Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
U.N. Weapons Inspectors Could Soon Return to Iraq
Aired September 30, 2002 - 11:01 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: U.N. weapons inspectors could soon return to Iraq, but will they be given the free access promised by Saddam Hussein? U.N. officials are trying to work out those details. They are meeting today in Vienna, Austria, and that's where we find our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. She joins us with the latest on these talks.
Christiane, hello, once again.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, as you mentioned, these talks are in fact being billed as the first test of Iraq's cooperation since Saddam Hussein's government sent that letter to the U.N. secretary general, saying that they would allow the unconditional return of weapons inspectors to Iraq. So what's been going on is now several hours of talks between Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, his counterpart at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iraqi delegation, led by the senior scientific and technical adviser to the president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.
What we are being told by sources is that each item on the agenda has been discussed methodically. We have been told that the atmosphere inside is serious, its business-like, and generally positive. And we were told that the aspects that Hans Blix has been raising, in terms of practical arrangements for the weapons inspectors work, have been sort of sailing through without any problem. Others have been slightly more deliberate and discussions are being needed, for instance, on the issue of overflight. The weapons inspectors want to get back to having their overflights, to be able to see photograph what's going on inside of Iraq.
So these talks are going on. The second item on the agenda, Iraqis say that they have the documents the U.N. has asked for, and those are documents which contain a accumulation of information over the last four years, since weapons inspectors were last there, about specifically what's been going on and so-called dual-use facilities. These are areas inside Iraq that can be used and usually are used for civilian purpose, but that also can be used for military purpose, and it's feared for the production of weapons of mass destruction.
So these talks continuing here in Vienna. Tonight's session is probably going to wrap up in the next couple of hours, and then there's another full day of talks tomorrow.
Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: And so, Christiane, there's a lot of logistical things just to figure out, like where would these inspectors would say, what kind of security are they going to get, how do they get the samples out of the country, just some housekeeping items they need to figure out as well?
AMANPOUR: Yes, well it, if you like, housekeeping. It is practical arraignments, but these are crucial, we're being told. Hans Blix told us earlier this morning that all of these item, all of these practical arrangements, however basic they may seem, have to be worked out before they even consider sending the weapons inspectors back, because in the past, they had clashes and confrontations on the ground.
And so he wants to make sure that every dot is -- and every t is crossed and make sure that these are all acceptable to all sides before there is even any attempt to send the weapons inspectors back.
Of course this is going on, these technical talks, against a backdrop, a very heightened political maneuvering at the U.N., with the U.S. particularly wanting to toughen up and essentially change the rules of the inspection regime, and to make it much, much tougher, this running into opposition from other permanent members of the Security Council.
But nonetheless, these technical talks going on against that political backdrop -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Christiane Amanpour, monitoring these talks from Vienna, Austria.
Christiane, thank you -- Leon.
AMANPOUR: Also monitoring those talks is the Bush administration here stateside. The administration does remains skeptical, though, about Iraq's promise to readmit the weapons inspectors. The White House is seeking approval from Congress for possible military action, as well as a tougher resolution coming from the U.N.
Our White House correspondent Kelly Wallace steps in wit the very latest from the White House.
Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Leon.
The Bush administration definitely very skeptical indeed. In fact, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman telling reporters a short time ago that Iraq's words changed, but their actions do not.
Now the president left a short time earlier, from his Crawford, Texas ranch, heading back to the White House, after spending a weekend in Texas. He and his aides expected to spend the afternoon talking about domestic issues.
Still though, this administration will definitely be focusing on what is going on in Vienna, because how the Iraqis respond could very much impact the president's goals, securing that tough new U.N. Security Council resolution, and as you said, again, getting the congressional resolution passed, and authority to use military force, if necessary, to attack and go after Saddam Hussein.
Now, all morning, we have been talking about the Congressional delegations, three Democratic lawmakers that have been in Baghdad, trying to prevent military action and prevent any wars.
Democratic Congressman Tim McDermott over the weekend accusing the president of exaggerating about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. Well, that drew a very sharp response in the Senate, Republican leader Trent Lott. Today, Congressman McDermott responding, appearing on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," saying that President Bush definitely should allow those weapons inspectors back inside Iraq as soon as possible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JIM MCDERMOTT (D), WASHINGTON: The president says it's a ploy. I would suggest that he and Mr. Lott make a trip over here and have a look, and see if they honestly are really allowing inspections. If you want peace, then you've got to let the inspections go forward.
As long as they continue to agitate and derail it, that's simply not good for the American people or the Iraqi people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now White House and Congressional staffers expected to be talking throughout the day. Going over the language for the Congressional resolution, a Democratic source, telling us that they are trying to work out things such as what proof the president would have to put forward and exhausting diplomatic means and also some language dealing with a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.
What will the administration's commitment to that be? Democrats asking questions, but both sides, Democrats and Republicans, predicting that in the end, this president will ultimately get strong support in the House and the Senate for the resolution. Debate expected this week, and passage could happen by early next week -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thank you very much, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live from the White House.
