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CNN Live At Daybreak
Blair Hoping to Convince Putin to Back Tough U.N. Resolution Against Iraq
Aired October 11, 2002 - 05:13 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: On the subject of Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is hoping to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a tough U.N. resolution against Iraq. The two held talks today at Mr. Putin's country estate.
CNN's Mike Hanna is covering the summit -- Mike, bring us up to date.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the two leaders have had a series of talks over the past some 18 hours since Tony Blair arrived here at Vladimir Putin's country estate, some 100 miles north of Moscow. In between the serious face to face talks there have also been some social interludes. Both men have their wives with them. They've been walking around the estate even though the weather is rather inclement. As you can see, it's snowing here at the moment. In fact, at one stage Vladimir Putin saying to Blair, well, I hope I'm not freezing you, Blair saying he enjoys these conditions.
But this is just indicative of the warm relationship between the two men and it's because of this that Tony Blair was hoping for a positive result in his efforts to get Vladimir Putin to back the U.S.- British sponsored resolution, which the U.S. wants to put before the U.N. Security Council, which effectively would lead to the use of force against Iraq should it not comply with the U.N. disarmament demands.
So far, Putin has stuck his heels in. He has been adamant that there are enough U.N. Security Council resolutions in place, any new resolution should be aimed primarily at making the work of weapons inspectors in Iraq more effective, saying that the use of force is an absolutely last option, for which a specific U.N. Security Council proposal must be obtained. He would not back it at this point.
So Tony Blair attempting to bring Putin round on this subject. However, Putin, Russia has very intense economic interests in Iraq and would, if it is going to go along with Blair, would be seeking some kind of guarantees that it will not suffer economically should there be a regime change or should there be resultant instability in Iraq following U.S. or U.N. sponsored action there.
So a very difficult task for Tony Blair. We should get some results out of these ongoing talks within the next hour or so.
COSTELLO: We'll keep following that.
Mike Hanna, thank you. Reporting live from Zavidovo, Russia.
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Resolution Against Iraq>
Aired October 11, 2002 - 05:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: On the subject of Iraq, British Prime Minister Tony Blair is hoping to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to back a tough U.N. resolution against Iraq. The two held talks today at Mr. Putin's country estate.
CNN's Mike Hanna is covering the summit -- Mike, bring us up to date.
MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the two leaders have had a series of talks over the past some 18 hours since Tony Blair arrived here at Vladimir Putin's country estate, some 100 miles north of Moscow. In between the serious face to face talks there have also been some social interludes. Both men have their wives with them. They've been walking around the estate even though the weather is rather inclement. As you can see, it's snowing here at the moment. In fact, at one stage Vladimir Putin saying to Blair, well, I hope I'm not freezing you, Blair saying he enjoys these conditions.
But this is just indicative of the warm relationship between the two men and it's because of this that Tony Blair was hoping for a positive result in his efforts to get Vladimir Putin to back the U.S.- British sponsored resolution, which the U.S. wants to put before the U.N. Security Council, which effectively would lead to the use of force against Iraq should it not comply with the U.N. disarmament demands.
So far, Putin has stuck his heels in. He has been adamant that there are enough U.N. Security Council resolutions in place, any new resolution should be aimed primarily at making the work of weapons inspectors in Iraq more effective, saying that the use of force is an absolutely last option, for which a specific U.N. Security Council proposal must be obtained. He would not back it at this point.
So Tony Blair attempting to bring Putin round on this subject. However, Putin, Russia has very intense economic interests in Iraq and would, if it is going to go along with Blair, would be seeking some kind of guarantees that it will not suffer economically should there be a regime change or should there be resultant instability in Iraq following U.S. or U.N. sponsored action there.
So a very difficult task for Tony Blair. We should get some results out of these ongoing talks within the next hour or so.
COSTELLO: We'll keep following that.
Mike Hanna, thank you. Reporting live from Zavidovo, Russia.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Resolution Against Iraq>
