§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the relationship between the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM's) headquarters in Bahrain and the United States military base there. [HL96]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanHer Majesty's Government are not aware of any connection between the United States military base in Bahrain and the UNSCOM Field Office located there. The Field Office provides logistic support to the Baghdad Monitoring and Verification Centre and is quite independent of the US military base.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, as alleged by the Iraqi Government, the newly formed 16-member team of UNSCOM inspectors includes nine American and five British 14WA officials, and whether (a) they and (b) the United Nations Security Council are content with these proportions. [HL97]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe 16-member team referred to was actually made up of nine Americans, five British, one Australian and one Russian expert. All these personnel were part of a much larger inspection effort involving forty-four UNSCOM personnel from seventeen nations. The composition of UNSCOM teams is a matter for the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM to decide, not Iraq. The Security Council on 14 January expressed its full support for the Executive Chairman.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in its appointments UNSCOM should demonstrate lack of national bias. as well as professionalism. [HL98]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanSelection of personnel is a matter for the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM.