Iranian representative to the IAEA Ali Akbar Salehi at the Vienna agency today. Iran received a formal warning to keep its nuclear activities fully transparent (AFP/Getty). IAEA Board Passes Iran Resolution; No Security Council Referral By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s governing board today responded to 18 years of covert Iranian nuclear activity by warning the country that it could pay a steep price if its recent nuclear admissions are found to be incomplete (see GSN, Nov. 25)...Full Story

Officials Expect to Reach Agreement at Next Round of North Korean Talks Diplomatic officials said North Korea and the United States have converged their positions on resolving the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear crisis and are likely to reach an agreement at the next round of six-nation talks scheduled for Dec. 17-19 in Beijing, the Korea Herald reported today (see GSN, Nov. 25)...Full Story

France, United Kingdom Want to Convert UNMOVIC Into Permanent Inspection Agency France and the United Kingdom want to convert the U.N. Monitoring, Inspection and Verification Commission, which searched for weapons of mass of destruction in Iraq prior to the war, into a permanent agency to investigate biological and missile programs, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 4)...Full Story

	Wednesday, November 26, 2003

France, United Kingdom Want to Convert UNMOVIC Into Permanent Inspection Agency France and the United Kingdom want to convert the U.N. Monitoring, Inspection and Verification Commission, which searched for weapons of mass of destruction in Iraq prior to the war, into a permanent agency to investigate biological and missile programs, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Sept. 4). The two countries, aided by Canada, the European Union and Russia, are working on ways to convert the commission into a permanent international biological and missile inspection team, diplomats and U.N. officials said. One of the biggest challenges would be the issue of funding because the commission’s previous operations were funded by Iraqi oil money, according to AP. Any move to convert the commission into a permanent agency would first require U.N. Security Council approval, diplomats and U.N. officials said. While the United States currently opposes such a plan, diplomats and U.N. officials said, it is hoped that the Bush administration’s support could still be obtained. “We think the Iraq experience has helped Americans recognize the potential utility of having someone other than themselves do this kind of work,” said one senior Western diplomat. “The costs are high, the work is hard and even Congress has said the U.N. inspectors had some better intelligence than the CIA did,” the diplomat added (Dafna Linzer, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, Nov. 25). Back to top

