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American Morning

America's New War: Giuliani Addresses the U.N.

Aired October 01, 2001 - 09:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Live pictures from the United Nations where as we told you earlier, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be addressing the U.N. General Assembly shortly. We, of course, will bring that to you live as the world body begins a week-long debate on terrorism. Our Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth joining us with some details and what do you expect the tenor of this debate to be, Richard?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the debate will be about terrorism but before the debate begins, Mayor Giuliani will make remarks technically before the start of the session. The Mayor is inside U.N. Headquarters. He arrived here about 15 minutes ago, and he was greeted by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. The Mayor's had a bit of love/hate relationship with the United Nations. But he has called the U.N. certainly one of the reasons that makes New York City the capital of the world.

Though the Mayor has been very harsh on New York City diplomats who pile up millions of dollars of parking tickets. He once threw Yasser Arafat out of Lincoln Center, the entertainment complex. But it's going to be an enthusiastic reception no doubt for the mayor who has received widespread praise for his handling of the crisis.

There's no advance text of Giuliani's speech is ready. That's pretty similar to a lot of other U.N. addresses here, by even U.S. Presidents. Inside the general assembly right now, you see delegates milling around, you see some of the leading general assembly dignitaries sitting there waiting for him. You see the U.S. table there with deputy U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham. The Mayor meanwhile is pushing a billion dollar New York City recovery bonds for people of New York City to buy.

This is the first appearance a by New York City mayor in about 50 years the last time was in 1952, Mayor Vincent Impelliteri when the general assembly held its first meeting in this location--when the new U.N. building was constructed. The previous mayor, William O'Dwyer, 1949, cornerstone ceremony, that's when the building was going up. Miles.

O'BRIEN: Richard, as we wait for mayor and as you said he's in the building--he could come out any minute. We, of course will bring it to folks live as it happens. Give us--Can you preview the debate a little bit for us? And having talked to some of the delegates there-- if you could get--get a sense of what we're going to be hearing throughout this week as the U.N. focuses on terrorism.

ROTH: This is not the big high-profile debate which was postponed indefinitely that was set for September 24th, when President Bush was supposed to be here. This will be each country getting a chance to speak on terrorism. But a lot of the groundwork was already done by the U.N. Security Council late Friday night when a resolution was passed ordering all countries to comply with such measures as freezing of assets of any terrorist connections, movement of people across borders--now countries are on notice that they have got to comply with this.

It was the legal instrument to get whatever action now takes place regarding financing, money laundering, to get that going. The next few days are going to be filled with countries speaking but it will be mostly at the ambassadorial level. This is the General Assembly President, the South Korean Foreign Minister.

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