4 December 1997
PR 97/39

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY INSPECTION WORK IN IRAQ

Director General Mohamed Elbaradei of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today informed the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, that in the nuclear field it is highly unlikely that any proscribed activities occurred and that no relevant materials or equipment were diverted during the 23 day period of absence of IAEA inspectors from Iraq (October 29 to November 20).

Since returning to Iraq on November 21, IAEA inspectors have carried out more than 40 inspections to restore the technical basis for the IAEA's ongoing monitoring and verification activities in Iraq.

The Director General also informed Mr. Annan that an IAEA team intends to visit Iraq in the week of December 15 to clarify a number of outstanding matters mentioned in the Agency's last report to the Security Council.

The Agency believes resolution of these matters would provide further assurance that its technically coherent picture of Iraq's clandestine nuclear programme is comprehensive and that there are no activities outside this picture. It would also permit the IAEA to tailor its ongoing monitoring and verification activities appropriately.