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CNN Live At Daybreak

Baghdad's New Offer

Aired September 17, 2002 - 06:02   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We do have Rula Amin. She is live in Baghdad with reaction there.
Tariq Aziz made these comments, his latest comments, overnight on the Al-Jazeera network, right?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, he actually was speaking to delegates from all over the world, who are traditional supporters of Iraq and traditional supporters for the cause of lifting the sanctions on Baghdad. He spoke to them. He said that Iraq was committed to what it had promised secretary-general to do, that it will allow the inspectors back into this country without any restrictions.

However, he could not hide Iraq's dismay. It's not surprised that the U.S. doesn't really see this as a major step. As you said, the U.S. says this is just another claim on a piece of paper.

The Iraqis are saying they mean what they are saying, but they accuse the United States of using the weapons inspectors and weapons of mass destruction issue as a pretext to launch an attack against Iraq. Tariq Aziz today was determined that the U.S. is after Iraq and its oil.

So, what the Iraqis are saying that they know that this may not be the end of this crisis, but the Iraqi people, the Iraqi officials, definitely are relieved. They know maybe this is not the end, but they have bought some time.

Now, one of the people who were at this rally is George Galloway. He is a British MP (ph). He has been a long-time supporter of Iraq and the cause of lifting the sanctions, and he gave us this on what the world should (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iraq in order to encourage it to comply more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE GALLOWAY, BRITISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER: I don't think it was a condition I was outlining. I think it was an atmosphere, and I think that the world atmosphere will know, should know -- quickly assure Iraq that if it complies in good faith and in good grace with the demands of the Security Council, that it will not be invaded. That's logic.

If somebody asked you to something, and you agree to do it, it's not asking too much that the person doesn't clobber you over the heard while you are doing it. (END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Now, Iraq has been urged not only by its supporters to allow the inspectors back, but there has been a lot of pressure from different countries -- Europeans, the Russians, the Chinese, and especially Iraq's Arab neighbors. They have been pressuring the regime here to accept the return of the inspectors as a way to diffuse the crisis.

What's next is, what is the Security Council going to do about this? Is there going to be a resolution drafted as the U.S. has been demanding? What Iraqi officials are hoping is that by this move, by allowing the inspectors back, they are circumventing anymore tough action by the U.N. or a resolution that's going to be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on this government.

So, they are trying, but they know this may not actually avert war -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Rula Amin reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

And that meeting she was talking about involving Tariq Aziz was shown on Al-Jazeera television.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.






Aired September 17, 2002 - 06:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We do have Rula Amin. She is live in Baghdad with reaction there.
Tariq Aziz made these comments, his latest comments, overnight on the Al-Jazeera network, right?

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, he actually was speaking to delegates from all over the world, who are traditional supporters of Iraq and traditional supporters for the cause of lifting the sanctions on Baghdad. He spoke to them. He said that Iraq was committed to what it had promised secretary-general to do, that it will allow the inspectors back into this country without any restrictions.

However, he could not hide Iraq's dismay. It's not surprised that the U.S. doesn't really see this as a major step. As you said, the U.S. says this is just another claim on a piece of paper.

The Iraqis are saying they mean what they are saying, but they accuse the United States of using the weapons inspectors and weapons of mass destruction issue as a pretext to launch an attack against Iraq. Tariq Aziz today was determined that the U.S. is after Iraq and its oil.

So, what the Iraqis are saying that they know that this may not be the end of this crisis, but the Iraqi people, the Iraqi officials, definitely are relieved. They know maybe this is not the end, but they have bought some time.

Now, one of the people who were at this rally is George Galloway. He is a British MP (ph). He has been a long-time supporter of Iraq and the cause of lifting the sanctions, and he gave us this on what the world should (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Iraq in order to encourage it to comply more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE GALLOWAY, BRITISH PARLIAMENT MEMBER: I don't think it was a condition I was outlining. I think it was an atmosphere, and I think that the world atmosphere will know, should know -- quickly assure Iraq that if it complies in good faith and in good grace with the demands of the Security Council, that it will not be invaded. That's logic.

If somebody asked you to something, and you agree to do it, it's not asking too much that the person doesn't clobber you over the heard while you are doing it. (END VIDEO CLIP)

AMIN: Now, Iraq has been urged not only by its supporters to allow the inspectors back, but there has been a lot of pressure from different countries -- Europeans, the Russians, the Chinese, and especially Iraq's Arab neighbors. They have been pressuring the regime here to accept the return of the inspectors as a way to diffuse the crisis.

What's next is, what is the Security Council going to do about this? Is there going to be a resolution drafted as the U.S. has been demanding? What Iraqi officials are hoping is that by this move, by allowing the inspectors back, they are circumventing anymore tough action by the U.N. or a resolution that's going to be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on this government.

So, they are trying, but they know this may not actually avert war -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Rula Amin reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

And that meeting she was talking about involving Tariq Aziz was shown on Al-Jazeera television.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.