Ground rules for Iraq inspections
From Liz Neisloss
CNN
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. weapons inspectors have sent a letter to Iraq spelling out the agreements reached with Iraq in their recent meetings in Vienna, including "immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access" to sites.
The letter, addressed to Gen. Amir Al-Saadi who represented Iraq in Vienna, notes that the eight presidential sites are still covered by a special agreement -- a "memorandum of understanding," or MOU.
The MOU -- which the United States wants to see negated -- sets out the special handling for presidential sites, including advance notice.
According to the U.N. letter, the agreements reached in Vienna include:
The U.N. Monitoring, Inspections and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have the right to determine the number of inspectors required for any site.
Iraq will be informed of the designation of sites not previously declared by Iraq or previously inspected, only when inspectors arrive at the sites.
Iraq will ensure that no prohibited material, equipment, records or other relevant items be destroyed except in the presence of inspectors.
Iraq will "guarantee the safety of air operations in its air space outside the no-fly zones."
Iraq will "take all steps within its control to ensure the safety" of any operations inside the no-fly zones.
UNMOVIC may wish to resume the use of U-2 or Mirage overflights, using past arrangements.
UNMOVIC and IAEA may conduct interviews with any person in Iraq whom they believe may have relevant information. Iraq will "facilitate" the interviews, but the weapons inspectors will chose the "mode and location" for the interviews.
The United Nations will use its former offices in Baghdad -- the former "Baghdad Monitoring and Verification Center" -- but can also set up regional inspection offices in places such as Basra and Mosul.
Iraq will provide security for all inspectors. Iraq will provide "secure and suitable accommodations" from a list designated by the Iraqis.
Iraq will provide free escorts to facilitate access to sites to be inspected and a 24- hour hotline to be staffed by an English-speaking person seven days a week. This is for help with personnel and transportation needed and any assistance in moving construction material and excavation equipment.
Weapons inspectors can use any means for voice or data transmission including satellite and/or inland networks with or without encryption capability. This would be facilitated by Iraq and "there will be no interference by Iraq" with communications.
Iraq will provide cost-free protection of all surveillance equipment, construct antennae for remote transmission of data and, if requested, Iraq will allocate frequencies for communications equipment.
Weapons inspectors where possible will split any samples taken so that Iraq may receive a portion. "Where appropriate," inspectors will send samples to more than one laboratory for analysis.
The letter also requests a response from Iraq to confirm if the letter is a "correct reflection" of the Vienna talks held on September 30 and October 1.
"Mr. [UNMOVIC chief Hans] Blix intended to put in writing the understandings reach in Vienna and provide them to the council," said U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard. He said some countries had also requested the letter.
In a recent briefing of the U.N. Security Council, Blix and IAEA head Mohamed El-Baradei identified various "loose ends" in their discussions with the Iraqis.
These "loose ends" include the presidential sites agreement; whether Iraqi "minders" need to be present for interviews of Iraqi scientists, experts and others; and security in the no-fly zones.
Blix and El-Baradei recently agreed not to begin inspections until the Security Council has decided on any new resolution on Iraq.
