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UN arms inspection team to comprise 17 nationalities
Vienna, Sept 20: The United Nations weapons inspection team which the UN Security Council may authorise to travel to Iraq is to comprise 17 nationalities, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
Vienna, Sept 20: The United Nations weapons inspection team which the UN Security Council may authorise to
travel to Iraq is to comprise 17 nationalities, the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today.
"Seventeen nationalities will be represented, including one Egyptian and two Austrians who are of Arab origin and speak Arabic," said Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN's Vienna-based nuclear agency. Iraq on Monday agreed to readmit UN arms inspectors, four years after they pulled out of the country.
The UN Security Council has yet to give the green light to their return. The United States and Britain, both permanent members of the Security Council, are calling first for a new tough UN resolution that spells out the consequences of Iraq's failure to comply with UN disarmament demands.
If weapons inspectors are authorised to return, the IAEA will be charged with monitoring Iraq to detect if it is developing nuclear weapons. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), has been mandated to seek out chemical and biological weapons alongside the IAEA.
Both report to the Security Council.
If the council agrees to the inspectors' return, preparation for the mission will begin in early October, with technical discussions between UNMOVIC, IAEA and Iraqi officials. Bureau Report
"Seventeen nationalities will be represented, including one Egyptian and two Austrians who are of Arab origin and speak Arabic," said Melissa Fleming, spokeswoman for the UN's Vienna-based nuclear agency. Iraq on Monday agreed to readmit UN arms inspectors, four years after they pulled out of the country.
The UN Security Council has yet to give the green light to their return. The United States and Britain, both permanent members of the Security Council, are calling first for a new tough UN resolution that spells out the consequences of Iraq's failure to comply with UN disarmament demands.
If weapons inspectors are authorised to return, the IAEA will be charged with monitoring Iraq to detect if it is developing nuclear weapons. The UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), has been mandated to seek out chemical and biological weapons alongside the IAEA.
Both report to the Security Council.
If the council agrees to the inspectors' return, preparation for the mission will begin in early October, with technical discussions between UNMOVIC, IAEA and Iraqi officials. Bureau Report