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 30, 2002 - 11:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: U.N. weapons inspectors could soon return to Iraq, but will they be given the free access promised by Saddam Hussein? U.N. officials are trying to work out those details. They are meeting today in Vienna, Austria, and that's where we find our chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour. She joins us with the latest on these talks.
Christiane, hello, once again.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, as you mentioned, these talks are in fact being billed as the first test of Iraq's cooperation since Saddam Hussein's government sent that letter to the U.N. secretary general, saying that they would allow the unconditional return of weapons inspectors to Iraq. So what's been going on is now several hours of talks between Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, his counterpart at the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iraqi delegation, led by the senior scientific and technical adviser to the president of Iraq, Saddam Hussein.
What we are being told by sources is that each item on the agenda has been discussed methodically. We have been told that the atmosphere inside is serious, its business-like, and generally positive. And we were told that the aspects that Hans Blix has been raising, in terms of practical arrangements for the weapons inspectors work, have been sort of sailing through without any problem. Others have been slightly more deliberate and discussions are being needed, for instance, on the issue of overflight. The weapons inspectors want to get back to having their overflights, to be able to see photograph what's going on inside of Iraq.
So these talks are going on. The second item on the agenda, Iraqis say that they have the documents the U.N. has asked for, and those are documents which contain a accumulation of information over the last four years, since weapons inspectors were last there, about specifically what's been going on and so-called dual-use facilities. These are areas inside Iraq that can be used and usually are used for civilian purpose, but that also can be used for military purpose, and it's feared for the production of weapons of mass destruction.
So these talks continuing here in Vienna. Tonight's session is probably going to wrap up in the next couple of hours, and then there's another full day of talks tomorrow.
Back to you, Daryn.
KAGAN: And so, Christiane, there's a lot of logistical things just to figure out, like where would these inspectors would say, what kind of security are they going to get, how do they get the samples out of the country, just some housekeeping items they need to figure out as well?
AMANPOUR: Yes, well it, if you like, housekeeping. It is practical arraignments, but these are crucial, we're being told. Hans Blix told us earlier this morning that all of these item, all of these practical arrangements, however basic they may seem, have to be worked out before they even consider sending the weapons inspectors back, because in the past, they had clashes and confrontations on the ground.
And so he wants to make sure that every dot is -- and every t is crossed and make sure that these are all acceptable to all sides before there is even any attempt to send the weapons inspectors back.
Of course this is going on, these technical talks, against a backdrop, a very heightened political maneuvering at the U.N., with the U.S. particularly wanting to toughen up and essentially change the rules of the inspection regime, and to make it much, much tougher, this running into opposition from other permanent members of the Security Council.
But nonetheless, these technical talks going on against that political backdrop -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Christiane Amanpour, monitoring these talks from Vienna, Austria.
Christiane, thank you -- Leon.
AMANPOUR: Also monitoring those talks is the Bush administration here stateside. The administration does remains skeptical, though, about Iraq's promise to readmit the weapons inspectors. The White House is seeking approval from Congress for possible military action, as well as a tougher resolution coming from the U.N.
Our White House correspondent Kelly Wallace steps in wit the very latest from the White House.
Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Leon.
The Bush administration definitely very skeptical indeed. In fact, Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman telling reporters a short time ago that Iraq's words changed, but their actions do not.
Now the president left a short time earlier, from his Crawford, Texas ranch, heading back to the White House, after spending a weekend in Texas. He and his aides expected to spend the afternoon talking about domestic issues.
Still though, this administration will definitely be focusing on what is going on in Vienna, because how the Iraqis respond could very much impact the president's goals, securing that tough new U.N. Security Council resolution, and as you said, again, getting the congressional resolution passed, and authority to use military force, if necessary, to attack and go after Saddam Hussein.
Now, all morning, we have been talking about the Congressional delegations, three Democratic lawmakers that have been in Baghdad, trying to prevent military action and prevent any wars.
Democratic Congressman Tim McDermott over the weekend accusing the president of exaggerating about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. Well, that drew a very sharp response in the Senate, Republican leader Trent Lott. Today, Congressman McDermott responding, appearing on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," saying that President Bush definitely should allow those weapons inspectors back inside Iraq as soon as possible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JIM MCDERMOTT (D), WASHINGTON: The president says it's a ploy. I would suggest that he and Mr. Lott make a trip over here and have a look, and see if they honestly are really allowing inspections. If you want peace, then you've got to let the inspections go forward.
As long as they continue to agitate and derail it, that's simply not good for the American people or the Iraqi people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Now White House and Congressional staffers expected to be talking throughout the day. Going over the language for the Congressional resolution, a Democratic source, telling us that they are trying to work out things such as what proof the president would have to put forward and exhausting diplomatic means and also some language dealing with a post-Saddam Hussein Iraq.
What will the administration's commitment to that be? Democrats asking questions, but both sides, Democrats and Republicans, predicting that in the end, this president will ultimately get strong support in the House and the Senate for the resolution. Debate expected this week, and passage could happen by early next week -- Leon.
HARRIS: Thank you very much, Kelly. Kelly Wallace, reporting live from the White House.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
