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Arms Inspectors Call Iraq Uncooperative, Ask For More Time |
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Chief biological and chemical weapons inspector Hans Blix
Photo: CBS News
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Chief biological and chemical weapons inspector Hans Blix delivered his team's findings to the United Nations Security Council on Monday, saying Iraq had been generally cooperative on "process" but uncooperative on "substance."
Insisting that his inspectors needed more time to complete their work before rendering a final conclusion, Blix told the council, "Iraq appears not to have come to a genuine acceptance — not even today — of the disarmament which was demanded of it and which it needs to carry out to win the confidence of the world and to live in peace."
He said Iraqi officials allowed inspectors prompt access to the installations they needed to investigate, and he commended Iraq for its logistical assistance, but Blix complained about Iraq's lack of cooperation on other matters, highlighting unresolved questions about the country's chemical and biological weapons stockpiles.
He said Iraq had not come clean about its production of deadly VX gas. He said his inspectors found evidence that Iraq did not destroy its VX supply in 1991, as the country has claimed. And he questioned why Iraq had not explained where 6,500 bombs containing chemical weapons, which were developed for use during the Iraq-Iran war, are located.
In regard to the recent discovery of warheads in southern Iraq, Blix said, "it does not resolve but rather points to the issue of several thousands of chemical rockets that are unaccounted for."
In addition, Blix said inspectors had recently discovered a supply of thiodiglycol, an agent used in the development of mustard gas. He said Iraq had not proven to inspectors that it had destroyed 8,500 liters of anthrax. The Iraqis claim they disposed of the anthrax in 1991.
Finally, Blix complained that Iraq has refused to guarantee the safety of high-flying American U-2 spy planes that inspectors would like to deploy to assist them in their work. "We note that Iraq is not so far complying with our request. I hope this attitude will change," he said.
Chief nuclear inspector Mohammed ElBaradei also addressed the council, saying his inspectors had yet to find evidence that Iraq is developing nuclear arms, but that his team would need several more months to confirm it. "These few months would be a valuable investment in peace because they could help us avoid a war," he said.
Reaction from Washington was swift, stern and highly critical of Iraq.
In a statement delivered at the U.S. State Department shortly after Blix delivered his update, Secretary of State Colin Powell blasted Iraq for failing to comply with U.N. Resolution 1441, which authorized the latest round of inspections. "The Iraq regime has responded to 1441 with empty claims, empty declarations and empty gestures. It has not given the inspectors and the international community any concrete information in answer to a host of key questions," he said.
"The issue is not how much more time the inspectors need to search in the dark. It is how much more time Iraq should be given to turn on the lights and to come clean," said Powell.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials addressed members of the media prior to Blix's presentation. They contended they had demonstrated "super cooperation, not just a proactive cooperation" with the weapons inspectors.
"We have done everything possible to let this country and the whole region avoid the danger and the threat of war and destruction by the warmongers of Washington and their ally Tony Blair," said Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri. Blair is the prime minister of Great Britain.
Back at the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said inspectors should continue their work. "The council and the assembly must realize that time will be necessary — a reasonable amount of time, I'm not saying forever, but they do need time to get their work done, and I suspect the council will allow that to be done," Annan told reporters.
That position was echoed by officials from France and Germany, key U.S. allies with seats on the U.N. Security Council.
By Ethan Zindler
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