Iraq hands over Declaration to UN

Iraq this evening handed over a declaration on the country's weapons programme to the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), according to a UN spokesman.

The declaration, comprised of documents and CD-ROMs, was handed over at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad. "The declaration will be transmitted expeditiously to the United Nations Headquarters in New York and the IAEA Headquarters in Vienna," spokesman Hiro Ueki said in a statement.

Meanwhile, an UNMOVIC team carried out an inspection of the Al-Kudus Company, which is situated in the Iskandariyah area about 50 kilometres south of Baghdad.

"The site and all its key buildings were inspected and the objectives of the visit were successfully achieved," Mr. Ueki reported.

The company, which was formed in September, occupies a site previously intended to house a wind tunnel. Reconstruction of the site for the new research centre supporting military applications is still proceeding.

In addition, IAEA experts conducted an inspection at Shakyli, a warehouse complex adjacent to the Tuwaitha site. "The team inspected the major equipment and material storage areas to assess their current status," Mr. Ueki said, adding that the inventory there will be reconciled with the Agency's database as well as changes described in Iraq's biannual declaration submitted in October.

"The IAEA team was able to carry out all the activities it decided to conduct without delay," Mr. Ueki confirmed.