2000
Iraq pursues an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program. US surveillance aircraft document a new series of aerial tests involving L-29s in Iraq. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) suspects that Iraq has modified these refurbished trainer aircraft for delivery of chemical or, more likely, biological warfare agents. [NOTE: See 17 December1998 and 1995.]
--Jody Warrick, "Uncertain Ability to Deliver a Blow; Iraq Cobbles Together Weapons System with Mixed Results, Analysts Say," The Washington Post, 5 September 2002, p. A1, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/>; Central Intelligence Agency, "Unclassified Report to Congress on the Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions, 1 January Through 30 June 2001," <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/bian/bian_jan_2003.htm/>.

2000
The port of Odessa in Ukraine is a main hub in smuggling operations involving weapons and other forbidden items in transit to Iraq. It is reported that Ukrainians at the port dismantle the smuggled items then store them in boxes hidden amidst regular cargo destined for shipment to countries near Iraq. From there, the illegal cargo is transported by land or sea to Iraq, where officers and engineers in the Military Industrialization Body, supervised by Russian and Ukrainian experts, reassemble the goods. [NOTE: The ships engaged in these smuggling operations are owned reportedly by the Russian and Ukrainian mafia. In addition, Ukrainian arms dealer Lee Alexander Jikiyof plays an important role in these transactions.]
--"Smuggling of Russian Missiles, Military Equipment and Weapons to Iraq; Baghdad Intelligence Controls the Ukrainian Port of Odessa," Al-Mutamar, 7 September 2001.

2000-2001
Iraq and Ukraine exchange visits by delegations from their respective governments. Iraq allegedly seeks missile parts, particularly missile guidance systems, from Ukraine during these meetings.
--Zerkalo Nedeli (Kiev) in Russian, 15 December 2001, in "Ukraine: Paper Analyses Signs of Ukrainian-Iraqi Rapprochement," FBIS Document CEP20011223000042, 15 December 2001.

2000
Belarus reportedly supplies Iraq with $7.8 million worth of tires, tractors, trailers, and automotive parts. Belarus plans to increase the amount of its exports to Iraq to $35 million in 2001.
--"Iraqi Industry Minister Holds Talks in Belarus, Week after He Was Reported Dead," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 31 March 2001, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

January-April 2000
Saddam Hussein holds several meetings with various military industry experts.
--Ali Abd-al-Amir, "Iraqi Engineer Reveals the Regime's Resumption of Military Industrialization," Al-Hayah (London) in Arabic, 25 April 2000, p. 8, in "Iraqi Resumption of Arms Program Viewed," FBIS Document GMP20000425000205, 25 April 2000.

13 January 2000
US warplanes attack an Iraqi air-defense system in response to artillery fired at the planes during patrols over the northern no-fly zone.
--"U.S. Fighter Planes Bomb Iraqi Air Defense System," Associated Press, 13 January 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

21-24 January 2000
A group of Iraqi military officers are accused of smuggling artillery shells and missile capsules from the Hutin Establishment in Baghdad. The Iraqi Special Security apparatus, controlled by President Saddam Hussein's son Qusay, responds with a series of arrests at this establishment. According to Iraqi sources, the arrests and interrogations focus on 15 officers and 130 technicians and engineers. The investigation is supervised by the Special Security apparatus, along with officials from the president's office, the Military Industrialization Establishment, and General Intelligence.
--Shimal 'Aqrawi, Saman Nuh, and Nidal al-Laythi, "The Headquarters of the Islamic Unity Movement Blown up in Arbil. Baghdad Arrests 15 Officers and 130 Technicians Accused of Stealing Military Equipment," Al-Zaman (London) in Arabic, 26 January 2000, p. 1, in "Iraqi Army Officers Arrested after Blast, Arms Theft," FBIS Document FTS20000126001034, 26 January 2000.

February 2000
A high-ranking Belarusian delegation visits Baghdad. Belarus signs a $90 million deal to upgrade Saddam Hussein's air-defense system, re-equip the Iraqi air force, and provide air-defense training for Iraqi troops.
--Douglas Davis, "Russia to Upgrade Iraqi Air-Defense System," Jerusalem Post (Internet), 17 April 2000, <http://www.jpost.com/>; Con Coughlin, "Russia Brokers Arms Deal to Rebuild Iraq's Air Defences," Telegraph (Internet), 16 April 2000, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk>.