IAEA Board Passes Iran Resolution; No Security Council Referral By Joe Fiorill Global Security Newswire WASHINGTON — The U.N. nuclear watchdog’s governing board today responded to 18 years of covert Iranian nuclear activity by warning the country that it could pay a steep price if its recent nuclear admissions are found to be incomplete (see GSN, Nov. 25). Adopting by consensus a British-French-German resolution, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-member Board of Governors turned back a U.S. bid to send the Iran affair to the U.N. Security Council but implied such a move could come quickly if any past Iranian missteps emerge that Tehran has not acknowledged as of now. The resolution was welcomed on all sides, including by Iran, which said the text constitutes the defeat of U.S. efforts to advance Israeli interests. IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said today is a “good day for peace, multilateralism and diplomacy.” ElBaradei stressed that although the board will “continue to make every effort to use verification and diplomacy to resolve questions about Iran’s nuclear program,” it has also “made it clear that any serious failures in the future by Iran to comply with its obligations will be met with an appropriately serious response.” The resolution is the result of more than a week of negotiations that began with the European sponsors’ introduction of a resolution that Washington deemed far too weak. In the end, the key players split the difference between the U.S. effort to send the case immediately to New York — possibly resulting in punitive measures against Iran — and an initial European text that contained no “trigger” language to indicate what the board would do if faced with new findings of illicit Iranian activities. Although the board did not punish Iran for missteps already acknowledged, the resolution provides for consequences in the event Iran’s claim that it has now come completely clean is found to be untrue. The panel said it “considers it essential that the declarations that have now been made by Iran amount to the correct, complete and final picture of Iran’s past and present nuclear program, to be verified by the agency,” adding that “any further serious Iranian failures [that] come to light” will trigger an immediate board meeting to consider options including a Security Council referral and a formal finding of “noncompliance.” ElBaradei counseled patience in reacting to the provision. “We naturally still have much verification work to do,” he said, “before we can provide the assurances expected by the international community, specifically that all nuclear activities in Iran are fully declared and are exclusively for peaceful purposes.” U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday that the resolution means “action will be forthcoming” if further concealed activity becomes known. He pronounced the United States “very satisfied” with the text, which White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan termed “appropriate.” A number of recent developments colored the board’s negotiations: an Oct. 21 Iranian promise to the British, French and German foreign ministers to suspend uranium enrichment and to sign a protocol stipulating more intrusive IAEA monitoring (see GSN, Oct. 21); a report to the board Nov. 10 by ElBaradei detailing new Iranian admissions of nearly two decades of secret activities, including small-scale production of plutonium and low-enriched uranium (see GSN, Nov. 11); and Iran’s maneuvers over the past week at the IAEA, which included an implicit threat to back out of signing the protocol if the resolution was not to Tehran’s liking (see GSN, Nov. 20). Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said today in Tehran that the resolution proves Iran’s nuclear programs are peaceful and that Iran has embraced a policy of transparency, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency. “The past few days’ developments,” he said of the board’s talks, “can be summarized as the defeat of the unilateral efforts made on the basis of safeguarding Israel’s interests, as well as the success of multilateral cooperation in [the] political field based on meaningful dialogue and shared wisdom.” Top Analyst Questions U.S. Motivation Institute for Science and International Security President David Albright today praised the board for providing a “framework for Iran … to resolve the outstanding questions” by requiring further board action before the Security Council could become involved. By stopping short of explicitly promising a Security Council referral in case of new revelations, Albright said, the board created a “release valve if Iran comes forth voluntarily.” “I think the U.S. may get outvoted again” in case of new voluntary Iranian revelations, he said ― but not necessarily if the IAEA finds activity Iran has continued to conceal. The “one problem” with the resolution, said Albright, is that it could “work to encourage Iran not to answer those questions, because they may feel that if they add to their declaration, they will be punished.” Albright opposed the U.S. view that Iran’s secret uranium and plutonium work constitutes proof of Tehran’s intention to develop nuclear weapons. “That isn’t evidence.  Countries do the damnedest things,” he said. Only the discovery of “facilities that were involved in making or testing nuclear weapons components” would constitute proof of a weapon program, according to Albright, since Iran’s past covert activities could reflect several other scenarios, including an aborted nuclear weapon program. Assessing the U.S. strategy of pursuing Security Council sanctions, Albright said Washington is seeking to destabilize the Iranian government. “I don’t think everybody in the U.S. is, but I think that there are some. … In a sense, they don’t have a policy. Is the U.S. policy regime change, or is it to woo Iran from nuclear weapons?” he said. Back to top       Officials Expect to Reach Agreement at Next Round of North Korean Talks Diplomatic officials said North Korea and the United States have converged their positions on resolving the Korean Peninsula’s nuclear crisis and are likely to reach an agreement at the next round of six-nation talks scheduled for Dec. 17-19 in Beijing, the Korea Herald reported today (see GSN, Nov. 25). North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Yong Il reportedly approved the deal during a visit to Beijing that lasted through the weekend. Under the agreement, Pyongyang would announce it is scrapping its nuclear weapons efforts, and China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States would declare their willingness to sign a written security assurance (Seo Hyun-jin, Korea Herald, Nov. 26). South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan said, however, that the nonaggression agreement does not guarantee the survival of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il’s regime. “I don’t know if there is any such case in international politics,” Yoon said. “As far as I know, there is no international precedent of one country providing another with a security guarantee for that country’s regime,” the foreign minister added (Yonhap News Agency/BBC Monitoring, Nov. 26). Back to top       Germany Rejects Israeli Request to Purchase Submarines Germany has refused an Israeli request to purchase two submarines because of concerns Israel may use them to strike Iran and that they may become part of Israel’s suspected nuclear arsenal, the New York Sun reported today (see GSN, Oct. 14). According to the German magazine Focus, Germany denied Israel’s request to purchase two diesel-powered submarines, the Sun reported. The submarines would have complemented three submarines Israel has already obtained from Germany. In its coverage of the Israeli submarine request, the German media often mentioned a recent Los Angeles Times report that said Israel could use its submarines to conduct attacks with its suspected nuclear arsenal, according to the Sun. While the Times report has been questioned by experts, its coverage in the German media helped to pressure Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s administration into refusing the Israeli request, the Sun reported. Another concern was that Israel might have used the two additional submarines to strike at Iran’s nuclear program, according to the Sun (see related GSN story, today). “More than anything, we are afraid of another war in the region,” a European diplomat said (Benny Avni, New York Sun, Nov. 26). Back to top

Jury in Plague Trial Breaks for Holiday After four hours of deliberation yesterday, the jury in the case of Texas Tech University professor Thomas Butler agreed to break until Monday morning, the Morris News Service reported today (see GSN, Nov. 25). Butler is on trial for almost 70 counts, including charges of making false statements to federal agents stemming from a January incident where Butler reported that 30 vials of plague samples were missing and believed to have been stolen from his laboratory. Butler later signed a statement, however, saying that he had destroyed the vials and has since recanted that statement (Morris News Service/Amarillo Globe News, Nov. 26). Back to top

