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Joint News Conference

Aired January 20, 2003 - 05:40   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We have a tape that's just come in to us, we want you to hear about it, it's from the news conference a little bit earlier today. We're going to be listening to Hans Blix and also one of Saddam's top scientist weapons expert.
Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: The meeting between the Iraqi side and UNMOVIC and the IAEA was devoted to stop taking (ph) of the inspections which have taken place and resolving issues that have come up. The following was noted.

Access has been obtained to all sites. This will continue. The Iraqi side will encourage persons to accept access also to private sites.

2. There has been helpful assistance in the logistic build up of the inspection infrastructure organizations. Example, at the Mussel (ph) office, this will continue, example, regarding a field office in Busler (ph).

3. After the find of some empty 122 millimeter chemical munitions at al-Luhara (ph) stores, the peace (ph) side has appointed a team to undertake an investigation and comprehensive search to look for similar cases at other -- at all locations. One find of four more units was already reported at al-Taji (ph) munition stores. The final results will be reported.

4. A response was given to an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) request for a number of documents. Some were handed over and clarifications were given regarding others.

5. The list of persons engaged in the various disciplines will be supplemented in accordance with advice from UNMOVIC and the IAEA.

6. The declaration given on 7 December by Iraq was discussed. Iraq expressed a readiness to respond to questions raised in connection with the declaration and discuss such questions.

7. Persons asked for interviews in private will be encouraged to accept this.

8. UNMOVIC and the IAEA agreed that their helicopters will take an appropriate number of minders on board as necessary.

9. Iraq will enact national legislation as soon as possible regarding prescribed activities.

10. Iraq agreed to continue technical discussions with the IAEA to clarify issues regarding aluminium tubes, alleged uranium implication and the use of high explosives, as well as other outstanding issues.

Thank you very much.

QUESTION: How do you describe the outcome of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? I said outside (ph), how you describe the outcome of the session (ph)?

BLIX: So I think we have to be very construction and possibly (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

QUESTION: Do you think that 32 (ph) days of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

BLIX: No, no, please.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: All right, we are going to have much more on that news conference coming up in the next hour. We'll be talking with Rym Brahimi from Baghdad about that.

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 January 20, 2003 - 05:40   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: We have a tape that's just come in to us, we want you to hear about it, it's from the news conference a little bit earlier today. We're going to be listening to Hans Blix and also one of Saddam's top scientist weapons expert.
Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: The meeting between the Iraqi side and UNMOVIC and the IAEA was devoted to stop taking (ph) of the inspections which have taken place and resolving issues that have come up. The following was noted.

Access has been obtained to all sites. This will continue. The Iraqi side will encourage persons to accept access also to private sites.

2. There has been helpful assistance in the logistic build up of the inspection infrastructure organizations. Example, at the Mussel (ph) office, this will continue, example, regarding a field office in Busler (ph).

3. After the find of some empty 122 millimeter chemical munitions at al-Luhara (ph) stores, the peace (ph) side has appointed a team to undertake an investigation and comprehensive search to look for similar cases at other -- at all locations. One find of four more units was already reported at al-Taji (ph) munition stores. The final results will be reported.

4. A response was given to an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) request for a number of documents. Some were handed over and clarifications were given regarding others.

5. The list of persons engaged in the various disciplines will be supplemented in accordance with advice from UNMOVIC and the IAEA.

6. The declaration given on 7 December by Iraq was discussed. Iraq expressed a readiness to respond to questions raised in connection with the declaration and discuss such questions.

7. Persons asked for interviews in private will be encouraged to accept this.

8. UNMOVIC and the IAEA agreed that their helicopters will take an appropriate number of minders on board as necessary.

9. Iraq will enact national legislation as soon as possible regarding prescribed activities.

10. Iraq agreed to continue technical discussions with the IAEA to clarify issues regarding aluminium tubes, alleged uranium implication and the use of high explosives, as well as other outstanding issues.

Thank you very much.

QUESTION: How do you describe the outcome of the (UNINTELLIGIBLE)? I said outside (ph), how you describe the outcome of the session (ph)?

BLIX: So I think we have to be very construction and possibly (ph) (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

QUESTION: Do you think that 32 (ph) days of (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

BLIX: No, no, please.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: All right, we are going to have much more on that news conference coming up in the next hour. We'll be talking with Rym Brahimi from Baghdad about that.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com