ABSTRACT
The first IAEA inspection in Iraq dealt with the already known nuclear site of Al-Tuwaitha and has been described as a ‘normal’ IAEA inspection, even if the background was already quite different. Incoming intelligence from defectors had raised the interest of the USA considerably. In April, the US Department of Energy (DOE) had established an internal task force of DOE and contractor personnel to assist the IAEA in inspecting Al-Tuwaitha. Kay, as administrator, had asked them to supply equipment like video recorders and electric generators. At a preliminary meeting with the inspectors on 15 May in Baghdad, deputy foreign minister Riyad Al-Qaysi inquired about the ‘time frame’ of IAEA inspections and criticized a number of provisions in the exchange of letters on privileges and immunities of inspectors which Iraq had not yet formally agreed to. Iraq thought that a number of the aspects of the inspections went well beyond Resolution 687 and should be ‘negotiated not imposed’.
