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CNN Live At Daybreak
Inspections Talks Between U.N. Inspectors, Iraqi Experts
Aired October 01, 2002 - 06:00 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: Talks between the United Nations and Iraqi weapons experts enter a critical stage today, as Iraq tries to head off a possible war.
Our coverage this hour includes senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley with British reaction.
But we begin with CNN's Chris Burns, who is covering those talks in Vienna.
Chris -- give us an update.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, intense media attention over here -- you see all of those satellite dishes behind me -- watching as it is crunch time, and push is coming to shove in the final round of these talks here, where the U.N. weapons inspectors would like to set the terms and the way that they can inspect for weapons of mass destruction inside Iraq.
Now, this all being part of an effort to avert a possible U.S. attack -- U.S. threatening to attack Iraq, if it does not follow through on accepting inspections for weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, biological and chemical.
I managed to catch Dr. Hans Blix, who is head of the weapons inspection teams, as he went into the meetings. I asked him about the especially sensitive question of presidential palace sites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. INSPECTOR: We are discussing the whole gamut of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) those problems, and later in the afternoon, we'll tell you where we have got.
BURNS (on camera): But, isn't that not going to be touched today?
BLIX: I won't say what we touch and what we don't touch. Afterwards, we'll tell you.
BURNS: How close to...
(CROSSTALK)
BLIX: ... the whole systematically all of what we can foresee in terms of inspections.
BURNS: How close to full and free access?
BLIX: Well, it all has to be immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.
BURNS: But will it be?
BLIX: And this is what we are seeking to ensure. The devil sits always in the detail, and we will try to see that we will not stumble over any such things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, the devil in the details -- that major detail is the 12-square miles of presidential palace grounds, where it is believed by many that Saddam Hussein could be developing weapons of mass destruction. The investigators, the weapons teams would like to go in and check that out.
So far, it appears, according to our sources here, that that issue will not be discussed, but there are plenty of other sensitive sites they would like to have a look at, and they would like to resolve exactly how and when they could send their inspectors in.
Also, the Iraqis are supposed to give three or four CD-ROMs today, delineating all of the dual-use of materials and equipment. Now, "dual-use" meaning how much equipment they have that could be used not only for civilian, but also for military purposes. Those would be also the subject of inspections.
Now, Hans Blix, when he is done today with these talks, he's to go on to the U.N. Security Council, give his report on Thursday morning. That's where the drama will be. The Security Council is supposed to have the final word on exactly those presidential sites -- how much those inspectors should be and could be able to go in to look at.
This all coming in the context of the U.S. efforts lobbying the Security Council to try to approve an even tougher U.N. resolution, which would supposedly ensure a free access to all sites, including those presidential palace areas.
So far, there are reservations by France, Russia and China about that. The French are saying that they don't want to give a "carte blanch," in their words, to the Americans. We'll have to see how that plays out in the coming days -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We certainly will. Chris Burns reporting live from Vienna this morning, thank you.
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 October 1, 2002 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Talks between the United Nations and Iraqi weapons experts enter a critical stage today, as Iraq tries to head off a possible war.
Our coverage this hour includes senior European political correspondent Robin Oakley with British reaction.
But we begin with CNN's Chris Burns, who is covering those talks in Vienna.
Chris -- give us an update.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, intense media attention over here -- you see all of those satellite dishes behind me -- watching as it is crunch time, and push is coming to shove in the final round of these talks here, where the U.N. weapons inspectors would like to set the terms and the way that they can inspect for weapons of mass destruction inside Iraq.
Now, this all being part of an effort to avert a possible U.S. attack -- U.S. threatening to attack Iraq, if it does not follow through on accepting inspections for weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, biological and chemical.
I managed to catch Dr. Hans Blix, who is head of the weapons inspection teams, as he went into the meetings. I asked him about the especially sensitive question of presidential palace sites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. INSPECTOR: We are discussing the whole gamut of (UNINTELLIGIBLE) those problems, and later in the afternoon, we'll tell you where we have got.
BURNS (on camera): But, isn't that not going to be touched today?
BLIX: I won't say what we touch and what we don't touch. Afterwards, we'll tell you.
BURNS: How close to...
(CROSSTALK)
BLIX: ... the whole systematically all of what we can foresee in terms of inspections.
BURNS: How close to full and free access?
BLIX: Well, it all has to be immediate, unconditional and unrestricted access.
BURNS: But will it be?
BLIX: And this is what we are seeking to ensure. The devil sits always in the detail, and we will try to see that we will not stumble over any such things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Now, the devil in the details -- that major detail is the 12-square miles of presidential palace grounds, where it is believed by many that Saddam Hussein could be developing weapons of mass destruction. The investigators, the weapons teams would like to go in and check that out.
So far, it appears, according to our sources here, that that issue will not be discussed, but there are plenty of other sensitive sites they would like to have a look at, and they would like to resolve exactly how and when they could send their inspectors in.
Also, the Iraqis are supposed to give three or four CD-ROMs today, delineating all of the dual-use of materials and equipment. Now, "dual-use" meaning how much equipment they have that could be used not only for civilian, but also for military purposes. Those would be also the subject of inspections.
Now, Hans Blix, when he is done today with these talks, he's to go on to the U.N. Security Council, give his report on Thursday morning. That's where the drama will be. The Security Council is supposed to have the final word on exactly those presidential sites -- how much those inspectors should be and could be able to go in to look at.
This all coming in the context of the U.S. efforts lobbying the Security Council to try to approve an even tougher U.N. resolution, which would supposedly ensure a free access to all sites, including those presidential palace areas.
So far, there are reservations by France, Russia and China about that. The French are saying that they don't want to give a "carte blanch," in their words, to the Americans. We'll have to see how that plays out in the coming days -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We certainly will. Chris Burns reporting live from Vienna this morning, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
