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CNN Live Today
Resolution Wording
Aired September 25, 2002 - 11:07 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the United Nations, where the Bush team is working today to get the precise wording that it wants on a resolution against Iraq.
Senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us from New York this morning.
Richard -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
And it's two different situations, but just like the people on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. are bracing for that storm, diplomats here and reporters, the entire Security Council are just bracing for this resolution on Iraq. But it's still not here yet.
One U.S. official says the United States is still working hard on the resolution. Consultations with the British are going on, but he said there is no way of knowing whether it's coming in an hour or several days from now.
One Western diplomat, not with the U.S. or British, says there appear to be differences between the United States and Britain, and that the United States, perhaps in this resolution, is pursuing the goal of regime change, while British officials are looking for a focus on disarmament. There could also be still potential splits in the U.S. government -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Richard, yesterday, we were listening to an Iraqi general, as he was responding to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as he was speaking in the House of Commons. He came out and said, in fact, the United Nations inspectors would have unfettered access. Then, he added, of course, that would have to have some definition.
What kind of terms are they talking about?
ROTH: Well, if you want to look for one bottleneck ahead, even if there is a resolution that seems to be ready to be agreed upon here, it is on where the inspectors have the right to go.
Many people have forgotten that in 1998, there was an agreement signed between the U.N. and Iraq, and it dealt with those so-called "presidential sites," eight presidential palaces belonging to the Iraqi leader and his government. The United Nations and the Security Council, along with the U.S., agreed that international diplomats would escort weapons inspectors when they go into those places. No surprise looks into those sites.
Now, the U.S. seems intent on revoking that with a new resolution that would have a clause that would say the inspectors can go anywhere they want.
KAGAN: Richard Roth at the United Nations, thank you so much.
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 25, 2002 - 11:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the United Nations, where the Bush team is working today to get the precise wording that it wants on a resolution against Iraq.
Senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth joins us from New York this morning.
Richard -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
And it's two different situations, but just like the people on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. are bracing for that storm, diplomats here and reporters, the entire Security Council are just bracing for this resolution on Iraq. But it's still not here yet.
One U.S. official says the United States is still working hard on the resolution. Consultations with the British are going on, but he said there is no way of knowing whether it's coming in an hour or several days from now.
One Western diplomat, not with the U.S. or British, says there appear to be differences between the United States and Britain, and that the United States, perhaps in this resolution, is pursuing the goal of regime change, while British officials are looking for a focus on disarmament. There could also be still potential splits in the U.S. government -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Richard, yesterday, we were listening to an Iraqi general, as he was responding to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as he was speaking in the House of Commons. He came out and said, in fact, the United Nations inspectors would have unfettered access. Then, he added, of course, that would have to have some definition.
What kind of terms are they talking about?
ROTH: Well, if you want to look for one bottleneck ahead, even if there is a resolution that seems to be ready to be agreed upon here, it is on where the inspectors have the right to go.
Many people have forgotten that in 1998, there was an agreement signed between the U.N. and Iraq, and it dealt with those so-called "presidential sites," eight presidential palaces belonging to the Iraqi leader and his government. The United Nations and the Security Council, along with the U.S., agreed that international diplomats would escort weapons inspectors when they go into those places. No surprise looks into those sites.
Now, the U.S. seems intent on revoking that with a new resolution that would have a clause that would say the inspectors can go anywhere they want.
KAGAN: Richard Roth at the United Nations, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
