The Chief UN weapons inspectors this afternoon expressed their hope that Iraq is now willing to engage in closer cooperation with the inspection programme and said that while they saw "the beginning of the change of heart on the part of Iraq" this weekend, more was needed.
Chief nuclear inspector Dr Mohamed ElBaradei told a press conference in Baghdad at the end of the 36-hour mission to assess Iraq's compliance with UN disarmament demands that he and Dr Hans Blix had impressed upon the Iraqis the need for "quick progress and drastic change".
Dr ElBaradei said he expected the UN Security Council to give the inspectors more time "as long as we are registering good progress."
"The ball is very much in Iraq's court," Elbardei said.
The chief UN weapons inspector Dr Blix said that Iraq's cooperation on the process of disarmament resolution 1441 had been prompt and practical but said it was less forthcoming on the substance.
"Access [to suspect sites] has been prompt and practical," Dr Blix said adding that while "cooperation on the process has been good" cooperation on the substance of the resolution was "less good".
"We discussed the need for aerial surveillance," Dr Blix added. "The Iraqi side promised to reply before Friday," he said, pointing out that the request covered U-2 flights as well as unmanned German and Russian aircraft.
Dr Blix said they were given a number of "papers relating to high-profile issues" including anthrax, VX and ballistic missiles. He said the documents needed further examination and added that Iraq would form a committee to look for more relevant documents across the country.
"I hope I have seen a beginning of taking these remaining disarmament issues seriously," Dr Blix said. He said the documents would now be submitted to United Nations experts in New York for further analysis.
"I perceive a beginning," Dr Blix said. "Breakthrough is a strong word for what we are seeing" adding that he "would much rather see inspections than some other solution".
Reuters/AFP