STATEMENT TO PRESS ON IRAQ INSPECTIONS BY SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT

Following is the statement on the Iraq inspections made today to the press by Security Council President Alfonso Valdivieso (Colombia):

Members of the Security Council received a briefing regarding inspections in Iraq and a preliminary assessment of Iraq’s declaration under paragraph 3 of resolution 1441 (2002) from Hans Blix, Executive Chairman of the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), and Mohamed

El Baradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Members of the Security Council took note of the contents of this briefing, and expressed their intention of having a further discussion early in January 2003 after all members of the Council finish their own analytical work of the Iraqi declaration, and to hold more regular briefings from UNMOVIC and the IAEA.

Members of the Security Council reiterated their support to UNMOVIC and the IAEA in the implementation of resolution 1441 (2002).

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