IAEA Media Advisory

For full coverage, see the pages on IAEA and Iraq.

6 June 2003 -- On 7 June 2003, a team of seven IAEA safeguards inspectors will begin taking an inventory and securing nuclear material at the nuclear material storage site at the Tuwaitha nuclear complex. The nuclear material - 1.8 tonnes of low enriched uranium and 500 tonnes of natural uranium - had been under IAEA seal since 1991. It was last visited by IAEA inspectors in February 2003.

The inspectors arrived in Baghdad, Friday, 6 June, on air transport provided by Coalition Forces from Kuwait City. The mission is expected to take about two weeks.

The inspections are in accordance with Iraq's safeguards agreement with the IAEA pursuant to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and are separate from the IAEA's Security Council mandate.

The inspectors will be reporting directly to IAEA headquarters in Vienna and will not be making any public statements about their findings while in Iraq.

About the IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) serves as the world's foremost intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Established as an autonomous organization under the United Nations (UN) in 1957, the IAEA carries out programmes to maximize the useful contribution of nuclear technology to society while verifying its peaceful use.

Press Contacts

Marc Vidricaire
Director and Spokesperson
Division of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21270
m.vidricaire@iaea.org

Melissa Fleming
Head of Media & Outreach/Spokesperson
Div. of Public Information
[43-1] 2600-21275
[43] 699-165-21275 (mobile)
m.fleming@iaea.org

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information visit the IAEA's Press Section, or call the IAEA's Division of Public Information at (431) 2600-21270.