Statement by Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign
Affairs on Inspection Activities

IRAQI MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

March 10, 2003

1. IAEA Inspection Team:

Headed by (George Hilly), a Canadian inspector, the team set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 9:30 a.m., and arrived at Al-Tiwaitha site that belongs to the Atomic Energy Organization. Using devices carried by vehicle, the team carried out a radiological survey that covered all the roads and building of the site. Then the team took samples from the site. The survey lasted for (6) hours, after which the team went back to the Hotel.

2. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Missiles):

A. Group I: Headed by (Jiwe Wayam), an Australian inspector, the group set out from  Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:30 a.m., and arrived at the Technical Battalion in Al-Taji area. The group observed the destruction of (6) missiles (Al-Soumoud-2) and (3) warheads. Then the group went to Al-Hareth State Company – MIC, for putting tags on a number of air-to-air missiles that have been taken there for maintenance. These activities lasted for (6) hours, after which the group went back to the Hotel.

B. Group II: Headed by (Gustavo), an Argentinean inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:30 a.m., and arrived at Al-Karama State Company - MIC. The group took stock of the items belonging to Al-Soumoud-2 missiles in order to prepare them for destruction. The visit lasted for (3) hours and (30) min., after which the group went back to the Hotel.

3. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Chemical):

Headed by (Patrick), a French inspector, the team set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:40 a.m., and arrived at the tanning factory that belongs to the Tanning State Company. Upon its arrival there, the team held a meeting with the persons in charge of the factory and inquired about how the factory functions, the production rate of the factory, the sources of the raw materials, the monthly consumption of the chemical materials and the number of the workers that has educational degrees. Then, the team toured all the facilities of the factory. The visit lasted for (2) hours, after which the team went back to the Hotel.

4. UNMOVIC Inspection Team (Biological):

A. Group I: Headed by (Philip Michele), a French inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:30 a.m. and arrived at the larks destruction site in Al-Aziziya area. The group supervised the digging process and inquired about the larks that have been found through the digging process that took place today and yesterday. Then, the group counted all the larks that had been found. The visit lasted for (2) hours, after which the team went back to the Hotel.

B. Group II: Headed by (Yan Rozenick), a Dutch inspector, the group set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 9:00 a.m., and arrived at Mabain Al-Nahrain Company, Al-Nehrawan Branch - Ministry of Agriculture. The group held a meeting with the persons in charge of the site and inquired about the date in which the site was constructed, what is the main activity of the site, what kind of vehicles used in transporting the seeds to the site, the number of workers at the site and whether there is laboratory in the site. The visit lasted for an hour, after which the team went back to the Hotel.

5. UNMOVIC Joint Inspection Team (Baghdad)

Headed by (Jose), a Chilean inspector, the team set out from Al-Qanat Hotel at 8:40 a.m., and arrived at the Mechanical Industrialization Company – Ministry of Industry. The team held a meeting with the persons in charge of the Company and asked about the activity that the Company is carrying out, its most important production and what connection does the Company have with the military industries. Then the team toured the facilities of the Company.

Afterwards, the team went to Hateen State Company –MIC. Upon their arrival, the inspector held a meeting with the persons in charge of the Company and inquired about the kinds of ammunition that the Company produces, number of the workers and the bodies that benefit from their production. Then, the team toured the facilities of the Company. The visit lasted for (2) hours and (10) min., after which the team went back to the Hotel.

6. The Mirage Reconnaissance airplane:

A Mirage-4 reconnaissance airplane entered the Iraqi airspace at 9:35 a.m., and left at 11:45 a.m. and it re-entered  at 12:35 p.m. and left at 1:45 p.m. The reconnaissance operation covered many areas in Iraq. The reconnaissance took about (3) hours and (20) min.

7. Interviews:

The UNMOVIC requested to conduct an individual interview with an Iraqi specialist in one of Baghdad’s Hotels. The NMD informed him the time and date of his interview and encouraged him to do so. The interview was carried out successfully by the UNMOVIC.