February 2000
The Yugoslav company Yugoimport allegedly establishes contacts with the Iraqi firm, Al Fatah Company, regarding development of a cruise missile program.
--"Supplier: Yugoimport, Al Fatah Company, Infinity, Brunner, GVS, Temex and Interdeal," in Iraq Watch Iraq Supplier Database, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, <http://www.iraqwatch.org/>.

1 February 2000
A delegation of aircraft manufacturers from Russia's Altai territory in Siberia goes to Iraq. The group includes Ivan Komarov, the general-director of the Altai aircraft manufacturing enterprise, and experts from the state enterprise Goskonsim. The goal of their visit is to finalize a contract for the repair and replacement of equipment at a steel mill in Iraq. Komarov tells journalists, "The company management hopes that the delegation will develop relations with Iraqi partners which were established during the first visit of an Altai delegation to Iraq at the end of October 2000."
--Interfax (Moscow) in English, 1 February 2001, in "Delegation of Russian Aircraft-Builders Goes to Iraq," FBIS Document CEP20010201000401, 1 February 2001.

1 February 2000
US Department of Defense (DOD) spokesman Kenneth Bacon says that given the difficulty and expense of procuring materials under sanctions, it would be hard for Iraq to rebuild machinery, such as sophisticated metal presses in its missile manufacturing and repair facilities.
--Kenneth H. Bacon, "DoD News Briefing," U.S. Department of Defense, 1 February 2000.

2 February 2000
At a meeting of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, CIA Director George J. Tenet states that over the next 15 years, cities in the United States will face ballistic missile threats from a wider variety of actors including North Korea, probably Iran, and possibly Iraq. Tenet also says that given the continuation of Iraqi missile development efforts, the CIA believes Iraq could develop an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) sometime in the next decade, especially if Iraq is provided with foreign assistance. In addition, Tenet names Iraq as a country that currently imports missile-related technology and that may emerge in the next few years as a supplier of such technology.
--George J. Tenet, "Statement by Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on the Worldwide Threat in 2000: Global Realities of Our National Security," Central Intelligence Agency, 2 February 2000.

9 February 2000
US and British aircraft retaliate against Iraqi anti-aircraft fire by striking sites in northern Iraq, including missile installations, military radar systems, and anti-aircraft artillery positions.
--"U.S. Warplanes Hit Iraq again in Northern Zone," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 10 February 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

10 February 2000
US warplanes strike an Iraqi military site in the northern no-fly zone.
--"U.S. Warplanes Hit Iraq Again in Northern Zone," Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 10 February 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13-19 February 2000
A group of North Korean technical experts arrive in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The North Koreans allegedly work on building a ballistic missile plant near Khartoum, using $475 million in Iraqi financing. When complete, this facility will enable Iraq to refurbish old missiles as well as build new, longer range missiles. [NOTE: See 1998.]
--William Safire, "Essay; Saddam's Sudan?" The New York Times, 23 March 2000, p. 27; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

13-19 February 2000
An Iraqi army defector claims that Saddam Hussein has continued a chemical weapons program since UN inspectors left Iraq a year ago. He claims that his special security unit delivered warheads to a secret missile launch site where they were loaded with chemicals, then returned to their hiding place in the Baghdad area. [NOTE: This defector has served in the Iraq Army for two decades. Until his defection, he worked in Amn al-Khas, Saddam's special security organization. The defector's unit had been trained since 1990, he says, to guard the hidden sites of the warheads and ballistic missiles and to deliver the warheads to launch sites. Military sources believe Saddam has rebuilt hundreds of military and industrial sites bombed in 1998.]
--Marie Colvin and Uzi Mahnaimi, "Saddam's Elite Troops Prime Poision Missiles," The Sunday Times (London), 20 February 2000.

