<

U.N. Chief Details Plans for Iraq Inspections
Friday, November 15, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"Given that we are talking about something that might trigger war, I think it is important to 'nuance' it. What this points to is you may have to take into account whether you can read an intention into something. I think we still have to use our common sense in judging whether something is a way of hindering us in the inspections or not. ... We will report factually on what has happened, and then it is for the Security Council to assess whether in its view it constitutes a material breach."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix told reporters today about the process his group will go through as they begin to ascertain the ground truth in Iraq.

Blix spoke at U.N. headquarters in New York. He said he will lead a U.N. support team into Baghdad on Nov. 18. The purpose of the trip is to initiate the new chapter of inspections, he said.

The U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission, or UNMOVIC, will establish a field office camp in Cypress before moving to Iraq. The office will also contain members of the International Atomic Energy Agency. IAEA Director-General Mohamed El Baradei will travel with Blix to Baghdad.

Blix will stay through Wednesday. The support team will remain and begin work to ensure the inspectors have the logistics they need to carry out their missions. The first group of inspectors is scheduled to arrive around Nov. 25 and begin inspections around Nov. 27, he said.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan