As UN arms inspectors arrive in Iraq, Annan urges Baghdad's compliance
An Iraqi official (right) welcomes IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei (2nd from left) and UNMOVIC Chairman Hans
Blix (centre) on their arrival at Saddam International airport in Baghdad on November 18. (Credit: REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber
- via... IAEA)
18 November – As an advance team of United Nations arms inspectors arrived today in Iraq, Secretary-General Kofi Annan
urged President Saddam Hussein to comply fully with Security Council demands, "for the sake of his people, regional
stability and world order."
Speaking in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he was on an official visit, the Secretary-General said the arrival in Baghdad
of Hans Blix, the Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and Mohamed
ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), signalled a "crucial new phase of
disarmament."
The Secretary-General noted that the Council's resolution 1441 states clearly what the Government of Iraq must do.
"Acting in unison, Council members demanded that Iraq grant prompt and unfettered access to all and any sites," he said.
The 30-member advance team - which will concentrate on getting the inspection offices up and running again after a
prolonged absence from Iraq - was met at the airport by General Hosan Amin, the head of Iraq's National Monitoring
Directorate, and Ramiro Lopes da Silva, the head of the UN humanitarian office in Iraq. Both Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei
are scheduled to meet today with senior Iraqi officials.
Yesterday, the two men arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus, on their way to Baghdad. Speaking to the press at the airport, Mr.
Blix said, "We are going there to initiate cooperation with the Iraqis and to talk with the representatives of the Iraqi
Government." The first inspectors would arrive a week later and they planned to start arms inspections from 27 November
onwards.
Mr. Blix said he would report to the Security Council two months after the resumption of inspections, adding that the
Iraqi declaration to be submitted no later than 8 December would be analyzed by UNMOVIC and serve as an important basis
for verification.
Mr. ElBaradei said that this was a new phase in IAEA inspections in Iraq and that they were fully backed by the Council
to verify the country's disarmament through inspections. "This is an opportunity for peace," he said, adding that he
hoped that Iraq would make full use of this chance and cooperate in the implementation of Security Council resolutions,
which would "open the way for them to come back as a full member of the international community and suspend and
eventually eliminate sanctions."
Mr. ElBaradei stressed that IAEA inspectors were going to do thorough and objective inspections, and indicated that the
Agency would report to the Council two months after the resumption of their inspections.
The question of "war and peace" was first of all in the hands of the Iraqis and the Security Council, Mr. Blix said in
response to reporters' questions. "We will inspect and report on cooperation or a lack of cooperation. I will do so
objectively to the Security Council," he said, noting that it was for the Council to assess Iraqi cooperation.
UNSG TRANSCRIPT
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 18 November 2002 - Statement attributable to the Secretary-General on the return of
weapons inspectors to Iraq
The chief United Nations weapons inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, arrive in Baghdad today to begin a crucial
new phase of disarmament.
Security Council Resolution 1441 states clearly what the Government of Iraq must do. Acting in unison, Council Members
demanded that Iraq grant prompt and unfettered access to all and any sites.
I urge President Saddam Hussein to comply fully with the Council's demands, for the sake of his people, regional
stability and world order.
IAEA PRESS RELEASE
News Update on Iraq Inspections
Activities of IAEA and UNMOVIC
The following is a summary following the press conference in Cyprus, 17 November 2002.
The Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), Dr. Hans Blix, and the Director
General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei, arrived in Larnaca, Cyprus on Sunday
afternoon, 17 November.
Dr. Blix told the press at the airport that “We are going there (Iraq) to initiate cooperation with the Iraqis and to
talk with the representatives of the Iraqi Government.” He said that the UN team had a lot to organize, as there would
be laboratories, a large number of jeeps, helicopters, aircraft and so on. The first inspectors would arrive a week
later and they planned to start weapons inspections from 27 November onwards. Dr. Blix added that he would report to the
Security Council two months after the resumption of inspections. The Iraqi declaration to be submitted no later than 8
December would be analyzed by UNMOVIC and serve as an important basis for verification.
Dr. ElBaradei told the press that this was a new phase in IAEA inspections in Iraq. They were fully backed by the
Security Council to verify the disarmament of Iraq through inspections. He said that “This is an opportunity for peace.”
He hoped that Iraq would make full use of this opportunity and cooperate in the implementation of Security Council
resolutions, which would “open the way for them to come back as a full member of the international community and suspend
and eventually eliminate sanctions.” He stressed that IAEA inspectors were going to do thorough and objective
inspections. He also indicated that the IAEA would report to the Security Council two months after the resumption of
their inspections.
In response to questions, Dr. Blix said that the question of “war and peace” was first of all in the hands of the Iraqis
and the Security Council. “We will inspect and report on cooperation or a lack of cooperation. I will do so objectively
to the Security Council.” He noted that it was for the Security Council to assess Iraqi cooperation.
Dr. Blix thanked the Government of Cyprus for allowing UN inspection teams to have a field office and accommodations in
Cyprus. Flying to Baghdad from Larnaca was very convenient
Dr. ElBaradei indicated that his IAEA team would include a number of Arab inspectors, and that his first team to go into
Iraq would already have some such inspectors. He emphasized, however, that nationality was not an issue. Key were
competence, integrity and impartiality.
The latest available information on IAEA Iraq missions will be posted on the IAEA WorldAtom web site at
www.iaea.org/worldatom.