21-26 February 2000
The first session of the Belarusian-Iraqi Cooperation Commission takes place in Baghdad. Hikmat al-Azzawi leads the Iraqi delegation, and Deputy Prime Minister Uladzimir Zamyatalin represents Belarus. They sign an agreement to provide Iraq with 150 trucks and 10,000 tires produced at the Minsk Automobile Factory, as allowed under the United Nations oil-for-food program in Baghdad. They also sign 16 other contracts wherein Zamyatalin agrees to provide Iraq with products from the Minsk Tractor Works, the Minsk Automobile Factory, the Mahilyow Automobile Factory, the Babruysk-based tire maker named Belshyna, as well as Homel's Homselmash agricultural equipment factory. [NOTE: Zamyatalin meets with Saddam Hussein, and holds talks with Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. He also meets with Iraqi ministers of trade, foreign affairs, oil, industry and mineral resources, transport and communications, agriculture, construction, higher education and scientific research, defense industry, and power industry.]
--Belapan (Minsk) in English, 3 March 2000, in "Belarus to Deliver Automobile Industry Products to Iraq," FBIS Document CEP20000303000054, 3 March 2000.

23 February 2000
German chancellery head Frank-Walter Steinmeier submits a report to the German cabinet that has been prepared by the German foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND). The report says that within five years, Iraq will possess missiles with a range of 3,000km and the capacity to hit targets in western Europe. The report also notes that the Iraqis purchase important components for both missiles and weapons factories through subcontractors and mock companies in Germany. The BND believes that Iraq produces ammonium perchlorate, a key ingredient in solid fuel propellant for long-range missiles. In addition, the BND claims that Saddam has accelerated programs to develop a new solid fueled short-range missile called the Ababil-100 and to improve the accuracy of "a small, covert force of Scud missiles like those used in the Gulf War."
--"German Assessment: Iraqi missiles will reach Europe by 2005," Deutsche Presse Agentur (Berlin), 23 February 2000; Josef Hufelschulte, "German Helpers," Focus (Munich) in German, 28 February 2000, pp. 44-46, in "Embargo Violations Reportedly Insufficiently Prosecuted," FBIS Document EUP20000229000402, 28 February 2000; Stefan Kornelius, "Everybody Is Building Missiles--BND sees Europe Endangered By Iraq's and Iran's Arms Projects," Sueddeutsche Zeitung (Internet Version) (Munich) in German, 24 February 2000, in "BND Report Views Iran, Iraq Missile Threat," FBIS Document EUP20000223000461, 24 February 2000; "Saddam Close to Building N-missile; German Report Claims Iraq Has Speeded Up Secret Program," The Herald (Glasgow), p. 2.

24 February 2000
Uzi Rubin, a member of the Israeli National Security Council and former head of Israel's Homa anti-missile defense program, tells the Israel Annual Conference on Aerospace Sciences that Saddam Hussein's regime has managed to conceal 50 Al-Hussein missiles. He says, "There is a shortfall of about 50 missiles which are probably stashed somewhere--Scud derivatives," that can be deployed on short notice. He further points out that Iraq's defense industry develops ground-to-ground missiles with a range of 150km, and he claims that once UN sanctions are lifted, Baghdad will resume developing missiles with an even greater range.
--Middle East Newsline (Jerusalem) E-mail-Text in English, 25 February 2000, in "Israel: More on Warnings of Arab Missile Capabilities," FBIS Document GMP20000225000110, 25 February 2000.

24 February 2000
A BND intelligence assessment concludes that Germany is the hub of Iraq's secret weapons procurement activities. Iraq allegedly favors Germany as a prime source for so-called dual-use equipment with both military and civilian applications. Such equipment includes lathes, steel rolling machinery and presses, which are ideal for production of equipment ranging from cannons to missile firings.
--Friedrich Kuhn, "News Feature: Intelligence Report Says Iraq Could Nuke Neighbors," Deutsche Press-Agentur, 24 February 2000.

27 February-4 March 2000
Iraqi and North Korean officials allegedly meet in Khartoum to discuss plans related to missile factory construction in Sudan. [NOTE: See 1998 and 13-19 February 2000.]
--"Iraq Rumored to Build Missile Factory in Sudan," IPR Strategic Business Information Database, 2 April 2000.

1 March 2000
The US Department of Defense (DOD) says there is no hard evidence to prove that Iraq has been able to rebuild its weapons of mass destruction. A DOD spokesman also says that since the United States destroyed some of Iraq's machinery such as "very large sophisticated metal presses," it would be difficult, if not impossible, for Iraq to replace or rebuild its weapons programs while under economic sanctions.
--"Iraq is Rebuilding Its Missile Facilities," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 March 2000.

