Two UN weapons inspectors, at the end of two days of critical disarmament negotiations in Baghdad, say that successes have been achieved in securing Iraq's agreement to cooperate with the inspection program. Hans Blix, head of the UN weapons inspectors, spoke to reporters in the Iraqi capital today, stating that he received documents from Iraq regarding anthrax and other biological and chemical materials, as well as intercontinental missiles. He also mentioned that he was assured Iraq would agree to the extension and expansion of the commission tasked with investigating prohibited weapons. Mr. Blix stated that Iraq would respond this week to his request regarding the authorization of U-2 reconnaissance flights over the country to locate prohibited weapons. Mohamed ElBaradei, Mr. Blix's counterpart in nuclear matters and head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, noted that he has witnessed the beginning of changes in Iraq's cooperation with the UN's disarmament demands and that inspections must continue.
UN Weapons Inspectors: Successes Achieved in Negotiations with Iraq - 2003-02-09
UN weapons inspectors report progress in negotiations with Iraq regarding disarmament and cooperation with inspection programs. Key figures include Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei. This is significant as it reflects Iraq's potential compliance with international demands amidst rising tensions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
UN weapons inspectors reported progress in negotiations with Iraq, indicating that Iraq agreed to cooperate with disarmament inspections and provided documentation on prohibited weapons. This includes discussions on extending inspection powers.
- Iraq provided documents related to anthrax and other biological materials.
- Iraq is considering the authorization of U-2 reconnaissance flights for further inspections.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
In the early 2000s, Iraq was under scrutiny for its alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, leading to intense international negotiations and inspections.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%