Iraq has invited chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix to Baghdad for talks on the progress of weapons inspections, the United Nations said Tuesday. Iraqi presidential adviser Gen. Amir al-Saadi sent the invitation to Blix over the weekend suggesting he travel to Baghdad in mid-January, U.N. spokesman Ewen Buchanan said (see GSN, Dec. 31, 2002).
“As you know, we are to present an update to the Security Council on 27 January so it does seem a useful idea for Mr. Blix to go to Baghdad to have discussions about where we are, how we move forward to implement the Council’s resolutions,” Buchanan said (U.N. release, Dec. 31, 2002).
Oil-For-Food
Meanwhile, Iraq today criticized the recent U.N. Security Council resolution increasing the number of dual-use items on the U.N. Goods Review List that Iraq may not import without council approval, according to the Associated Press.
The resolution is the latest example of U.S. “hegemony” over the Security Council said the state-owned Iraqi al-Jumhuriya newspaper. “This is a bad resolution which would lead to inflicting a deliberate damage and harm to our people,” the newspaper said.
The Iraqi Babil newspaper, owned by President Saddam Hussein’s son Uday, criticized the Goods Review List additions for coming at a time “when the Security Council is supposed to prepare the appropriate circumstances to lift the sanctions on Iraq and as the (U.N.) inspection teams are preparing to declare that Iraq is clear of weapons of mass destruction” (Sameer Yacoub, Associated Press/Yahoo.com, Jan. 2).
Inspections
U.N. inspectors visited five suspect Iraqi sites today, according to Reuters. Inspectors visited a currency printing operation run by the Fatah Co. in Baghdad and the bin Firnas missile site in Taji, north of the capital, Iraqi officials said. Two additional inspection teams visited an air force base in Taji and a lead plant located south of Baghdad. Inspectors also traveled to an undisclosed location north of the city, officials said.
Inspectors are scheduled to begin aerial operations via helicopter within the next few days, U.N. sources said. Inspectors are also scheduled to establish a base in the northern city of Mosul Saturday, they said (Reuters, Jan. 2).
Yesterday, inspectors visited four sites, according to a U.N. press release. A team of missile experts from the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission visited the al-Harith Factory at the Taji Camp. Iraqi officials had asked UNMOVIC to remove tags from SA-2 anti-aircraft missiles at the site in order to perform maintenance operations, said U.N. spokesman Hiro Ueki. Inspectors used the request as an opportunity to reinspect the facility, which had been visited last month, he said.
A UNMOVIC chemical team visited the al-Majd al-Amiriyah stores, the U.N. release said. UNMOVIC biological experts inspected the Baghdad Alcoholic Drinks Company and the National Food Industries’ 7-Up Plant in Baghdad (U.N. release, Jan. 1).
For further information, see:
UNMOVIC
IAEA Iraq Action Team
U.N. Resolution 1441
U.N. Resolution 706 (Oil-for-Food Program)
Oil-for-Food Office Weekly Updates
Inspectors from the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency have now visited more than 100 Iraqi sites in the round of post-Gulf War inspections that resumed Nov. 27 after a four-year lapse. The following chart summarizes some of their reported activities.