March 2000
Industry and Minerals Minister 'Adnan 'Abd-al-Majid says that his ministry has organized five specialized symposiums designed to activate the private sector and rehabilitate non-operational factories in various fields. Al-Majid says that the five symposiums include two for automobile industry workers, two for pharmaceutical sector workers, and one for mechanical industries workers, particularly those involved in the manufacture of irrigation sprinkler systems. Al-Majid also says that the Iraqi government prepares workshops at the State Mechanical Industries Company so as to encourage private sector assistance in increasing sprinkler irrigation system production. 'Abd-al-Rahman al-'Azzawi, director-general of the Automobiles Manufacturing Company, says, "The company has created 26 investment opportunities for the private sector in the areas of manufacturing glass, seats, silencers, hydraulic systems, and presses."
--"Industry Minister, Other Officials Cited on Efforts to Activate Private Sector," Al-Thawrah (Baghdad) in Arabic, 13 March 2000, p. 5.

March 2000
Husayn 'Ali al-Ni'mah, the director-general of the Iraqi State Construction Industries Company, reveals that his company is able to manufacture high-density polyethylene pipes in 75 and 50mm diameters. He claims that the company relies on local materials produced by the State Petrochemical Industries Company in Al-Basrah.
--Al-I'lam (Baghdad) in Arabic, "Construction Industries Company Produces New Type of Pipes," 15 March 2000, p. 2, in "Iraqi Economic Media Report: 11-19 Mar," FBIS Document GMP20000325000150, 26 March 2000.

April 2000
Iraqi Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad visits Moscow to make a deal with Russian companies for the construction of ballistic missile facilities in Iraq.
--Michael Evans, "Saddam Seeks Russian Missile Deal," The Times (London), 14 August 2000.

16 April 2000
Sultan Hashim Ahmad and a group of high ranking Iraqi military officials meet with Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev in Moscow.
--"Iraqi Defense Minister has Visited Moscow," Interfax, 16 April 2000; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

11 May 2000
Iraq's chief of air defenses, General Shahin Yassin, says that Baghdad has managed to neutralize the US anti-radar AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM). However, the United States denies the general's claim, saying Iraq has not even turned on its radar, much less tested any new anti-HARM technology.
--"Saddam Orders Air Defenses to Step up Efforts to Shoot down US Planes," Agence France Presse, 19 June 2000; Leon Barkho, "Iraq Claims It can Mislead HARM Missiles Fired by U.S., British Planes," Associated Press Worldstream, 11 May 2000.

24 May 2000
Former UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler says that in the absence of inspectors, Iraq has increased the range of its missiles to 600km. Butler says that he had "seen evidence they [the Iraqis] have been attempting to procure missile manufacturing equipment from the West through front companies."
--Ewen MacAskill, "Iraqi Nerve Gas 'Could Paralyze Western Cities,'" The Guardian (London), 24 May 2000, p. 17, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

June 2000
Saddam Hussein orders his air-defense units to make greater efforts to shoot down US warplanes patrolling Iraqi airspace.
--"Saddam Orders Air Defences to Step up Efforts to Shoot down US Planes," Agence France Presse, 19 June 2000.

26 June 2000
US General Anthony Zinni says, "What [Saddam Hussein] learns from these [missile] tests, the technological developments and the other things he picks up, are transferable to longer-range missiles...."
--Steven Lee Myers, "Flight Tests Show Iraq Has Resumed a Missile Program," The New York Times, 1 July 2000, p. 1.

