UN Team to Begin Inspection in Iraq on Nov. 27: Blix

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 16, 2002

UN Team to Begin Inspection in Iraq on Nov. 27: Blix

United Nations weapons inspection in Iraq is set to begin on Nov. 27 after logistics preparations are made, chief inspector Hans Blix said in New Yorkon Friday.

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United Nations weapons inspection in Iraq is set to begin on Nov. 27 after logistics preparations are made, chief inspector Hans Blix said in New Yorkon Friday.

"We expect that the first inspections will take place on November 27," said Hans Blix, Chairman of UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).

Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-General Mohamed ElBaradei are scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Monday with an advance team to prepare for the inspection process.

Necessary logistics would be installed as the office used by previous inspectors has to set up laboratory equipment, communications and transportation facilities including helicopters,he told a press conference in UN headquarters in New York.

The UN inspection office has remained closed since 1998.

Blix said Iraq is obliged to make a full declaration of its programs of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons and ballisticmissiles by December 8, according to UN Security Council requirements.

"Iraq's declaration is a very important document and we hope they take it seriously," he said, adding that his team would analyze it in comparison with previous data declared by Iraq.

He said the inspectors would not prejudge that Iraq has or hasn't arms of mass destruction and they would not make judgment whether any of their findings constitutes a "material breach," noting that they will report what has happened and leave it to theSecurity Council to make assessment and take the next step.

Iraq on Wednesday accepted the council's resolution 1441 adopted unanimously on Nov. 8, which requires Baghdad to declare its holdings of weapons of mass destruction in one month and the UN inspection team has to report its findings back to the council no later than 60 days.

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