Tracking Inspections in Iraq

RFE/L

5 MARCH 2003

      An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection team performed a car-borne radiation survey in the area of Al-Za'faraniyah, which included a compound containing state and mixed sector companies, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) acknowledged the inspection.
      A second IAEA team went to the Armus Trade Company, Ltd. The inspectors asked the manager about the company's name, its activities, relation to the Military Industrialization Organization (MIO), and about products imported from abroad, before reviewing and photographing commercial contracts, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC confirmed that inspectors went to a "state-owned trading company" in central Baghdad, but did not elaborate on the inspection.
      A third team of IAEA inspectors visited a computer center belonging to the Mortgage Bank, where they questioned the center's manager about "previously and currently used computers," as well as the center's activities and number of employees, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC confirmed that inspectors visited a state-owned bank in central Baghdad, but it did not provide details.
      A biological team went to the Al-Basha'ir Trading Company, which was visited by IAEA inspectors on 2 March. The inspectors questioned the company manager about the company's commercial dealings, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the purpose of the inspection was to determine the company's "involvement in the acquisition of mobile laboratory facilities."
      A second biological team returned to the Al-Aziziyah Airfield and Firing Range. The inspectors, according to the Foreign Ministry, toured the site and photographed fragments of destroyed artillery shells. UNMOVIC confirmed that inspectors supervised the ongoing extraction of R-400 bombs.
      A third team of biological inspectors flew to the Al-Mutasim Airbase belonging to the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. The inspectors questioned officials at the base about the number of drone planes, their types, the types of tests performed on them, and about any modifications made to the planes. The inspectors also toured the base and looked in a hanger containing the planes, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that the inspectors went to the Samarra East Airfield, located some 90 kilometers north of Baghdad. The Iraqis, it confirmed, conduct test flights of remotely piloted vehicles at this military airbase.
      A UNMOVIC missile team returned to the Al-Taji Technical Battalion to witness the destruction of nine Al-Sumud 2 missiles, both UNMOVIC and the Foreign Ministry reported.
      A second missile inspection team went to the Ibn Al-Haytham site of the Al-Karamah State Company (MIO-affiliated) to discuss issues with site officials the destruction of Al-Sumud 2 missiles. After leaving to inspect the destruction of missiles at Al-Taji, the team returned to Al-Karamah to inventory "materials and casts associated with Al-Sumud 2 missiles," the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC did not mention a visit to Ibn Al-Haytham.
      A third team returned to the Al-Ma'moun Factory to attend the destruction of a second casting chamber, according to the Foreign Ministry. UNMOVIC reported, however, that the team went to examine the concrete casing of the two destroyed chambers.
      A Mosul-based joint inspection team from UNMOVIC visited the Al-Mosul Gas Electric Company's directorate, which belongs to the Electricity Commission, according to the Foreign Ministry. The inspectors asked the director about personnel, the date of the facility's establishment, its production capacity, and about other activities undertaken at the site. The inspectors also toured the site, the Foreign Ministry noted. UNMOVIC stated that it inspected the electric company, but did not provide details on the inspection.       UNMOVIC also stated that a Mosul-based joint inspection team went to Salah Al-Din University in Irbil. UNMOVIC did not elaborate, and the Foreign Ministry did not acknowledge the inspection in its daily briefing.
      A UNMOVIC chemical inspection team went to the Al-Qa'qa State Company to check sealed equipment at the Al-Khalid Factory, the Foreign Ministry stated. UNMOVIC stated that the team inspected two factories at Al-Qa'qa but did not elaborate.
      A second chemical team went to Al-Muthanna (MIO-affiliated) to observe the destruction of chemical substances and to take a sample, the Foreign Ministry reported. UNMOVIC stated that the team supervised the "final disposal" of neutralized mustard gas.
      A Mirage IV plane performed an aerial surveillance over "several areas" for nearly two hours, according to the Foreign Ministry.
      The Foreign Ministry and UNMOVIC confirmed that an Iraqi scientist was interviewed on 5 March.

NEWSLETTER

Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Tracking Inspections in Iraq