26 June 2000
Iraq conducts a test on the 150-km-range Al-Samoud liquid fueled surface-to-surface missile (SSM), which is capable of carrying conventional, chemical and biological warheads. The test indicates that Iraq has rebuilt the missile production facilities destroyed by US-British strikes in 1998. This missile program also is allegedly at the center of a secret agreement between Iraq and Yugoslavia.
--David C. Isby, "Iraq continues tests of Al Samoud SSM," Jane's Missiles and Rockets, 1 August 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

27-30 June 2000
US officials believe that the new missile Iraq tested on 26 June is ready for deployment. They also conclude that Iraq has significant problems with the missile, particularly concerning guidance and engines. A senior Clinton administration official says, "The US government isn't particularly concerned by this week's test because it is legal, because it has happened before, because it appears to be a technical test of the rocket, rather than of a warhead, and because there is no indication that Iraq tries to put chemical or biological warheads atop the test missiles." However, US military officials view the testing as evidence that Iraq continues to pursue refinement of its ballistic missile technology, which could also be adapted to longer range missile programs.
--Steven Lee Myers, "Flight Tests Show Iraq Has Resumed a Missile Program," The New York Times, 1 July 2000, p. 1, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>; Thomas E. Ricks, "Iraq tests Short-Range Missile: U.S. Monitors Flight and Says It Doesn't Violate U.N. Restrictions," The Washington Post, 1 July 2000, p. A10.

28 June-3 July 2000
A Serbian Science and Technology Ministry delegation led by Minister Branislav Ivkovic visits Iraq. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz receives the delegation and says that cooperation in science and technology sectors is in the mutual interest of both countries, including in terms of their comprehensive development and preservation of their sovereignty.
--"Serbian Science and Technology ministry Delegation Ends Visit to Iraq," Belgrade Tanjug in English, 3 July 2000, in FBIS Document EUP20000703000134, 3 July 2000.

July 2000
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport in Baghdad submits proposals to the Export Promotion Bureau of Pakistan by way of the Pakistani embassy in Baghdad, for the supply to Iraq of items including welding machines, air-compressors battery chargers, washing machines for buses, dump trucks, engine dynamometers, stationary and mobile generators, mobile workshops, truck-tractors, off-set machines, and high speed cutting machines.
--"Iraq Tenders for Supply of Pakistan Goods," Asia Pulse, 12 July 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

July 2000
Former UNSCOM inspector Scott Ritter says that he believes Iraq has been free of all weapons of mass destruction since 1997.
--Ian Brodie, "Saddam 'Has No Missiles Left,'" The Times (London), 4 July 2000, <http://www.the-Times.co.uk/>.

2 July 2000
Representatives at the Iraqi-Yugoslav joint committee for Economic, Scientific-Technical and Trade Cooperation sign a trade protocol. Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh says that the protocol outlines terms by which Iraq will import a wide array of food, agricultural equipment, trucks, and other vehicles. According to Western sources, the two countries also sign a military agreement on the periphery of the trade protocol. This military pact guarantees Belgrade's support to Iraq in the manufacture of the Al-Samoud missile.
--"Program Summary: Belgrade Radio," Belgrade Radio Beograd in Serbo-Croatian, 2 July 2000, in FBIS Document EUP20000702000030, 2 July 2000; "FRY, Iraqi Trade Delegations Agree to Boost Cooperation Despite Sanctions," Belgrade BETA in Serbo-Croatian, 2 July 2000, in FBIS Document EUP2000070200071; Nur-al-Din Salih, "Secret Military Cooperation Agreement Between Baghdad and Belgrade," Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London) in Arabic, 5 July 2000, p. 1, in FBIS Document GMP20000705000087, 5 July 2000.

16-18 July 2000
The second session of the Belarusian-Iraqi Cooperation Commission takes place in Minsk. The Iraqi delegation, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Hikmat al-Azzawi, stays in Minsk from 15 July through 20 July. The commission's main task is to launch a common market between the two countries and move towards enhancement of various aspects of their cooperation without the employ of brokers. The representatives of the two countries sign a protocol specifying their main areas for trade and economic cooperation. The Iraqi delegation visits the Atlant refrigerator plant, the Belbiofarm pharmaceutical firm, and the car and tractor plants in Minsk.
--Aleksandr Reutov, "Iraq and Belarus Find Each Other," Kommersant (Moscow) in Russian, 19 July 2000, in "Iraqis Said in Market for Belarusian Military Spares, Optics," FBIS Document CEP20000719000165, 19 July 2000; "Belarus, Iraq Sign Protocol on Cooperation," BBC Worldwide Monitoring, 22 July 2000, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://web.lexis-nexis.com/>.

19 July 2000
Iraq fires a surface-to-air missile (SAM) into Kuwaiti airspace.
--"Iraq Fires Missile into Kuwaiti Airspace," CNN.com, 20 July 2000, <http://www.cnn.com/>.

