Nearly half a million liters of chemical warfare agents destroyed in two-year operation.

• Position: Iraq

The UN Special Commission on Iraqi disarmament, set up under Security Council resolution 687 (1991) concerning the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, reported that it had completed in June an important part of its mandate--the elimination of that country's declared chemical weapons stockpile.

In a two-year operation involving some 100 experts from 23 countries, the Commission oversaw the destruction of more than 480,000 litres of chemical warfare agents, including mustard agent and the nerve agents sarin and tabun, and over 28,000 chemical munitions, involving eight types of munitions ranging from rockets and artillery shells to bombs and ballistic missile warheads. it also destroyed nearly 1.8 million litres, over 1.04 million kilograms and 648 barrels of some 45 different precursor chemicals for the production of chemical warfare agents.

Two inspection teams had been deployed to Iraq between 31 May and 14 June to confirm that the destruction of declared chemical warfare agents at Al Muthanna was complete and that those areas used for destruction had been left in a safe and acceptable manner. At the end of the inspection activities, responsibility for the site had been formally handed back to the Iraqi authorities. The Commission would, however, continue to visit the site as part of its ongoing monitoring and verification activities under Council resolution 715 (1991).

High-level talks

Rolf Ekeus, Executive Chairman of the Special Commission, in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of high-level talks held in Baghdad from 24 to 26 April, reported (S/1994/520) that issues relating to the implementation of relevant Council resolutions had been discussed.

The two sides reviewed the considerable progress made since the last round of high-level talks in New York from 14 to 19 March, and noted that many actions had been undertaken, including inspections to establish the baseline for, and phase in, ongoing monitoring and verification.

In conducting the intensive inspections, the Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed their appreciation for Iraq's expeditious and positive responses to their requests for assistance and support. This enabled them to conduct inspections efficiently and effectively, and had contributed significanfly to the ongoing monitoring and verification.

Iraq made assurances that it would respect the rights and privileges of the Commission and the IAEA which, in turn, reiterated...