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CNN Live At Daybreak
President In Prague at NATO Summit
Aired November 20, 2002 - 06:01 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The president in Prague. He is seeking the support of NATO leaders against Iraq if Baghdad does not disarm, and he's asking nations to join in what he calls a "coalition of the willing."
CNN's Chris Burns is in the Czech capital with more.
And, Chris, the president was talking pretty tough.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he certainly was, Carol, and he's trying to see who he can count on if it does come to the point where the U.S. does want to launch an attack on Iraq.
He first paid his visit to Vaclav Havel, the president of the Czech Republic, the former leader of the Velvet Revolution that brought down the communist regime here, part of that effort that brought down the Soviet empire.
And here, in the next couple of days, seven more members of the former Soviet bloc will be joining -- will be at least invited to join this 19-nation NATO. And Bush is sounding out -- is going around sounding out to the various members, seeing who he can count on if there is a war in Iraq.
And this is what Bush had to say to his allies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's very important for our nations, as well as all free nations, to work collectively to see to it that Saddam Hussein disarms. If the collective will of the world is strong, we can achieve disarmament peacefully.
However, should he choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him, and at that point in time, all our nations -- we will consult with our friends and all nations will be able to choose whether or not they want to participate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: So, what did Vaclav Havel have to say about that? Well, he responded saying that this will be a very big test for NATO itself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRES. VACLAV HAVEL, CZECH REPUBLIC (through translator): I share the opinion of President Bush and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) people that it would be better to achieve Iraq's disarmament without using force. If, however, the need to use force (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I believe that NATO should give an honest and speedy consideration to its engagement at an alliance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Two other key bilateral meetings for President Bush -- one with Lord Robertson, the secretary-general of NATO, and a meeting with the president of Turkey, Ahmed Sezer, who is going to be asked to try to commit to offering bases and airspace to the U.S. in the event of an attack on Iraq. Now, that's a very, very key question, because Turkey has been very, very touchy on that up until now -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Chris, I hear the helicopters going over you head there. Security must be amazingly tight there.
BURNS: Absolutely. We've got 12,000 police here, altogether some 4,000 or more troops, 2,000 of those are protecting the VIPs -- that's President Bush and some 40 other heads of state here. Now, there could be demonstrations later today. We'll be watching for that -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris, thanks.
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 November 20, 2002 - 06:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The president in Prague. He is seeking the support of NATO leaders against Iraq if Baghdad does not disarm, and he's asking nations to join in what he calls a "coalition of the willing."
CNN's Chris Burns is in the Czech capital with more.
And, Chris, the president was talking pretty tough.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, he certainly was, Carol, and he's trying to see who he can count on if it does come to the point where the U.S. does want to launch an attack on Iraq.
He first paid his visit to Vaclav Havel, the president of the Czech Republic, the former leader of the Velvet Revolution that brought down the communist regime here, part of that effort that brought down the Soviet empire.
And here, in the next couple of days, seven more members of the former Soviet bloc will be joining -- will be at least invited to join this 19-nation NATO. And Bush is sounding out -- is going around sounding out to the various members, seeing who he can count on if there is a war in Iraq.
And this is what Bush had to say to his allies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's very important for our nations, as well as all free nations, to work collectively to see to it that Saddam Hussein disarms. If the collective will of the world is strong, we can achieve disarmament peacefully.
However, should he choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him, and at that point in time, all our nations -- we will consult with our friends and all nations will be able to choose whether or not they want to participate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: So, what did Vaclav Havel have to say about that? Well, he responded saying that this will be a very big test for NATO itself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PRES. VACLAV HAVEL, CZECH REPUBLIC (through translator): I share the opinion of President Bush and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) people that it would be better to achieve Iraq's disarmament without using force. If, however, the need to use force (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I believe that NATO should give an honest and speedy consideration to its engagement at an alliance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BURNS: Two other key bilateral meetings for President Bush -- one with Lord Robertson, the secretary-general of NATO, and a meeting with the president of Turkey, Ahmed Sezer, who is going to be asked to try to commit to offering bases and airspace to the U.S. in the event of an attack on Iraq. Now, that's a very, very key question, because Turkey has been very, very touchy on that up until now -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Chris, I hear the helicopters going over you head there. Security must be amazingly tight there.
BURNS: Absolutely. We've got 12,000 police here, altogether some 4,000 or more troops, 2,000 of those are protecting the VIPs -- that's President Bush and some 40 other heads of state here. Now, there could be demonstrations later today. We'll be watching for that -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Chris, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
