He also reported that the Iraqi delegation had handed over four CD-ROMs containing the backlog of semi-annual monitoring declarations for the sites and items covered by the ongoing monitoring and verification plans for June 1998 to July 2002.
Asked if he was afraid that resumed inspections would suffer the same failures of the past, Mr. Blix disputed the premise of the question.
"Everybody recognizes that under the old inspection regime, more weapons of mass destruction were destroyed than during the Gulf War."
Asked if he was afraid that resumed inspections would suffer the same failures of the past, Mr. Blix disputed the premise of the question.
"Everybody recognizes that under the old inspection regime, more weapons of mass destruction were destroyed than during the Gulf War."
At the same time, he acknowledged "severe shortcomings" and said doubts persisted about whether Iraq still retained weapons of mass destruction.
Mohammed El Baradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) added that the IAEA and UNMOVIC now had assurances from the Iraqi side of unconditional access to all sites in Iraq, with the exception of the presidential sites.
"That of course has to be tested when we go back to Iraq," he said.
Mohammed El Baradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) added that the IAEA and UNMOVIC now had assurances from the Iraqi side of unconditional access to all sites in Iraq, with the exception of the presidential sites.
"That of course has to be tested when we go back to Iraq," he said.
Please continue for a link to Mr. Blix's Statement.