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

 

IRAQI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 

March 3, 2003

1. IAEA Inspection Team:

A. Group I: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 9:00 a.m., headed by the American inspector (Bob Kelly). It arrived at Al-Serat Company for general trade, the group held a meeting with the company’s officials where the inspectors inquired about the company’s activities in general, the total number of labor, the company’s branches in and out of the country and whether the company has contracts with the MIC. Then, the group viewed the contracts of the company and the computer there. The inspection operation went on for about five and a half hours, then, the group went back to the hotel.

B. Group II: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 9:00 a.m., headed by the Canadian inspector (George Hilly). The group arrived at Al-Makhather Company for commercial commission & import (limited). The inspector held a meeting with the company’s director where they inquired about the company’s activities, its subsidiary, account of labor, its systematical structure and most important contracts with the MIC. Then, the group toured all the department of the company. The inspection operation lasted for about six hours and fifty minutes, then the team went back to the hotel.

C. Group III: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:50 a.m., headed by the Canadian inspector (Victor Price). The group made a radioactive survey by devices carried on a vehicle in Ibn-Sina Company of the MIC. The surveying operation included all the facilities of the company which went on for three hours. Then, the group went back to the hotel.

2. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (biological):

A. Group I: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:30 a.m., headed by the American inspector (Erik). It arrived at the site of destroying bombs in Al-Azezia area, MD. The inspectors numbered some of the bombs as well as taking more samples of them. They also counted the number of bombs there. The inspection operation went on for four hours and forty minutes. Then, they went back to the hotel.

B. Group II: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 9:00 a.m., headed by the American inspector (Key Marsh). The group arrived at Ma-Bayn Al-Nahrain State Company for seeds of the MA. The group held a meeting with the group director where the inspectors inquired about the company since the day of its establishment (up-to-date), its duties, the account of its departments, the most significant test that has been carried out on seeds and whether it has any kind of cooperation with other bodies in the country. Then the group toured around its departments as well as the factories that belong to it. The inspection operation went on for two and a half hours, and the group went back to the hotel.

3. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (chemical):

A. Group I: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:30 a.m., headed by the Argentinean inspector (Carlos Ravazol). This group arrived at the National Company for chemical and plastic industries (privet sector). The group held a meeting with the company’s officials where the inspectors inquired about the current production nature, what are the raw materials used in the production and the types of metals. Then, the group toured around its production and management facilities. The inspection operation went on for two hours and fifteen minutes. Then the group went back to the hotel.

B. Group II: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 9:00 a.m., headed by the Austrian inspector (Herald Marhold). The group arrived at Al-Muthena site (cancelled), that belongs to the MIC. The group supervised the process of destroying the mustered material. The inspection operation went on for four hours and forty minutes. Then the group went back to the hotel.

4. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (missiles):

A. Group I: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:30 a.m., headed by the French inspector (Korean Harold). The group arrived at the technical battalion in Al-Taji area. The group witnessed the destruction process of (6) Al-Sumood-2 missiles in addition to the destruction process of two warheads of the same missile. The visit went on for five hours. Then, the group went back to the hotel.

B. Group II: It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:30 a.m., headed by the Romanian inspector (Aketo Kian). The group visited the sites of Al-Karama State Company in Al-Wazeria and also visited the researches factories of Ibn Al-Haithem and Al-Sumood. The objective of the visit was to confirm the stopping of the production of Al-Sumood-2 missile, as well as checking the missile’s systems and the parts that belongs to it. The visit lasted for three hours. Then the group went back to the hotel.

C. Group III: it set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 8:50 a.m., headed by the French inspector (Key). It arrived at Al-Mamoun factory that belongs to Al-Rushed Company. The group witnessed the final stages of destroying the first pouring mold and prepared the second one to be destroyed. Also, a small group visited Al-Qaqa state company to place thermo protection tapes on the seals of the warheads of Al-Sumood-2 missiles. The visit went on for about six hours. Then, the group went back to the hotel.

5. UNMOVIC Inspection Team in Baghdad (joint):

It set out from Al-Qanat hotel at 10:00 a.m., headed by the Romanian inspector (Lacksander Douglass). It arrived at the missiles arsenal of the Ministry of Defense. The team held a meeting with the arsenal commander where the inspectors inquired about the site plots, the purpose of using the arsenal, is there any connections with the civil bodies, whether there is a maintenance unite and the number of employees, then, the group inspected the storages in the site. The inspection lasted for one hour and twenty minutes. Then, the group went back to the hotel.

6. UNMOVIC Inspection Team in Mousel (Joint):

A. Group I: It set out from Nineveh Palace hotel at 9:00 a.m., headed by the Norway inspector (Roman Aveement). It arrived at Al-Remah Company for producing spraying irrigation systems (limited) private sector. The group held a meeting with the company's director where the inspectors inquired about the company's current productions, the beneficiary bodies, the raw materials that are used and the body that provide the company with the devices and equipment. Then, the group visited the factory's location and the management headquarters. The inspection went on for one hour. Then, they went back to the hotel.

B. Group II: at 10:00 a.m., it set out from Al-Mousel airport headed by the Greek inspector (Demetry Bricoss), vice chairman of the committee, heading toward Erbil City but after a short period, the group returned back to the airport, because it was banned to enter the city.

C. Group III: at 7:50 a.m., a helicopter took off from Al-Rushed airport with (4) inspectors on board, headed by the Holland inspector (Ban Roznek). It arrived at the college of science - Al-Mousel University. The group held a meeting with the officials where the inspectors inquired about the locations of some of the labs, the account of higher education studies' students, the cooperation between this college with the other colleges and they asked about the names of the faculty members. Then, the group toured the labs and the departments of the college. The inspection went on for three hours and forty minutes. Then, the group went back to Al-Rushed airport.

Interviews:

The UNMOVIC committee asked to make individual interviews with two of Iraqi specialists in one of Baghdad's hotel. The NMD informed the involved specialists with the set date and time, as it encouraged them to proceed with the interviews. Both interviews were accomplished.