A working team of UN weapons inspectors returned to Iraq on Monday for the first time in four years to begin searching for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Iraq says it does not possess such arms, but the United States alleges it retains some and may be producing others.
With the threat of war hanging over the mission, a spokeswoman for the inspectors urged both cooperation from the Iraqis and patience from other countries.An apparent reference to the United States, which has threatened military action if President Saddam Hussein's government tries to obstruct the inspections.
"We have a huge mandate," spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told reporters. "It's going to take time, and we require a lot of patience from our member states as well as transparency and cooperation from the Iraqis."
The contingent of 17 inspectors arrived aboard a white C-130 transport plane from Cyprus along with their cargo of high-tech sensors, computers and other gear.
They will be begin inspections Wednesday, starting with sites that had been visited before the program was suspended in December 1998. UN officials said the inspectors will, among other things, check on cameras and other surveillance equipment left by earlier inspectors.
Later, the team will branch out to new or rebuilt sites: including suspected storage places for chemical weapons which US intelligence alleges are still held by Iraq. Fleming said about 35 additional inspectors will come to Baghdad on Dec. 8 ¡ª the deadline for Iraq to submit a report on all its nuclear, chemical and biological programs, including those said to be for peaceful purposes.
"We come here with, let's say, hope that things will go well this time, and we will get what is required of Iraq," Fleming said. "We're aware that we will be watched, every move. I think the Iraqis are also aware that the entire world is watching."
The roster of UN inspectors includes some 300 chemists, biologists, missile and ordnance experts and other specialists of UNMOVIC, and a few dozen engineers and physicists of the UN nuclear agency. Between 80 and 100 will be working in Iraq at any one time.
Despite Iraqi denials, the United States is convinced Saddam still retains some weapons of mass destruction and is committed to building more. The United States has urged the inspectors to pursue their search vigorously and intrusively since the new Security Council resolution grants them sweeping powers to go anywhere at any time in search of banned weapons.
Also Monday, the Security Council extended the UN humnaitarian program in Iraq for just nine days. The program is funded by revenue from Iraqi oil sales to provide Iraqis essential goods.
(China Daily November 26, 2002)
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