3.6  |  Development of UK strategy and options, November 2002 to January 2003

the first inspections were well under way. Iraq’s tactics appeared to be co‑operation

on practical arrangements but no real change in their approach to giving up their WMD.

143.  Mr Blair agreed with Dr Blix that the preference was Iraqi compliance and that the

“inspections should not be a game of hide and seek”. Mr Blair concluded that “one of the

reasons for a strong multi‑lateral approach on Iraq was to deter others”.

144.  Sir David Manning said that Dr Blix should audit the declaration and be

ready to audit new material supplied by the UK and US. Mr Blair “strongly agreed.

He emphasised that it was important the Iraqis knew that if Blix found their declaration to

be false it would constitute a material breach”. Dr Blix had “agreed”, adding that “denying

access would also be a material breach”.

Security Council, 25 November 2002

145.  Dr Blix provided an informal briefing to the Security Council on 25 November

reporting on his and Dr ElBaradei’s visit to Baghdad from 18 to 19 November.47

They had been assured that Iraq intended to provide full co‑operation. The first group

of UNMOVIC and IAEA inspectors had arrived in Baghdad earlier on 25 November, and

inspections would begin on 27 November, only 19 days after the adoption of resolution

1441. The report to the Security Council specified in OP5 would, therefore, be due on

27 January 2003.

146.  Dr Blix reported that he had told Iraq that “many governments believed that

WMD programmes remained in Iraq”; and that “The Council had wanted to offer Iraq

a last opportunity. If the Iraqi side were to state – as it still did at our meeting – that

there were no such programmes, it would need to provide convincing documentary

or other evidence.” The FFCDs (Full, Final, and Complete Declarations) submitted

by Iraq to UNSCOM had, “in many cases left it an open question whether some

weapons remained”.

147.  Dr Blix also reported that he had been assured by:

• Mr Dominique de Villepin, the French Foreign Minister, of “firm French support

for the implementation stage”; and

• Mr Blair that the UK Government would provide “support for effective

inspections” and that it was determined to “ensure the implementation of

resolution 1441 … and the elimination of WMDs and long‑range missiles

from Iraq”.

47  UNMOVIC, Briefing of the Security Council on 25 November 2002, Executive Chairman’s visit

to Baghdad.

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