But the letter said nothing about permitting inspectors to take samples and conduct tests that would allow them to track the material and verify that it is not diverted to weapons projects.

Earlier this month the I.R.A. offered instead to permit international inspectors to verify that it had put some of its arms caches out of service.

To balance this measure, programs to speed known travelers should be a higher priority, permitting inspectors to focus on greater risks.

The European covenant, which goes into effect Feb. 1, is considered especially important because it will permit outside inspectors to examine local conditions.

Would China permit American inspectors to examine their garment factories?

The statement also called on Iran to abandon its nuclear program and to permit foreign inspectors into the country.

Last month, he announced that Libya would abandon plans to build unconventional weapons, and he permitted international inspectors into weapons sites.

After an impasse of several months, North Korea agreed in February to permit international inspectors to visit its seven known nuclear sites.

President Bush said today that Iraq's agreement to permit inspectors into a Government building did not resolve his concerns about Baghdad's violations of Security Council resolutions.

Mr. Buchanan said, however, that Council resolutions permitted inspectors to have a "dialogue" with member states' intelligence agencies.