OPCW Mission in Baghdad Successfully Completed

The OPCW team of experts, which arrived in Baghdad on 14 July to assist the United Nations in the closure of the UNSCOM (BMVC) chemical laboratory, concluded successfully its mission in Iraq and returned to OPCW Headquarters in The Hague today.

The OPCW team comprised Mr Dirk Van Niekerk (South Africa), Mr Serguei Orlov (Russia), Mr Miroslaw Miklasz (Poland) and Ms Hua Li (China).

The mission in Baghdad, which was authorized on humanitarian grounds by the United Nations in order to avoid any possible hazard from the UNSCOM laboratory to the health of the local population and UN staff, lasted twelve days and achieved its objectives.

The terms of reference of the mission included, inter alia, the destruction of the laboratory chemicals and reference standards (calibration samples), the destruction of the mustard gas samples and the closing down of the laboratory in a safe manner.

The OPCW team accomplished its mission in a safe and effective fashion following OPCW standard methods. The following are the main highlights of the mission in Baghdad:

* The team and its equipment arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday, 14 July. The four experts met with UNSG's Special Envoy in Iraq, Mr Prakash Shah, and the Iraqi authorities. On 15 July they also met with the three diplomatic observers from the Chinese, French and Russian Embassy in Baghdad.

*On 18 July, after a number of policy issues were resolved by the UN, the OPCW team made its first entry into the UNSCOM laboratory. No contamination was detected.

* By 19 July, the inventory of the chemical samples had been completed and preparations were made for the destruction of the chemical agent standards and the mustard gas samples in the laboratory.

* From 19 July onwards, following the successful repair of the main fume hood in the laboratory, the OPCW team was largely involved in the destruction of the mustard gas samples, reference standards and laboratory chemicals as well as in over-packing samples taken from Iraqi sites.

* On 22 July, the team finished destroying the 250 ml of mustard gas samples and converted the waste products into a concrete block which also contained the waste produced as a result of the destruction of CW (chemical weapons agent) reference standards. The concrete block has been safely stored at the UN Headquarters in Baghdad.

*On 26 July, the OPCW team in Iraq completed all the tasks with regard to the closure of the BMVC laboratory with the exception of the destruction of seven VX reference standards. The completion of the team's activities was held in abeyance pending a decision by the UN Security Council, on the handling of those seven VX standards.

*On 27 July the OPCW Director-General was informed of the decision taken by the President of the Security Council, that the seven VX standards should be destroyed in accordance with the agreed original mandate for the OPCW team. The OPCW Director-General, in agreement with the UN Secretary-General, instructed the team in Baghdad to proceed accordingly. The team completed its work in about three hours. All electrical equipment was switched off and the laboratory was closed at 2300 hrs Baghdad time.

*The team departed Baghdad early Wednesday morning, 28 July, and arrived in the Hague in the early afternoon of 29 July.

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