27 July 2000
The US Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses releases an information paper regarding Iraq's Scud ballistic missiles. The paper says that Iraq launched more than 90 short-range ballistic missiles during the 1990 Gulf War. It reports that some veterans believe Iraq launched more Scuds at coalition forces than actually stated. The paper also states that the Scuds either broke up upon re-entry or after Patriot missile intercepts.
--US Department of Defense, "New Information Paper Examines Iraq's Use of Scud Ballistic Missiles during Gulf War," 27 July 2000.

August 2000
Ahmed Nazim, the Iraqi Charge D'Affaires in Moscow, denies allegations by Western sources that Baghdad and Moscow are involved in secret discussions regarding construction of a plant to produce ballistic missile components in Iraq. [NOTE: The Foreign Ministry of Russia has also officially refuted this information.]
--"Western Reports about Secret Russian-Iraqi Talks Denied," Interfax, 15 August 2000.

August 2000
Iraq attempts to import missile parts, including navigation instruments, from the former Soviet Union and North Korea. Its attempts have been unsuccessful thus far.
--Einar Koch, "Detected by the BND: Saddam Husayn's Secret Missile Factory," Bild (Hamburg) in German, p. 2, in "Germany's BND Detects Saddam Husayn's 'Secret Missile Factory'" FBIS Document EUP20000825000015, 25 August 2000.

August 2000
Western intelligence sources allege that Iraq secretly negotiates with Russian companies in an effort to establish a factory for production of key ballistic missile components. The latest meetings between the two countries reportedly have focused on constructing a plant for the production of gyroscopes for long-range ballistic missiles. Intelligence reports say the proposed factory is expected to be built south of Baghdad at a cost of 10 million pounds and may be completed by 2001. The Ministry for Military Industry reportedly plays a primary role in negotiating this deal.
--Michael Evans, "Saddam Seeks Russian Missile Deal," The Times (London), 14 August 2000.

11 August 2000
According to Ha'aretz, Saddam Hussein withdraws his pre-authorization for district commanders to fire Scud missiles armed with chemical warheads in the event that communication with Baghdad is disrupted.
--Amos Har'el, "Saddam Returns to Himself Power To Operate Chemical Weapons," Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv) in Hebrew, 11 August 2000, p. A3, in "Saddam Said Assumes Power to Operate Chemical Weapons," FBIS Document GMP20000811000129, 11 August 2000.

25 August 2000
A spokeswoman for the German foreign intelligence agency BND confirms a Bild Zeitung report that approximately 250 technicians work at the Iraqi Al-Mamoun plant in the production of a solid fueled short-range missile called the Ababil-100. The BND also concludes that Saddam Hussein has instructed work to continue on studies and blueprints for missiles with a range of up to 3,000km. [NOTE: Iraqi officials did not deny the contents of the Bild Zeitung article, but countered that it was an attempt to divert attention from the more important issue of economic sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.]
--John Hooper, "Saddam Building Missiles," The Guardian (London), 26 August 2000, p. 18; Einar Koch, "Detected by the BND: Saddam Husayn's Secret Missile Factory," Bild (Hamburg) in German, p. 2, in "Germany's BND Detects Saddam Husayn's 'Secret Missile Factory'" FBIS Document EUP20000825000015, 25 August 2000.

September 2000
Representatives of the Minsk Tractor Works of Belarus (MTW) visit an idle manufacturing site in Iraq. They bring with them a list of equipment that must be obtained to restore operations at the site. [NOTE: This site has been frozen since economic sanctions were imposed against Iraq in the early 1990s.]
--Belorusskaya Delovaya Gazeta (Minsk) in Russian, 19 April 2001, in "Belarus Holds Talks to Assemble Tractors in Iraq," FBIS Document CEP20010419000347, 19 April 2001.

3 September 2000
The Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals decides to rehabilitate dozens of factories, including plastic industries destroyed or damaged during the Gulf War. The ministry also publicizes plans to develop glass, ceramics, and electrical industries.
--Yunus Hasan al-Samarrai, "Fertilizer Industry Developed," Al-Thawrah (Baghdad) in Arabic, 03 September 2000, in FBIS Document GMP20000920000115, 20 September 2000.

