27 February. UNMOVIC added that its roster includes inspectors from 55 countries, including six Arab states.
      UNMOVIC also announced that it would resume its mustard gas destruction activities at Al-Muthanna on 26 February, stating that the process had been halted due to technical difficulties. To date, UNMOVIC stated that about one-third of the 50 liters of mustard gas has been destroyed. The destruction process is estimated to take another four to five days to complete.
      UNMOVIC further noted that the Iraqi government has sent several letters to the agency in recent days. The letters are related to the unilateral destruction of empty warheads, excavation of a dumpsite for destroyed biological-agent-filled aerial bombs, and an explanation of a biological agent.
      A team of four IAEA inspectors visited the Al-Tahhadi State Company, which is an affiliate of the Iraqi Military Industrialization Organization (MIO). Inspectors questioned the director about the company's activities and projects before touring the laboratories, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the company is an electronics research and electrical repair factory.
      Two IAEA inspectors carried out a car-borne radiation survey in the area of Al-Za'faraniyah, the ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that the survey focused on Al-Nida.
      A team of six missile inspectors went to the Al-Qa'qa State Company to question officials and verify declarations on the company. Inspectors also toured some storage areas, the Foreign Ministry added. UNMOVIC noted that missile-related raw materials and chemicals are stored at the site.
      Three missile inspectors visited the Al-Rashid State Company, the Al-Ma'moun Factory, and the Al-Qa'qa State Company, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors asked about machines manufactured at Al-Rashid and toured the scrapyard as well as the separation and mixers' buildings belonging to the Al-Ma'moun Factory. The inspectors proceeded to the al-Qa'qa State Company to place stickers on the 300-gallon containers, the ministry added. UNMOVIC acknowledged the inspections, stating that the Al-Rashid State Company works on solid-propellant missile design and production.
      Another team of four missile inspectors visited the repair workshop of the Electronic Base of the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign Ministry stated. Inspectors questioned the commander about the workshop and its activities before touring all storage areas and workshops. UNMOVIC stated that the factory repairs electronic equipment for the Iraqi army.
      Five missile inspectors returned to the Ibn Al-Haytham site of the Al-Karamah State Company (MIO-affiliated) to question the director about the "relevant details" of the missile control and guidance systems. Inspectors also toured stores and tagged Al-Sumud missiles. UNMOVIC stated that the inspectors went to the Al-Kadhimiya plant, which assembles the Al-Sumud 2 missile.
      A team of two missile inspectors returned to the Al-Fatah Factory belonging to the Al-Fatah State Company, where they questioned company officials about recent tests of the Al-Fatah missile. The inspectors also toured the sites' buildings, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC stated that the Al-Fatah Factory designs solid propellant.
      Six UNMOVIC biological inspectors returned to the bomb destruction site at Al-Aziziyah to inspect the bomb extraction activities at the site, the ministry noted. UNMOVIC stated that its inspectors visited the site, located approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Baghdad, over the last two days as a result of an Iraqi invitation to observe the excavations and verify the biological-agent-filled aerial bombs, which Iraq claims it unilaterally destroyed in 1991. Inspectors inspected munitions fragments and "observed excavation of a pit, where...munitions had previously been explosively destroyed," UNMOVIC stated.
      A Mosul-based biological team returned to Mosul University to visit the College of Agriculture and Forestry. Inspectors asked the dean about the college's activities, departments, personnel and students, and ongoing research projects, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC reported that the inspectors went to the Departments of Food Technology and Plant Protection at the College.
      A group of 10 chemical inspectors visited the Pesticides Stores belonging to the State Commission of Agricultural Protection located in Al-Suwayrah, the Foreign Ministry reported. Inspectors questioned the director about the nature of the stores and the "services" offered. The inspectors also toured the stores and noted their contents, the ministry added.
      UNMOVIC stated that a chemical inspection team inspected the Baiji Underground Refinery, which is located 240 kilometers north of Baghdad.
      A Baghdad-based joint inspection team of 11 inspectors visited the Al-Fayha' Company for Producing Table Eggs, which the Foreign Ministry states is a private company. The inspectors questioned the director about the company's barns and production before touring the barns, the ministry noted. UNMOVIC stated that the site is located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of Baghdad but did not provide details on the inspection.
      A Mosul-based joint inspection team of four visited the Customs Center Directorate of the Ministry of Finance to ask about changes at the Directorate in the last four years as well as the "nature of material" dealt with by the center. The inspectors toured the facilities and stores and viewed company records, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC referred to this site as the Khalil Customs Post. It did not elaborate on the inspection.
      Another joint inspection team of four visited the Mosul Ammunition Stores belonging to the Ministry of Defense. Inspectors asked the site commander about the type of ammunition stored at the site and about the site's affiliation. The inspectors also toured the stores and inspected ammunition. UNMOVIC noted that the "first part" of the facility was inspected, adding that the area contains a series of warehouses and bunkers.

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Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections in Iraq