UN chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix outlined in his report to the UN Security Council yesterday progress in Iraqi disarmament.
He stressed that Iraq had made "substantial" progress in destroying the Samoud 2 missiles, that no evidence had been found of biological and chemical weapons and that some documentation, apparently of limited value, had been handed over by Iraq.
Taking up the challenge posed by President Bush that Iraq was in breach of its disarmament obligations, Dr Blix concluded that it had failed to move "immediately" to begin disarmament. He tried to soften this admission by saying that Iraq had moved forward in complying elsewhere.
The first report by Mr Blix in January was critical of the Iraqi government's slowness to co-operate. The second, last month, was on balance more favourable towards Iraq and critical of the intelligence claims put forward by the US. While there were many areas where Iraq was still falling short, he yesterday produced the most dovish assessment yet.
Missiles: In the most positive language of his report, Dr Blix said Iraq's agreement to destroy its Samoud 2 missiles constituted "a substantial measure of disarmament - indeed, the first since the 1990s". He added pointedly: "We are not watching the breaking of toothpicks - lethal weapons are being destroyed." Mr Blix said that while at first resisting the destruction of the missiles, Iraq had now accepted that they should be destroyed.
Thirty-four of the rockets, two combat warheads, one launcher and five engines, had been destroyed so far, he told the Security Council. There were 86 Samoud 2 missiles left, he said. The missiles have a range 20 miles beyond a 94-mile limit set by the UN after 1991.
The issue of the missiles is significant. Dr Blix used strong language in criticising what he called the proscribed missiles in his report. The Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Tariq Aziz, described their destruction as unacceptable, and the British and US governments described the issue as an important test for Iraq. London and Washington have accused Iraq of secretly constructing new missiles behind the inspectors' backs. Mr Blix did not refer to those claims yesterday.
Chemical and biological weapons: Mr Blix said that he had found no evidence yet of hidden arsenals of VX nerve gas in spite of using radar to search for underground arsenals. The tone in his verbal report to the Security Council was softer than a written report he provided that set out a long list of VX, anthrax and other chemical and biological weapons that were still missing.
Interviews with scientists, engineers and chemists: Iraq has provided access to scientists, engineers and chemists involved in weapons programmes but these have been of limited value because few of them have been in private. Conscious of reprisals against those being interviewed and their families, Dr Blix finally said yesterday he will ask shortly for such interviews to be conducted abroad, either in an Arab country or in Cyprus, the temporary headquarters of the inspectors.
Dr Blix yesterday questioned the value of US and UK intelligence provided to him. He said inspectors had been unable to verify some claims about hidden Iraqi weapons and he asked again for more information about suspect sites. He referred to "intelligence claims" about mobile biological weapons laboratories. He said his inspectors had found mobile food testing and seed processing equipment but no evidence of proscribed activities.
Conclusion: Dr Blix concluded with a comment clearly directed at Britain and the US which have insisted on a new urgent deadline for Iraq to demonstrate it is co-operating fully with the UN inspectors. "Even with a pro-active Iraqi attitude induced by continued outside pressure. . . it will not take years or weeks but months," Mr Blix said. Even then, Iraq should be subject to continuing inspections and monitoring. - (Guardian Service)