28 September 2000
Baghdad Al-Thawrah disputes the validity of a statement, cited by Reuters, which quotes a diplomat as saying, "[T]he Iraqi air defense recently fired new surface-to-air missiles that demonstrated a new ability to resist US and British aircraft." Baghdad Al-Thawrah also maintains that under the more than a decade-long embargo, it is impossible Iraq could have replenished its armament with new items, particularly air-defense equipment. Instead, the publication ascribes recent Iraqi air-defense developments to improvements in mobilization-based applications and unconventional action plans.
--Mundhir Abd-al-Rahman Ibrahim, "Following Up on the Iraqi Air Defense's New Sources of Power," Al-Thawrah (Baghdad) in Arabic, 28 September 2000; in "General on Iraq's 'New Ability' in Air Defense Techniques," FBIS Document GMP20000928000082, 28 September 2000.

September-December 2000
According to a secret Defense Intelligence Agency report, as many as 4,000 Sony PlayStations are purchased in the United States and shipped to Iraq. The report says that bundled PlayStation computers could be used to calculate ballistic data for long-range missiles.
--Joseph Farah, "Why Iraq's Buying up Sony PlayStation 2s; Intelligence Experts Fear Games Bundled for Military Applications," WorldNetDaily.com, 19 December 2000, <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/>.

Late October 2000
A delegation comprised of aircraft manufacturers from Russia's Altai territory in Siberia travels to Iraq to establish relations.
--Interfax (Moscow) in English, 1 February 2001, in "Delegation of Russian Aircraft-Builders Goes to Iraq," FBIS Document CEP20010201000401, 1 February 2001.

October-November 2000
According to an official publication of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), a Russian delegation visits Baghdad and signs a military agreement with Iraq. The Russians agree to provide Iraq with military equipment and weapons beginning in January 2001.
--"German Companies Provide the Regime with Weapon Transport Trucks and Spare Parts," Al-Mutamar (Online), 6 November 2000.

October 2000
Saddam Hussein reportedly decides not to use his Scud missiles, as he does not want to provide the United States with definitive proof that he has been deceiving UNSCOM inspectors.
--Fiamma Nirenstein, "Saddam's Risky War Games," La Stampa (Turin) in Italian, 26 October 2000, p.12, in "Intelligence 'Sources' Hint Saddam Loath to Use Scud Missiles against Israel," FBIS Document EUP20001026000074, 26 October 2000.

7 November 2000
According to representatives of the Russian Priroda State Scientific Center and Rosuchpribor Holding, Iraq and Russia draft a contract to open a Russian university branch in Baghdad.
--Yevgeniy Nikitin, ITAR-TASS (Moscow) in English, 7 November 2000, in "Russian University May Open Branch in Iraq," FBIS Document CEP20001107000109, 7 November 2000.

8 November 2000
According to Ukrainian Parliamentarian Serhi Presunko, a member of the Working Ukraine group, Iraq offers Ukraine its cooperation with a number of prospective projects during the 33rd international industrial-economic exhibition in Baghdad. The offer is worth $15 billion and includes projects related to oil exploration, oil extraction and carriage, railroad equipment, construction of repair facilities for railroad transport and household appliances, land development and water purification for the chemical industry and transportation industry. Presunko also says that Iraq is ready to introduce a liberalized registration procedure for Ukrainian companies in the Iraqi market. [NOTE: According to Presunko, 51 official offices for foreign representatives currently operate in Iraq, and 24 offices have been opened through third-party countries. Ukrainian trade with Iraq is reportedly worth $14.8 million a year at present.]
--"Iraq Offers Ukraine Cooperation on Promising Projects," Interfax (Ukraine), 9 November 2000; "Iraq Offers Ukraine Cooperation," Interfax Russian News, 8 November 2000.

November 2000-February 2001
The number of Chinese personnel working on communications and radar systems in Iraq quadruples. According to an Arab diplomat, the Chinese lay down fiber-optic cables in order to improve Iraqi radar capacity and strengthen its surface-to-air missile (SAM) defense.
--AFP (Hong Kong) in English, 22 February 2001, in "Diplomat Says Number of Chinese in Baghdad Quadrupled over Recent Months," FBIS Document CPP20010222000163, 22 February 2001.

