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CNN Live Today

President Bush Keeping Pressure on U.N.

Aired October 28, 2002 - 11:05   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is keeping the pressure on the United Nations to approve the U.S. resolution on Iraq. The five-council members would veto power, and they remain divided over the issue. And now Russia and France have introduced their own proposals that do not threaten military action.
CNN's Nic Robertson is live in Baghdad, at least for now, although he was told last week to leave Iraq by today.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.

In fact I'll be leaving Iraq tomorrow. That's when my visa expires. That's what the current restrictions being put in place by the Iraqi authorities here determined.

But on the point about Iraqi authorities and the proposed U.N. resolution, the rhetoric really stepping up here. The Foreign Minister Najee Sabri (ph) saying that the proposals at the moment amount to an effective colonization of Iraq, by the United Nations, something he said was an insult to the United Nations. In some of the newspapers here, the United States is being accused of waging terrorism inside the United Nations, the rhetoric in advance of a possible resolution really stepping up here.

And another interesting note, Anderson, in reference to the killing of a U.S. Diplomat in Jordan earlier today, a note from the Iraqi news agency here, saying that this killing comes at a time of rising hatred against the United States in the region -- Anderson.

COOPER: Nic, there's an article in "The New York Times" today, in which they say Iraq rack is trying to put a new face on their efforts with communicating with the media. That would seem to be at odds with the fact you are being asked to leave tomorrow when your visa expires.

Do you understand the contradiction? Can you tell us a little bit about what it's like being there, and is it a done deal? Are you going to have to leave?

ROBERTSON: Reporter: the situation has been fluid, but Iraqi officials have clarified their position. It is that there has been in the past an unapplied law, if you will, that means whenever you come into Iraq, you have to have your visa renewed every 10 days. Now this law has been dormant, if you will, for the last number of years, Iraqi officials say, and now they're going to a apply that law, that when your visa expires after 10 days, it won't be renewed, you will have to leave. That's the position that we're in. That's the position that other journalists who are here. Anyone who has been expired visa has to leave.

The Iraqi officials are saying this is because they need to reorganize, remanage the situation. The journalists here, they have experienced difficulties in managing the large number of journalists that have come under referendum in the last few weeks, and this is a new process, and they say that a new set of rules and regulation will apply.

However, they do say when that we do leave, and I will be leaving tomorrow, Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf will be leaving for the border of Jordan, Iraq and Jordan in the next few hours. Once in Jordan, we will be able to apply for new visas. They say those new visas will be granted quickly.

Anderson, we will have to wait and see on that, however.

COOPER: All right, we all will wait and see what happens. Nic Robertson, thank you very 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 October 28, 2002 - 11:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is keeping the pressure on the United Nations to approve the U.S. resolution on Iraq. The five-council members would veto power, and they remain divided over the issue. And now Russia and France have introduced their own proposals that do not threaten military action.
CNN's Nic Robertson is live in Baghdad, at least for now, although he was told last week to leave Iraq by today.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Anderson.

In fact I'll be leaving Iraq tomorrow. That's when my visa expires. That's what the current restrictions being put in place by the Iraqi authorities here determined.

But on the point about Iraqi authorities and the proposed U.N. resolution, the rhetoric really stepping up here. The Foreign Minister Najee Sabri (ph) saying that the proposals at the moment amount to an effective colonization of Iraq, by the United Nations, something he said was an insult to the United Nations. In some of the newspapers here, the United States is being accused of waging terrorism inside the United Nations, the rhetoric in advance of a possible resolution really stepping up here.

And another interesting note, Anderson, in reference to the killing of a U.S. Diplomat in Jordan earlier today, a note from the Iraqi news agency here, saying that this killing comes at a time of rising hatred against the United States in the region -- Anderson.

COOPER: Nic, there's an article in "The New York Times" today, in which they say Iraq rack is trying to put a new face on their efforts with communicating with the media. That would seem to be at odds with the fact you are being asked to leave tomorrow when your visa expires.

Do you understand the contradiction? Can you tell us a little bit about what it's like being there, and is it a done deal? Are you going to have to leave?

ROBERTSON: Reporter: the situation has been fluid, but Iraqi officials have clarified their position. It is that there has been in the past an unapplied law, if you will, that means whenever you come into Iraq, you have to have your visa renewed every 10 days. Now this law has been dormant, if you will, for the last number of years, Iraqi officials say, and now they're going to a apply that law, that when your visa expires after 10 days, it won't be renewed, you will have to leave. That's the position that we're in. That's the position that other journalists who are here. Anyone who has been expired visa has to leave.

The Iraqi officials are saying this is because they need to reorganize, remanage the situation. The journalists here, they have experienced difficulties in managing the large number of journalists that have come under referendum in the last few weeks, and this is a new process, and they say that a new set of rules and regulation will apply.

However, they do say when that we do leave, and I will be leaving tomorrow, Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf will be leaving for the border of Jordan, Iraq and Jordan in the next few hours. Once in Jordan, we will be able to apply for new visas. They say those new visas will be granted quickly.

Anderson, we will have to wait and see on that, however.

COOPER: All right, we all will wait and see what happens. Nic Robertson, thank you very 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