MOSCOW. Feb 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Chief international weapons inspector Hans Blix is expected to ask the next meeting of the UN Security Council, likely to be held on March 7, to sanction more inspections in Iraq, a Moscow diplomatic source said on Wednesday.
The source was commenting on a meeting of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) that closed in New York on Tuesday. Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov represented Russia at the meeting. Blix heads UNMOVIC.
The meeting "considered and approved a draft quarterly report by Blix to the UN Security Council. That document is oriented toward continuing inspections in Iraq," the source said.
"The report sets forth the latest events and facts confirming that the Iraqi side is cooperating with the international inspectors. At the same time, the document contains a conclusion that, even with the most complete cooperation on the part of Baghdad, considerable time would be needed to clarify all the unresolved points," the source said.
The meeting "also launched a process to compile a list of key disarmament tasks that Iraq is to carry out under Resolution 1284 of the UN Security Council" on UNMOVIC's organization, duties and schedule. "In preliminary terms, Blix's speech at the UN Security Council is planned for March 7, though this date has not been formally agreed on yet," the source said.
According to him, the Council meeting on Iraq scheduled for Saturday would most likely be canceled.