Iraq (Hansard, 30 October 2002)

§ Mr. Cohen
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps are being taken to ensure that communications between weapons inspectors working in Iraq with the United Nations are secure; and if he will make a statement.[77280]

§ Mr. Macshane
It is the responsibility of UNMOVIC to ensure its readiness to operate effectively on the ground in Iraq.
UNMOVIC have told us that they have identified, but not yet procured, a range of new technologies and equipment that should ensure encrypted communications of both voice and data between inspectors in Iraq and the UN offices in New York and Vienna as well as internally within the UN Monitoring Centre in Baghdad.

§ Llew Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the text of the resolution prepared by the United States and United Kingdom for the United Nations Security Council in respect of action to be taken against Iraq to permit international inspectors and to destroy its weapons of mass destruction. [77222]

§ Mr. Macshane
The draft resolution is under discussion at the United Nations Security Council in New York. A copy will be placed in the House Libraries when it has been agreed.

§ Mr. Sheerman
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that weapons inspectors are reintroduced and active in Iraq as soon as is possible.[77509]

§ Mr. Macshane
Discussions on a new Security Council resolution focusing on Iraqi disarmament and the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq are continuing in New York. Planning by the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC and the Director General of the IAEA for their inspection teams to enter Iraq is at an advanced stage, and they expect to be ready to do so soon after the resolution has been adopted.
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