A statement by Spokesman for Ministry of Foreign Affairs on (UNMOVIC),(IAEA) activities

IRAQI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

February 26, 2003

1. IAEA Inspection Team:

A- Group I: Consisting of (3) inspectors and led by Fector, a Canadian inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:40a.m using devices carried on a vehicle, the group performed a radiological survey that covered Al-Za’afaraniya area and lasted for (4) hours, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

B- Group II: Consisting of (3) inspectors and led by Jorge Heli, a Canadian inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:40a.m, and arrived at Project (404) which belongs to the MIC. The group held a meeting with the Manager of the Project in order to get acquainted with the activity and the number of workers and technicians. Then, the group toured the workshops and buildings. After that, the group visited Ibn-Al-Haitham site, and acquainted itself with the workshops and buildings as well as its current activities. The inspection lasted for (3) hours and a half, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

2. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Missiles):

A- Group I: Consisting of (2) inspectors and led by Keen Grof, an American inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:00a.m, and arrived at Al-Ameen Factory which belongs to the MIC. The group fixed tags on some of the machines that had been rehabilitated. Then, the group headed for Alnahrawan site which belongs to Al-Basel State Company, one of the MIC companies, where it fixed tags on the drying machine. The inspection lasted for (3) hours and a half after which the group went back to the Hotel.

B. Group II: Consisting of (4) inspectors and led by Mohammad Saif Al-Islam, a Bangladeshi inspector, set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 9:50a.m, and arrived at the Commercial Company (private sector). The group held a meeting with the Manager of the Company and gets acquainted with the contracts concluded between the Company and the MIC. The group asked the Manager of the Company about the materials provided to the MIC. Then, the group checked the registers and documents. The inspection lasted for (2) hours, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

3. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Chemical):

A- Group I: Consisting of (12) inspectors and led by Harold Marhald, an Austrian inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:00a.m, and arrived at the cancelled sit of Al-Muthana which belongs to the MIC. The group completed the destruction of the ammunition existing in the site. The inspection lasted for (5) hours and (15) minutes, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

B- Group II: Consisting of (7) inspectors and led by Shine, an Irish inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:50a.m, and arrived at Al-Rasheed Factory for Sulfate Acid Production (private sector). The group inspected all the facilities and acquainted itself with its contents. It should be noticed that this Factory is not operational for the time being. The inspection lasted for (2) hours and (40) minutes, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

4. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Biological):

A- Group I: Consisting of (6) inspectors and led by Rojey, an English inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 7:30a.m, and arrived at the site for bombs destruction in Al-Azizya which belongs to the Ministry of Defense. The group counted the bombs that were pulled out, fixed tags on them and numbered them. In addition, the head of the group demanded collecting the fragments of the bombs in order to weigh them. The inspection lasted for (6) hours and (15) minutes, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

B- Group II (Mosul): Consisting of (4) inspectors and led by Ayon Posta, the group set out from Nineveh Palace Hotel at 12:30p.m, and arrived at the Consultative Clinic for the Chest and Respiratory Diseases which belongs to the Ministry of Health. The group held a meeting with the Director of the Clinic and asked about the date the Clinic began its work, the most important examinations that are being carried out, number of infection cases and its relation with other clinics. Then, the group inspected all the facilities. The inspection lasted for an hour, after which the group went back to the Nineveh Palace Hotel.

5. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Mosul):

Consisting of (8) inspectors, the team set out from Nineveh Palace Hotel at 9:00a.m, and arrived at Badosh Cement Factory which belongs to the Ministry of Industry and Minerals. The group held a meeting with the Director of the Factory and asked about the most important activities, number of the workers, lines of production and the party which finances it. Then, the team inspected all the facilities of the Factory and acquainted itself with the registers related to importing equipment. The inspection lasted for two hours and a half, after which the team went back to Nineveh Palace Hotel.

6. Reconnaissance Plane (Mirage):

The plane entered the Iraqi air space at 10:30a.m, and left it at 12:00p.m. Once more, the plane entered the Iraqi air space at 12:20p.m, and left it at 13:10p.m. The plane reconnoitered a number of Iraqi districts. The reconnaissance operation lasted for two hours and twenty minutes.

7. Interviews:

The IAEA demanded to conduct individual interviews with two Iraqi specialists in one of Baghdad’s hotels. The NMD informed them of the place and time fixed for interviewing each of them and encouraged them to conduct the interview. Both of the two interviews took place. The first interview lasted for two hours and twenty minutes, while the second one lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes.