Lessons from UNSCOM and IAEA regarding remote monitoring and air sampling

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:184278

Dupree, S A

In 1991, at the direction of the United Nations Security Council, UNSCOM and IAEA developed plans for On-going Monitoring and Verification (OMV) in Iraq. The plans were accepted by the Security Council and remote monitoring and atmospheric sampling equipment has been installed at selected sites in Iraq. The remote monitoring equipment consists of video cameras and sensors positioned to observe equipment or activities at sites that could be used to support the development or manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, or long-range missiles. The atmospheric sampling equipment provides unattended collection of chemical samples from sites that could be used to support the development or manufacture of chemical weapon agents. To support OMV in Iraq, UNSCOM has established the Baghdad Monitoring and Verification Centre. Imagery from the remote monitoring cameras can be accessed in near-real time from the Centre through RIF communication links with the monitored sites. The OMV program in Iraq has implications for international cooperative monitoring in both global and regional contexts. However, monitoring systems such as those used in Iraq are not sufficient, in and of themselves, to guarantee the absence of prohibited activities. Such systems cannot replace on-site inspections by competent, trained inspectors. However, monitoring similar to that used in Iraq can contribute to openness and confidence building, to the development of mutual trust, and to the improvement of regional stability.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 184278
• Report Number(s): SAND--96-0028C; CONF-960253--1; ON: DE96004580
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

35 ARMS CONTROL
AIR SAMPLERS
CAMERAS
INSPECTION
IRAQ
MISSILES
MONITORING
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
REMOTE VIEWING EQUIPMENT
SECURITY
UNITED NATIONS
VERIFICATION