Al-Qaeda Aims to Gas Indoor Crowds, U.S. Officials Say Al-Qaeda terrorists have developed a mechanism to disperse cyanide gas through indoor ventilation systems, according to a U.S. Homeland Security Department memorandum, World Net Daily reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 25). The organization might be targeting subways, according to the five-page memorandum. “Al-Qaeda remains intent on using chemical or biological agents in attacks on the homeland,” the document says. “Terrorists have designed a crude chemical dispersal device fabricated from commonly available materials, which is designed to asphyxiate its victims,” it adds. The document cites “recent information” and says that the group wants to use the device to disperse cyanide gas. Amy Sands, former deputy director of nonproliferation studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies, said that al-Qaeda is known to have an interest in cyanide for use as a chemical weapon. “These gases are most effective when released in confined spaces, buildings or other crowded indoor facilities,” the Homeland Security memorandum says (Paul Sperry, World Net Daily, Nov. 25). Back to top       The Netherlands Pledges Aid to Russian Chemical Weapons Disposal Efforts The Netherlands has signed an agreement with Russia to provide almost $5 million to aid the destruction of Russia’s chemical weapons stockpile, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons announced today (see GSN, Nov. 27, 2002). The funding, to be provided in two equal allocations in 2003 and 2004, will help modernize an electrical sub-station that will power a planned Russian chemical weapons destruction facility in Kambarka, which is scheduled to be completed in 2005. The Netherlands is providing the funding through a bilateral agreement reached with Russia in 1998, under which the Netherlands agreed to provide more than $13 million in chemical weapons destruction aid (OPCW release, Nov. 26). Back to top       Army Finishes Anniston Tests, Ready for Full-Scale Burns U.S. Army officials at the Anniston chemical weapons depot in Alabama finished an important set of incineration tests last weekend to prove to environmental regulators that the plant can safely dispose of sarin gas and munitions, the Associated Press reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 14). “The furnace systems and our work force performed flawlessly,” said Ken Ankrom, plant manager for Westinghouse Anniston, which is operating the incinerator. “Completing the tests Sunday puts us ahead of where we expected to be at this phase of the project,” he added. Next week, the facility plans to begin the scaled-down incineration of rockets in which the chemical agent has gelled and cannot be removed (Associated Press/(Birmingham)NBC13,com, Nov. 25). The effort will begin with a slow “shakedown” period as workers become accustomed to destroying the gelled rockets. Defense officials said that they are pleased with the results of test burns on M-55 rockets and drained sarin agent. The Army expects the Alabama Department of Environmental Management to approve a burn rate of 34 rockets and 110 gallons of sarin per hour, but the official test burn results are due back next year, the Anniston Star reported. “Everything was just clicking very well,” said Army spokesman Mike Abrams (Nathan Solheim, Anniston Star, Nov. 25). Back to top       Treatment of Aberdeen Mustard Gas Destruction Byproduct Is Working Smoothly, Officials Say The disposal of a byproduct created by the destruction of mustard gas at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland has proceeded without incident and ahead of schedule, Today’s Sunbeam reported yesterday (see GSN, June 18). Last year, DuPont signed a contract with Bechtel National to transport and dispose of the byproduct, known as hydrolysate, created by the neutralization of mustard gas agent. The first hydrolysate shipment to a DuPont facility occurred in mid-June 2002 and the facility is expected to receive all of the byproduct by next spring, said DuPont plant manager John Strait. While shipments were halted for about two months earlier this year for refinements to the unloading process, the overall operation is two years ahead of schedule, DuPont spokeswoman Michelle Reardon said (Steve Eichmann, Today’s Sunbeam, Nov. 25). Back to top

SBIRS-High Satellite Suffers Additional Schedule Delays A sensor intended for use in the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) High satellite constellation, a planned component of the U.S. missile defense system, has suffered schedule delays, the U.S. Defense Department said last week in a report to Congress (see GSN, Sept. 19). The Pentagon said the delivery of the SBIRS-High Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO) Sensor 1 payload suffered a nine-month delay, from May of this year to February 2004, according to Inside Missile Defense. That delay resulted in the Air Force pushing back the schedule for the sensor’s certification from November 2004 to September 2005. In addition, the Pentagon also said that launch delays have contributed to the scheduling delays. In its report to Congress, the Pentagon said that the schedule changes had not affected the SBIRS-High program’s overall cost, which is currently estimated at $8.6 billion, Inside Missile Defense reported (Thomas Duffy, Inside Missile Defense, Nov. 26).   Back to top

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