30 November 2000
The Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals signs joint venture agreements with six Indian companies: TIL, Kirloskar Oil Engines Limited (KOEL), Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), Telco, Ajanta Pharma Limited (APL), and Cosmos International Limited (CIL). Telco agrees to produce the Sumo field vehicle; KOEL will produce diesel engines; KBL will provide a centrifugal pump model; TIL is responsible for the Model Hydra capacity truck mounted mobile crane; APL will launch a pharmaceutical production unit; and CIL will revamp the production line for DC motors, compressors, and capacitors.
--"6 JT Venture Pacts Signed with Iraq," India Business Insight Database, 30 November 2000.

2 December 2000
US officials say that Iraqi agents around the world actively seek to obtain better guidance systems for their short-range missiles to enable Iraqi strikes on the capitals of Saudi Arabia or Israel.
--Joie Chen and David Ensor, "A Look at What U.S. Intelligence Thinks Iraqi Is Doing Behind the Scenes," CNN The World Today, 2 December 1999.

3-9 December 2000
Saddam Hussein holds a secret meeting with a Russian military delegation in Baghdad. The Russian delegation purportedly includes experts who participated in Iraqi military industrialization plans during the 1980s, as well as specialists with experience in the manufacture of sophisticated missiles and other weaponry. As part of a new military cooperation deal with Moscow, Baghdad allegedly commissions these experts to implement a plan for the redevelopment of long-range missiles.
--Riyad Alam-al-Din, Al-Watan al-Arabi (Paris) in Arabic, 22 December 2000, pp. 18-21, in "Report on 'Secret' of Saddam Husayn's 'Disappearance,' Iraq's 'New Strategy,'" FBIS Document GMP20001222000150, 22 December 2000.

15 December 2000
Iraqi Trade Minister Muhammad Mahdi Salih, is sent by Saddam Hussein to visit Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed. They discuss the expansion of ties between the two countries. Salih indicates that Iraq is interested in purchasing food supplies, medicine, medical equipment, timber, and steel from Malaysia.
--"Iraqi Trade Minister in Malaysia, Vietnam," Iraq Report, 22 December 2000, Vol. 3, No. 43, <http://www.rferl.org/>.

21 December 2000
The head of military intelligence for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Israeli Major-General Amos Malka, says that Iraq seeks to launch a missile attack as part of a regional war with Israel. He also says that Iraq will seek to build an Arab coalition with Syria in the event of such a war.
--"IRAQ SEEKS WAR WITH ISRAEL," Middle East Newsline (Jerusalem) E-mail-Text in English, 21 December 2000, in "Israeli IDF's MI Chief Concerned of Iraqi Missile Attack in Regional War," FBIS Document GMP20001221000155, 21 December 2000.

31 December 2000
Saddam Hussein presides over the Al-Aqsa Call military parade. Sophisticated SSMs and anti-aircraft missiles are displayed during the parade, including the Al-Samoud, Al-Fateh, and Al-Raad missiles, all with ranges under 150km. A number of new SSM types, which resemble the Al-Hussein and anti-aircraft missiles, are also displayed during the parade, along with 50 French-made Roland missiles and new formations of Russian-made SAMs, including the SAM-8 and SAM-9. In addition, unclassified reports provided to the US Congress cite the presence at the parade of four Al-Samoud transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) with airframes and two Ababil-100 TELs with airframes.
--"The Combined Arms in the Military Parade 31 December," Al-Mutamar, 8 January, p. 3; "Acquisition of Technology Relating to Weapons of Mass Destruction and Advanced Conventional Munitions," Unclassified Report to Congress, 1 January 2001; "Iraq's Biggest Show of Armed Might since Gulf War," The New York Times, 1 January 2001.

End of 2000
An Iraqi consulate opens in Kharkiv, Ukraine. The consulate is headed by Ukranian Yuriy Orshansky, who reportedly has supplied equipment including thermal power stations and pipes to Iraq.
--Zerkalo Nedeli (Kiev) in Russian, 15 December 2001, in "Ukraine: Paper Analyses Signs of Ukrainian-Iraqi Rapprochement," FBIS Document CEP20011223000042, 15 December 2001.

	Updated August 2005