| Date | Site | Activity | | Jan. 2 | Fatah Company currency printing operation, located in Baghdad | See GSN, Jan. 2 | | Bin Firnas missile site in Taji, north of Baghdad | | Air force base in Taji, north of Baghdad | | Lead plant located south of Baghdad | | Undisclosed location north of Baghdad | | Jan. 1 | Al-Harith Factory at the Taji Camp | UNMOVIC missile inspectors reinspected the facility (see GSN, Jan. 2). | | Al-Majd al-Amiriyah Stores | (See GSN, Jan. 2) | | Baghdad Alcoholic Drinks Company | | 7-Up Plant of the National Food Industries in Baghdad | | Dec. 31 | Military base in Fallujah, about 30 miles northwest of Baghdad | (See GSN, Dec. 31) | | Al-Mansour Company in Tajiyat, just outside of Baghdad | | Al-Maamoun plant in Youssefiyah, about 20 miles south of Baghdad | | Pharmaceutical research center | | Baghdad offices of the bin Sina Company | | Petrochemical research center in Baghdad | | Military engineering company in Baghdad | | Plant operated by the bin Younees Company, located outside of Baghdad | | Dec. 30 | Central Public Health Laboratory in Baghdad | | | Plant Protection Division No. 1 of the Abu Ghraib plant | | | Al-Nidaa State Company | UNMOVIC chemical inspectors visited the site, which produces dual-use items made out of corrosion-resistant materials (see GSN, Dec. 31). | | Al-Samood factory | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site to conduct an accurate count of missile engines (see GSN, Dec. 31). | | Al-Mahamoudiayah water treatment plant | | | Al-Sawary Est-Jihad site | IAEA inspectors visited two factories at the site determine if any changes had been made since 1998 (see GSN, Dec. 31) | | Dec. 29 | Chemical Engineering Design Center in Baghdad | UNMOVIC chemical inspectors examined site archives, current projects and staff (IAEA release, Dec. 29). | | General Commission of Customs in Baghdad | | | Eyz Company in Baghdad | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which produces electronic equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 29). | | Salam Factory in Baghdad | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which produces mainly communications equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 29). | | Dec. 28 | Hadre Air Force Munitions Test Site, near the northern city of Mosul | | | National Food Industries Company’s Yaffa Juice Plant in Zafaraniyah industrial area of Baghdad | UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the previously declared site (IAEA release, Dec. 28). | | Al-Kindi Company for the Production of Veterinary Vaccines in Abu Ghraib | See the Dec. 22 entry. | | Al-Qaib Warhead-Filling Factory at Al Qa Qaa | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which fills al-Samoud and al-Fateh missile warheads (IAEA release, Dec. 28). | | Bin Younis Center | | | Private trading company | IAEA inspectors reviewed files related to international procurements and offers (IAEA release, Dec. 28). | | Last known address of a private trading company | IAEA inspectors found the site abandoned (IAEA release, Dec. 28). | | Dec. 27 | Modern Chemical Industries in Hay Babil | UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the previously declared and monitored site (IAEA release, Dec. 27). | | Al-Nasser al-Athim State Company, in the Dawra district of Baghdad | UNMOVIC chemical and missile inspectors conducted a rebaselining inspection, held discussions with site personnel and inspected site buildings (IAEA release, Dec. 27). | | Dec. 26 | Al-Rasheed Headquarters | UNMOVIC missile inspectors held technical talks with site officials regarding site declarations, future plans and the current status of the site’s sold propellant missile programs (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Al Jadiriyah Food Examination and Analysis Laboratory in Baghdad | UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the site, which has been previously declared and contains tagged equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Mussayib Pharmaceutical Complex | UNMOVIC chemical inspectors visited the site, which is still under construction (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Baghdad Technology University | UNMOVIC inspectors questioned the dean of the university regarding the site’s activities (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Al-Rashid Company’s Theo al-Fekar factory | IAEA inspectors met with officials to compare inventories of stocks of dual-use high-strength aluminum (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Private trading company | IAEA inspectors conducted a surprise inspection and reviewed purchases made on behalf of the Iraqi military (IAEA release, Dec. 26). | | Dec. 25 | Al-Taji Single Cell Protein Plant | | | Al-Kadhimiya Plant | UNMOVIC missile inspectors conducted an inventory of storage buildings at the site (IAEA release, Dec. 25). | | Shumouk Stores | UNMOVIC missile inspectors conducted an inventory of storage buildings at the site (IAEA release, Dec. 25). | | Basra State Establishment for Paper Industry | | | Hatteen Fateh Explosives Factory, south of Mussayib | IAEA inspectors reviewed changes that occurred at the site over the past four years that could aid a nuclear program (IAEA release, Dec. 25). | | Um al-Maarik Factory | IAEA inspectors monitored production of potential components for dual-use equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 25). | | Al Qa Qaa | IAEA inspectors and Iraqi officials conducted counts of important dual-use materials and compared results (IAEA release, Dec. 25). | | Dec. 24 | Al Niddaa Factory in south Baghdad | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which produces missile components (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Abdul Kareem Abass Plant | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which is the only Iraqi facility that produces ammonium perchlorate, used in the production of solid propellant (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Tarmiya site, under the control of the Taji Technical Battalion | UNMOVIC missile inspectors checked and applied identification tags to al-Samoud missiles and warheads (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Baquba