New arms inspection chief expects unrestricted access in Iraq

March 1, 2000
Web posted at: 9:15 p.m. EST (0215 GMT)

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The United Nations' new chief arms inspector said Wednesday that Iraq should welcome arms inspections as an opportunity to clear its record and, in turn, get economic sanctions against it suspended.

Hans Blix, who took over Wednesday as chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), told reporters he expects unrestricted access to all suspected weapons sites and had no intention of lowering the standards for inspections.

There have been no inspections in Iraq since the United Nations Special Commission pulled its inspectors out in December 1998.

A year later, in December 1999, the U.N. Security Council passed a comprehensive resolution that established UNMOVIC, and eventually suspended sanctions in exchange for Iraqi cooperation with the arms inspectors.

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Blix: Inspectors are not an army

Blix said the resolution gives UNMOVIC "unrestricted access" to suspected sites. He said it is in Iraq's best interest to allow full access for inspectors.

"I think the resolution could have some positive elements for Iraq ... the suspension of sanctions," he said.

But Blix added: "Our role is not to humiliate the Iraqis."

"You cannot go on forever taking authorities by surprise ... inspectors are not an army and cannot leap in and shoot their way in," he said.

Iraq has refused to accept the December resolution and has said it will not work with Blix.

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United Nations
UN Monitoring Commission for Iraq
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Iraq - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
ArabNet - Iraq

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