The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
240.
In relation to
Iraq’s biological warfare programme, the JIC noted:
“We do not
believe Iraqi statements that the BW programme has been
destroyed.
Possibly
substantial elements, including some production equipment
and
weaponised
agent, continue to be concealed.”106
241.
The JIC also
stated:
“Iraq has
not yet admitted to work on plague and has played down its success
in
developing
BW aerosol delivery systems.”107
242.
In relation to
chemical warfare, the JIC stated that it doubted whether “all
agents,
munitions,
precursor chemicals and equipment have been accounted
for”.108
243.
The Butler
Report stated that its authors had been informed that the reason
for
the change
in the JIC’s view on Iraq’s biological warfare programme, “in the
apparent
absence of
underpinning reliable intelligence”, was:
“… the
impact of … Kamil’s defection, UNSCOM’s inability to reconcile
Iraqi claims
for
production and destruction, unaccounted-for growth media and a
total lack of
co-operation
from the Iraqis.”109
244.
Following a
series of incidents in which the inspectors were denied
access,
resolution
1060 (1996), adopted on 12 June 1996, deplored Iraq’s refusal
to allow
UNSCOM
access to sites designated for inspections and demanded
“immediate,
unconditional
and unrestricted access to any and all areas, facilities,
equipment, records
and means
of transportation” that UNSCOM wished to inspect.110
245.
After talks in
Baghdad between Mr Ekéus and Mr Aziz, a joint programme
of action
was agreed
on 22 June.111
It included
Iraq’s intention to submit “official declarations
containing
full final and complete disclosures on its proscribed programmes in
the
non-nuclear
areas” before the end of June.
246.
In the joint
statement issued after the agreement, Iraq “undertook to secure
…
immediate,
unconditional and unrestricted access to all sites which the
Commission
106
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
page
48.
107
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
page
135.
108
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
page
47.
109
Review of
Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction [“The
Butler Report”], 14 July 2004, HC 898,
page
48.
110
UN Security
Council resolution 1060 (1996).
111 UN
Security Council, 24 June 1996, ‘Letter dated 24 June
1997 from the Executive Chairman of the
Special
Commission established by the Secretary-General pursuant to
paragraph 9 (b) (i) of Security
Council
resolution 687 (1991) addressed to the President of the Security
Council’ (S/1996/463).
66