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CNN Live Today

U.N., Iraq to Schedule New Round of Talks

Aired March 25, 2002 - 14:06   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Want to get to the U.N. quickly. Richard Roth is watching this story relative to Iraq and the possibility that, again, discussions may be opened up very soon about inspectors back in Baghdad. Richard, good afternoon. What do you have?

RICHARD ROTH, SR. UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill. Iraq is coming back. The second round of talks between Baghdad and the U.N. secretary-general now scheduled for April 18th and 19th. The United Nation Secretary-General Annan hoping the talks will focus on the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to Iraq. However, Baghdad left behind, Bill, about 20 questions to the U.N. Security Council that they would like answered, presumably before they take the step of allowing inspectors in.

The questions anger the U.S. and Britain. The questions deal with whether the U.S. call for regime change in Iraq is violation of international law, and whether U.S. spies or spies of any country will be planted in the revamped team of U.N. weapons inspectors -- Bill.

HEMMER: Richard, how big of a surprise is this? And what are they saying at the U.N.? Is this U.S. pressure publicly that is perhaps driving Baghdad back to the U.N.?

ROTH: It's not that much of a surprise. It was expected that in mid-April, the talks might occur. The U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is described once again as just an intermediary. He's just an intermediary between the security council and Iraq. And there's no way the U.S. and Britain are going to answer these types of questions and they will tell Annan to tell Iraq just admit the inspectors. That's all we want.

HEMMER: And, Richard, you know, Kofi Annan was in Baghdad a few years ago to help stave off a situation at that time. Is it a possibility that Annan may have more luck now with Baghdad given his history?

ROTH: Diplomats expect Iraq to definitely be more conciliatory regarding the return of weapon inspectors, but it's not expected that that will come on the next round of talks. It certainly will be dragged out. The more pressure Washington puts on regarding a military assault, it's likely that Baghdad will give a little. But no one can predict whether inspectors will truly be back in. They were withdrawn in December of '98. HEMMER: Richard, thanks. Richard Roth, breaking news from the U.N. We will track that certainly. Thank you, Richard.

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