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CNN Live At Daybreak

Powell About to Address Earth Summit

Aired September 04, 2002 - 05:05   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: While Secretary of State Colin Powell may soon be pressing the Bush administration's case on Iraq with world leaders, he's engaged in another matter of global importance today.
CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault joins us live from Johannesburg, where Powell is about to address the Earth Summit -- Charlayne, what's going on now?

CHARLAYNE HUNTER-GAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the anticipation is building. I think Colin Powell's speech is arguably the most anticipated one of this summit, primarily because the United States has been the most vilified country of this summit, starting with the criticism over the failure of the United States president, George W. Bush, to join more than 100 other world leaders representing some 200 countries.

So, and in addition to that, the United States has argued against goals and timetables for projects aimed at ending poverty whereas the developing world has wanted specific targets. The United States has refused to endorse the protocol called the Kyoto Treaty aimed at reducing global warming, which has affected a lot of small countries in a very adverse way.

So these criticisms have been constant, a constant mantra at this summit. So when Powell takes the podium in a few minutes for his five minutes on the stage, people are expecting that he will address some of these criticisms -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Charlayne, I understand that he will also offer, what, about $5 billion to countries around the world to end poverty?

HUNTER-GAULT: Well, my understanding is it's something in the neighborhood of $4 billion for projects in health and economic development in partnership with other governments, in partnership with civil society and other organizations. But the activists here are saying that this isn't anything new, that this money is being, as one told me this morning, stolen from other projects.

So, you know, this is something that we hope to put to the secretary later and that he may, in fact, address in his remarks -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And would it be safe to say, Charlayne, that he's going to stay away from the subject of Iraq during his remarks?

HUNTER-GAULT: Well, one could probably put smart money on that because he is reported to want to focus his remarks here on this summit. But, you know, he may be pressed in other fora. He's going to speak at a school and maybe take a couple of questions. And, of course, the Iraq mania has gripped this summit despite efforts to keep other geopolitical issues away from it.

So I'm sure that there are going to be questions about what is the perception, Powell's differences with the administration over the correct procedure for the United States vis-a-vis Iraq.

So, you know, whether he will choose that podium to address it or whether he will be forced to address it in other fora, we have to wait and see -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Charlayne Hunter-Gault reporting live from Johannesburg.

As soon as Colin Powell starts to speak, we'll get back to you.

Thank you very much.

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