Blix: Iraq Not Disarming
Jonathan Rhodes
14 February 2003
Hans Blix told the UN Security Council today that Saddam Hussein's Iraq continues to provide bits and pieces of information and cooperation. In other words Iraq continues to prolong and stall - in material breech of Resolution 1441.
Blix made the point that South Africa was a model of nuclear disarmament - and that Baghdad was nowhere near that form of "immediate, active and unconditional cooperation" as demanded in Resolution 1441. In fact, Blix said, in the final paragraph of his statement that in the three months since passage of 1441,
"If Iraq had provided the necessary cooperation in 1991, the phase of disarmament – under resolution 687 (1991)- could have been short and a decade of sanctions could have been avoided. Today, three months after the adoption of resolution 1441 (2002) , the period of disarmament through inspection could still be short, if "immediate, active and unconditional cooperation" with UNMOVIC and the IAEA were to be forthcoming."
Dr. Blix detailed the following breech's of 1441:
- Failure to account for WMD and WMD Programs known to exist as of 1998 when UNSCOM inspectors left Iraq:
(Iraq has failed to account for 1,000 tons of chemical agent, long-range missiles and biological agents – outlined in his earlier report as 25,000 liters of anthrax, 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin and 500 tons of sarin, mustard gas and VX nerve agent.)"How much, if any, is left of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and related proscribed items and programmes? So far, UNMOVIC has not found any such weapons, only a small number of empty chemical munitions, which should have been declared and destroyed. Another matter – and one of great significance – is that many proscribed weapons and items are not accounted for. To take an example, a document, which Iraq provided, suggested to us that some 1,000 tonnes of chemical agent were "unaccounted for". One must not jump to the conclusion that they exist. However, that possibility is also not excluded. If they exist, they should be presented for destruction. If they do not exist, credible evidence to that effect should be presented."
"I referred, as examples, to the issues of anthrax, the nerve agent VX and long-range missiles, and said that such issues "deserve to be taken seriously by Iraq rather than being brushed aside". The declaration submitted by Iraq on 7 December, despite its large volume, missed the opportunity to provide the fresh material and evidence needed to respond to the open questions. This is perhaps the most important problem we are facing. Although I can understand that it may not be easy for Iraq in all cases to provide the evidence needed, it is not the task of the inspectors to find it. Iraq itself must squarely tackle this task and avoid belittling the questions."
- Material Breech on Illegal Missiles :
"I noted that the Al Samoud 2 and the Al Fatah could very well represent prima facie cases of proscribed missile systems, as they had been tested to ranges exceeding the 150-kilometre limit set by the Security Council. I also noted that Iraq had been requested to cease flight tests of these missiles until UNMOVIC completed a technical review."
"Earlier this week, UNMOVIC missile experts met for two days with experts from a number of Member States to discuss these items. The experts concluded that, based on the data provided by Iraq, the two declared variants of the Al Samoud 2 missile were capable of exceeding 150 kilometres in range. This missile system is therefore proscribed for Iraq pursuant to resolution 687 (1991) and the monitoring plan adopted by resolution 715 (1991).""With respect to the casting chambers, I note the following: UNSCOM ordered and supervised the destruction of the casting chambers, which had been intended for use in the production of the proscribed Badr-2000 missile system. Iraq has declared that it has reconstituted these chambers. The experts have confirmed that the reconstituted casting chambers could still be used to produce motors for missiles capable of ranges significantly greater than 150 kilometres. Accordingly, these chambers remain proscribed."
On the matter of the 380 SA-2 missile engines imported outside of the export/import mechanism and in contravention of paragraph 24 of resolution 687 (1991), UNMOVIC inspectors were informed by Iraq during an official briefing that these engines were intended for use in the Al Samoud 2 missile system, which has now been assessed to be proscribed. Any such engines configured for use in this missile system would also be proscribed.
- Failure by Iraq to provide cooperation and information, requiring outside intelligence to guide the inspectors:
A credible inspection regime requires that Iraq provide full cooperation on "process" – granting immediate access everywhere to inspectors – and on substance, providing full declarations supported by relevant information and material. However, with the closed society in Iraq of today and the history of inspections there, other sources of information, such as defectors and government intelligence agencies are required to aid the inspection process.
- Information on Uranium Enrichment Found Hidden in Private Homes:
Intelligence information has been useful for UNMOVIC. In one case, it led us to a private home where documents mainly relating to laser enrichment of uranium were found.
The international dance continues as the UN ministers preach their government's interests at the Security Council. What is clear is that Iraq is playing a tune of deception and delay while clearly in defiance of the UN Debating Society.
