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CNN Live Today

U.N. Replies to Iraqi Letter

Aired August 05, 2002 - 13:26   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The second time in a week that Baghdad has made an offer essentially aimed at refusing the crisis with Washington. Last week, it appealed to the U.S. -- or the U.N., rather, to negotiate a resumption of weapons inspections.

Joining us now from U.N. headquarters, CNN's Richard Roth -- Richard, what can you tell us?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, the United Nations is prepared today to send a letter back to the Iraqi government with a formal response to its offer for technical talks with U.N. weapons experts in Baghdad. The U.S. and many other countries are quite skeptical. They are ready to oppose this offer from Iraq, saying the main idea right now is to get inspectors in on the ground. There's no room for talking. Those inspectors have not been in Iraq since December of 1998 after they were withdrawn by the U.S. and the U.N. shortly before Washington attacked Iraq.

Secretary General Kofi Annan again repeated his opposition today to any planned U.S. attack on Washington and gave his latest assessment of what he was thinking about on the Iraqi offer.

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KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: You will recall that last week I welcomed the letter and indicated that certain aspects of the letter were at variance with the Security Council requirements, and I will be discussing that with the council this afternoon, and I will have a better sense of where we go from here. But, of course, we have very clear requirements. If Iraq were to honor them, I think the invitation can be considered.

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ROTH: Considered, but not likely accepted. Secretary General Annan talking about the very offer right now at lunch with members of the U.N. Security Council.

Elsewhere in the building, a debate raging inside the General Assembly in the wake of Secretary General Annan's report on the Jenin- Palestinian camp incidents in late May. The United Nations report concluded, in effect, without stating it, that there was no massacre as Palestinian had claimed. Of course, it did note that many Palestinians were killed in Jenin and other camps. It basically blamed both sides.

In the debate today, the Palestinians are circulating a resolution to condemn Israel. U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte says it is about time the General Assembly and the Security Council started condemning Palestinian terrorism in the wake of a weekend of bloody attacks throughout Israel -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth. Thank you.

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