CHILE PROVIDES HELICOPTER SUPPORT FOR UN SPECIAL COMMISSION AND I"A IN IRAQ
Press Release
IK/202
CHILE PROVIDES HELICOPTER SUPPORT FOR UN SPECIAL COMMISSION AND IAEA IN IRAQ
19960806 The following was issued today by the Special Commission set up under Security Council resolution 687 (1991), in connection with the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction:The Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations, Juan Somavía, today signed a two-year agreement with the United Nations for the provision of helicopters to support the activities of the Special Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iraq. In the absence of the Executive Chairman, the agreement was signed on behalf of the Special Commission by the Deputy Executive Chairman, Charles Duelfer. Chile will provide five UH-1H helicopters and a 41-man detachment under the command of Comandante Guillermo Navarro of the Chilean Air Force. The detachment is expected to arrive in Iraq on 15 August.
The helicopters will be used in support of the Commission's and Agency's inspection activities in Iraq, transporting inspectors and equipment, as well as providing a platform for aerial inspection work.
As a service to the Commission, the Government of the United States will provide the airlift for the Chilean detachment from Chile to the region. The Chilean detachment of five helicopters, crew and equipment will be transported in one single C5 Aircraft of the United States Air Force.
The Chilean detachment will replace the helicopter unit that has been provided by the Government of Germany for the last five years. The German Army has flown their CH-53G helicopters for more than 4,000 accident-free hours in Iraq; a tribute to their professionalism. The Commission and the IAEA are grateful to the Government of Germany for the helicopter support which represents one of the single largest contributions by a Member State to the work of the Commission and the IAEA.
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