site, under the control of the Taji Technical Battalion | UNMOVIC missile inspectors checked and applied identification tags to al-Samoud missiles and warheads (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Taji site, under the control of the Taji Technical Battalion | UNMOVIC missile inspectors checked and applied identification tags to al-Samoud missiles and warheads (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Baghdad University College of Veterinary Medicine in Abu Ghraib | UNMOVIC biological inspectors inspected the site and checked previously tagged equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | National Company Food Industries brewery | UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the site, which has previously tagged dual-use equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Iskandariyah Ammunition Filling Plant at the Hutten State Establishment | | | Oil facilities near the southern city of Basra | | | Electronics factory at the Salah al-Din General Establishment | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which was associated with the nuclear weapons program until 1990 (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Baghdad Technical University | IAEA inspectors conducted a lengthy interview with a scientist regarding technical activities, which was conducted separately from the site inspection (IAEA release, Dec. 24). | | Dec. 23 | Abu Gharib Baby Milk Plant, State Establishment for Daily Products | UNMOVIC biological inspectors tagged and accounted for dual-use equipment at the previously declared site (IAEA release, Dec. 23). | | Bin al-Baytar Research Center | UNMOVIC chemical inspectors visited the site, which produces small amounts of pharmaceutical chemicals (IAEA release, Dec. 23). | | Taji Technical Battalion site | See the Dec. 22 entry below. | | Al-Razi Company | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which employs staff and equipment from the former nuclear weapons program (IAEA release, Dec. 23). | | Beytar Factory | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which stores equipment saved from former nuclear facilities (IAEA release, Dec. 23). | | Dec. 22 | Al Battanee Center (Baghdad Space Reseach and Development Center) | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which provides telemetry systems for the al-Samoud ballistic missile (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Taji Technical Battalion site | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which is a missile storage area and former Scud ballistic missile dumping ground (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Al Nahrawan, part of the al-Basil Company | UNMOVIC chemical inspectors visited the site, which was previously declared to be using dual-use equipment (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Al-Kindi Company for the Production of Veterinary Vaccines in Abu Ghraib | UNMOVIC biological inspectors visited the previously declared site, which produces a number of bacterial and viral veterinary vaccines (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Mansour State Company | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which produces components and finished electrical goods (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Farabi Computer Center | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which specializes in programming computers for business applications (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Tahrir Institute of Welding Technology | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which is part of the Military Industrialization Corporation teaching structure (IAEA release, Dec. 22). | | Dec. 21 | Samoud Scrap Yard in Tarmiya | UNMOVIC chemical, biological and missile experts inspected all areas of the site (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Research and Analytical Center for Pesticides | | | Al-Furat State Establishment for Chemical Industry | UNMOVIC chemical experts updated information about the site and verified data provided in the last semi-annual Iraqi declaration (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Samra Drug Industry | An UNMOVIC biological team, made up of 23 inspectors, inspected the whole site, which consists of more than 50 structures. Inspectors confirmed all tags and inventories and discussed site activities with site representatives (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Al Qa Qaa | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which is a double base propellant plant (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Al-Fedaa Hydraulic Plant | UNMOVIC missile inspectors visited the site, which produces missile and rocket launchers (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | 14 Ramadan Factory | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which is a declared wool and textile facility (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Binwalid Factory | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which contains a number of high-quality machine tools (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Al-Raya State Company in the South Taji area | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which conducts research on metals, plastics and ceramics (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Al-Zahef al-Kabeer in the South Taji area | IAEA inspectors visited the site, which is engaged in a number of metal and plastic production operations (IAEA release, Dec. 21). | | Dec. 13-Dec. 20 | See GSN, Dec. 20 | |
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South Korean and Chinese officials met today and discussed North Korea’s nuclear program with the aim of reducing tensions between Washington and Pyongyang (see GSN, Dec. 31, 2002). Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush said yesterday he believed a peaceful solution to the issue could be reached.
South Korean Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Tae-shik, in a meeting with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi, is believed to have called on China to increase pressure on North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons efforts, according to Reuters.
