UNMOVIC Releases Modified Readiness Report

Hans Blix, the executive chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), acting on a recommendation from the College of Commissioners, has moderated language in an August 28 report to the UN Security Council stating that his inspectors are prepared to begin limited work in Iraq. UNMOVIC is the organization established by UN Resolution 1284 to replace the UN Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM).

The U.S., Russian, Chinese, and French members of the College of Commissioners, a body of experts established to advise UNMOVIC, suggested Blix indicate that UNMOVIC "could plan and commence…activities in Iraq…to prepare for monitoring, verification, and inspection," rather than saying UNMOVIC is "now in a position to start activities in Iraq." Baghdad refuses to accept Resolution 1284, and the commissioners apparently believed the report's original language would have forced a divided Security Council to revisit the Iraq issue before the council was ready. Blix is scheduled to brief the Security Council September 11.

On August 31, UNMOVIC released a statement emphasizing that "the reality is that if Iraq were to accept Resolution 1284 today, UNMOVIC could and would send a team to Iraq to prepare for the extensive activities…envisaged by the Security Council." The statement also says that "even at the current level of recruitment and training," UNMOVIC is ready "to undertake some inspections."

UNMOVIC staff recently completed four weeks of training in New York, where approximately half of the trainees will remain as a core staff to begin preparatory work. The others will form a reserve, ready for work if the commission is allowed to begin inspections, according to UNMOVIC spokesman Ewen Buchanan. A second training course for additional UNMOVIC inspectors will be held from November 7 to December 8 in France. All UNMOVIC personnel are UN employees and are not on loan from UN member states, as was the case with UNSCOM.

As UNMOVIC continues its preparations, Iraq has remained defiant. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz told reporters after an August 23 speech to the Iraqi National Assembly that Iraq will "not receive anyone who has anything to do with the resolution," according to official Iraqi radio. At an August 22 press briefing, State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said it is up to Baghdad to break the stalemate between the UN and Iraq and that if it does not, "the resolution will remain in place, and the sanctions will continue."