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CNN Live At Daybreak
Mood in Baghdad on Resumption of Inspections
Aired October 01, 2002 - 06:30 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: All morning long, of course, we have been talking about the negotiations under way in Vienna for U.N. weapons inspectors to return to Iraq. But what's the feeling in Baghdad today about the possible resumption of inspections?
We turn to CNN's Rula Amin, who is live in Baghdad.
Rula -- what's the mood there?
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the Iraqis are highlighting what they perceive as a resistance to U.S. pressure in order to delay the return of the inspectors here.
In the newspapers, on television, they highlight the fact that certain countries -- like Russia, France, the Chinese, demonstrations around the world -- who say that the inspectors should come to Iraq, challenge the Iraqis on their promise to give unfettered access.
And then if the Iraqis don't comply, the U.N. should take another move, issue a new resolution that would authorize the use of force against Baghdad if it's not cooperating.
So, the Iraqis, it seems, are trying very hard to demonstrate maximum flexibility that they are willing to have the inspectors back. They say, they will give them unfettered access.
They have already got some credit from U.N. officials, who say that the Iraqis went to Vienna with a positive attitude, a business- like attitude, and that they came to Vienna with a desire to reach an agreement.
So, the Iraqis are trying very hard to keep that kind of attitude prevailing, because they accuse the United States of trying to detail a return of the inspectors to Baghdad in order to have some kind of excuse and pretext to attack Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rula, though, Iraqi officials don't seem to be getting the fact that unfettered access means access to those palaces.
AMIN: Well, what the Iraqis are saying is that they are complying with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and that these resolutions have had certain guidelines on how the inspectors will go about inspecting, for example, the presidential palaces.
There are about eight presidential sites designated as presidential sites, and the inspectors, when they go there, they have to be escorted by diplomats, they have to notify the Iraqis in advance.
Now, the Iraqis are getting some kind of support on that issue from the chief weapons inspector, who said that he his negotiating with the Iraqis, discussing all of the logistics on how the inspectors will come back here, based on these resolutions and based on whatever agreement the U.N. has already made with Iraq.
So, what the Iraqis are saying now is that they are working with the U.N. weapons inspectors based on these Security Council resolutions, and that's how they are going to give them unfettered access. They are very worried from a new Security Council resolution that would have tougher demands, maybe the inspectors will have new guidelines that Iraq will find unacceptable -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, Rula Amin reporting live from Baghdad, thanks for keeping us posted this morning.
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 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All morning long, of course, we have been talking about the negotiations under way in Vienna for U.N. weapons inspectors to return to Iraq. But what's the feeling in Baghdad today about the possible resumption of inspections?
We turn to CNN's Rula Amin, who is live in Baghdad.
Rula -- what's the mood there?
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the Iraqis are highlighting what they perceive as a resistance to U.S. pressure in order to delay the return of the inspectors here.
In the newspapers, on television, they highlight the fact that certain countries -- like Russia, France, the Chinese, demonstrations around the world -- who say that the inspectors should come to Iraq, challenge the Iraqis on their promise to give unfettered access.
And then if the Iraqis don't comply, the U.N. should take another move, issue a new resolution that would authorize the use of force against Baghdad if it's not cooperating.
So, the Iraqis, it seems, are trying very hard to demonstrate maximum flexibility that they are willing to have the inspectors back. They say, they will give them unfettered access.
They have already got some credit from U.N. officials, who say that the Iraqis went to Vienna with a positive attitude, a business- like attitude, and that they came to Vienna with a desire to reach an agreement.
So, the Iraqis are trying very hard to keep that kind of attitude prevailing, because they accuse the United States of trying to detail a return of the inspectors to Baghdad in order to have some kind of excuse and pretext to attack Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Rula, though, Iraqi officials don't seem to be getting the fact that unfettered access means access to those palaces.
AMIN: Well, what the Iraqis are saying is that they are complying with United Nations Security Council resolutions, and that these resolutions have had certain guidelines on how the inspectors will go about inspecting, for example, the presidential palaces.
There are about eight presidential sites designated as presidential sites, and the inspectors, when they go there, they have to be escorted by diplomats, they have to notify the Iraqis in advance.
Now, the Iraqis are getting some kind of support on that issue from the chief weapons inspector, who said that he his negotiating with the Iraqis, discussing all of the logistics on how the inspectors will come back here, based on these resolutions and based on whatever agreement the U.N. has already made with Iraq.
So, what the Iraqis are saying now is that they are working with the U.N. weapons inspectors based on these Security Council resolutions, and that's how they are going to give them unfettered access. They are very worried from a new Security Council resolution that would have tougher demands, maybe the inspectors will have new guidelines that Iraq will find unacceptable -- Carol.
COSTELLO: OK, Rula Amin reporting live from Baghdad, thanks for keeping us posted this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