China and South Korea provided few details as to what transpired during the meeting, according to Reuters.
“The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and common concerns on North Korea nuclear issues,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said.
A diplomatic source said the meeting could help efforts to solve the nuclear issue peacefully, Reuters reported.
“I think it will help improve the atmosphere to resolve this nuclear issue in a peaceful manner,” the source said. “It is always good for the surrounding countries to discuss this issue. In that sense, I think it may have some influence on North Korea,” the source added (Tamora Vidaillet, Reuters, Jan. 2).
Washington Seeks Diplomatic Solution
Bush said yesterday that he believed the North Korean nuclear issue could be resolved through diplomacy, but did not explicitly rule out the threat of military action.
“There is strong consensus, not only among the nations in the neighborhood and our friends, but also with international organizations, such as the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency], that North Korea ought to comply with international regulations. I believe this can be done peacefully, through diplomacy, and we will continue to work that way,” Bush said during an informal press conference in Crawford, Texas. “All options, of course, are always on the table for any president, but by working with these countries we can resolve this,” he added.
Bush also said he looked forward to a visit by South Korean President-elect Roh Moo-hyun once he is in office (U.S. State Department release, Jan. 1).
Pyongyang Calls for Inter-Korean Cooperation
North Korea called on its southern neighbor today for support against the United States in the conflict over its nuclear program.
“It can be said that there exists on the Korean Peninsula at present only confrontation between the Koreans in the North and the South and the United States,” Pyongyang said in its New Year’s message. “There is neither reason nor condition for the fellow countrymen to strain the situation and disturb peace against the fellow countrymen as the North and the South are heading for reconciliation, unity and reunification,” the message said.
Some experts have said North Korea’s calls for inter-Korean cooperation are based on economic concerns, which have increased with the threat of U.S. action to further isolate the country.
“North Korea has been digging deeper into isolation these days, and the United States is pouring hot water into the hole to force it to come out,” said Koh Yoo-hwan, a North Korea expert at Dongkuk University in Seoul. “At this hard time, North Korea increasingly sees that South Korea is its only friend, as it tries to avoid the brunt of U.S. diplomatic pressure,” Koh said (Sang-hun Choe, Associated Press/Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 2).
Humanitarian Situation
North Korea faces a dangerous food shortage as supplies are expected to begin running out next month, said Rick Corsino, director of the U.N. World Food Program’s operation in Pyongyang. Once those supplies are gone, the program will be forced to stop providing food to about 3 million of its 4.5 million “most vulnerable” aid recipients, including millions of children, pregnant women and the elderly, he said.
The U.S. efforts to increase pressure on North Korea and to further isolate it economically, along with attempts to persuade Pyongyang’s neighbors to do the same, have led to fears of food being used as a weapon. U.S. officials have denied that the Bush administration has called on Japan, South Korea, China and Russia to use all means, including food aid, to pressure North Korea into abandoning its nuclear efforts. The United States itself will base its decision on whether to continue humanitarian aid to Pyongyang solely on the basis of need, officials said.
Instead of denying further humanitarian aid outright, the United States can accomplish the same effect by delaying its decision on whether to do so while food supplies run out, analysts said. The United States could also allow other countries to indicate that large amounts of developmental aid would be forthcoming only if North Korea gives up its nuclear program, they said (Sonni Efron, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 2).
A senior Bush administration official has said the United States plans to provide the same level of humanitarian aid to North Korea this year as it has in the past.
“We expect to continue providing the same level of aid to the (U.N.) World Food Program in Korea as we have in the past,” the official said on Tuesday in reply to written questions from Reuters. “We don’t use food as a political weapon,” the official added (Reuters/New York Times, Jan. 1).
India and Pakistan exchanged lists of nuclear installations yesterday under an agreement intended to prevent attacks on nuclear facilities, The Hindu reported today (see GSN, Jan. 2, 2002).
The exchange marks the 12th time the countries have shared their lists under the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack Against Nuclear Installations and Facilities between India and Pakistan. The agreement, which was signed in 1988 and came into effect in 1991, calls for an exchange of nuclear facility lists Jan. 1 of each year.
