United Nations Weapons Inspectorate for Iraq
The IAEA and UNMOVIC Operate With Distinct Mandates
Under the relevant Security Council Resolutions UNMOVIC and the IAEA have distinct and different mandates. Although they are separate inspection teams, the two organizations work closely together particularly in making use of UNMOVIC's logistical arrangements. UNMOVIC is responsible for the chemical, biological and missile files, while the IAEA is responsible for the nuclear file.
NUCLEAR FILE
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Director General: Mohamed ElBaradei
The IAEA was established in 1957 as the UN agency responsible for the peaceful uses of atomic energy. Through its "Safeguards" activities the IAEA serves as the world's Nuclear inspectorate, verifying that "peaceful use" commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and similar agreements are kept. After the Gulf War, the IAEA was given special mandates by the UN Security Council. Under the latest Security Council Resolution, the IAEA has been assigned new responsibilities, which are being carried out through the IAEA's Iraq Nuclear Verification Office (INVO), which effective December 2002 is the new name for the former IAEA Iraq Action Team.
CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, MISSILE FILES
UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)
Executive Chariman: Dr. Hans Blix
UNMOVIC was created in 1999 by the Security Council under Resolution 1284. UNMOVIC replaced the former UN Special Commission (UNSCOM), established after the Gulf War..
Mandates: Under UNSC Resolution 1441 (2002):
- Security Council resolution 1441 provides clear mandates for the IAEA and UNMOVIC in Iraq, with full and explicit authority for unrestricted inspections. It demands that Iraq "cooperate immediately, unconditionally, and actively" with the IAEA and UNMOVIC. Inspectors are to granted "immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access to any and all" sites and facilities they wish to inspect; as well as "immediate, unimpeded, unrestricted, and private access" to all officials and other persons they wish to interview.
- The IAEA and UNMOVIC are to report immediately to the Council "any interference by Iraq with inspection activities, as well as any failure by Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations". In that event, the Council would "convene immediately...to consider the situation and the need for full compliance with all of the relevant Council resolutions in order to secure international peace and security".
- Iraq is to provide to the IAEA, UNMOVIC and Security Council a "currently accurate, full, and complete declaration of all aspects of its programmes to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems".
For more information, see:
. IAEA and Iraq: Next Steps
. UNMOVIC