The Indian list was given to the Pakistani High Commission representative in New Delhi, and the Pakistani list was handed over to Vikram Misri, the first secretary of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad (Amit Baruah, The Hindu, Jan. 2).
The Pakistani list reportedly contained six nuclear facilities while the Indian list was unchanged from last year, with 11 sites, United Press International reported (United Press International, Jan. 1).
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Russia destroyed the first 10 tons of its chemical weapons stockpile in 2002, ITAR-Tass reported Monday (see GSN, Dec. 31, 2002).
The effort to destroy Russia’s 40,000 tons of chemical weapons will speed up this year, said Alexander Kharichev, deputy chairman of the governmental commission for chemical disarmament.
“The quantity of destroyed chemical substances will significantly increase after the tuning of equipment and choice of optimal regimens,” according to Kharichev.
Russia is currently disposing of 800 to 1,500 kilograms of mustard gas daily at the country’s Gorny plant, he said (see GSN, Dec. 20, 2002).
“Russia will destroy 400 tons of chemical weapons by April 2003, thereby meeting its international obligations,” Kharichev said (see GSN, Oct. 15, 2002; ITAR-Tass, Dec. 30, 2002 in FBIS-SOV, Dec. 30, 2002).
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The U.S. State Department has charged two U.S. aerospace companies — Hughes Electronics Corp. and Boeing Satellite Systems Inc. — with illegally providing China with space-launch technologies that could be used for Beijing’s ICBM program, the Associated Press reported today.
In a letter filed last week, State charged the two companies with 123 violations of the Arms Control Export Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations for giving technical data to China after failed launches of Chinese space-launch vehicles carrying U.S. satellites in 1995 and 1996, AP reported. If the violations are upheld, the companies would face fines of $500,000 per charge and export restrictions.
“The number and substance of charges reflect the seriousness of the violations,” said State spokesman Lou Fintor. “There are many similarities between a space launch vehicle and an intercontinental ballistic missile,” he added (Associated Press/Newsday, Jan. 2).
Hughes Electronics, which Boeing purchased in 2000, has denied any wrongdoing, according to the Washington Post. Both companies have said State is wrong to declare their activities in China improper because their activities were covered by looser Commerce Department regulations at the time.
“We don’t believe we’ve done anything wrong,” said company spokesman Robert Marsocci. “We’re in negotiations with the State Department, and we’ll be reviewing our options,” he added.
State, however, has said that more stringent export control laws were still in place, and that the companies violated them, the Post reported.
The Justice Department spent years investigating whether the two companies, along with Loral Space and Communications, which was involved in similar activity in China, had committed any criminal wrongdoing, the Post reported. Several months ago, U.S. prosecutors told the three companies that they would not be filing charges.
The administrative charges filed against Hughes Electronics and Boeing are considered to be very rare, U.S. officials said. The charges reflect officials’ anger that the two companies have fought the charges and refused to admit their activity in China was wrong, the officials said.
U.S. officials have commended Loral for acknowledging its past violations and for implementing guidelines to prevent recurrences (see GSN, Jan. 10, 2002). Hughes Electronics and Boeing have not received such praise, according to the Post.
“The department has had several rounds of discussion with Hughes and Boeing to explore a resolution similar to the one with Loral,” said State spokesman Jay Greer. “We can note that unlike Loral, Hughes and Boeing have both failed to recognize the seriousness of the violations and have been unprepared to take steps to resolve the matter, or to ensure no recurrence of violations in the future,” he added (John Mintz, Washington Post, Jan. 1).
India’s short-range Agni 1 ballistic missile might be operational by the end of the year, V.K. Aatre, chief of the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization said Tuesday (see GSN, July 26, 2002). India has planned several tests of the Agni system in the next few weeks, he said. After additional testing, the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile might also be operational by the end of the year, Aatre said.
Two other Indian missile systems — the Akash surface-to-air missile and the Nag anti-tank guided missile — are expected to be ready for user tests by the end of 2003, Aatre said (Economic Times, Jan. 1).
China successfully launched its Shenzhou 4 spacecraft Monday in what is expected to be the final version of the space vehicle before a manned mission is launched later this year, Reuters reported t | |
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