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Iraqi, Inspectors Agree on Some Points

Aired January 20, 2003 - 10:06   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, two days of talks between U.N. weapons inspectors and Iraqi officials forged some common ground and exposed some gaping holes, as well. Baghdad vows to more fully cooperate with the inspections, and that pledge is going to be put to the test with unanswered questions about old biochemical weapons.
Let's go now to Baghdad where the talks are held, and that is where CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is standing by -- good morning, or good afternoon to you, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's almost good evening here Leon, but good morning to you.

Almost ten points -- there were ten points of agreement between the Iraqi authorities and the U.N. weapons chief, Hans Blix. One of those points that Iraqi authorities would form an investigative team to research and find out if there are any more chemical warheads lying around the country, similar to those the U.N. inspection team found last week.

Already, Hans Blix says that the Iraqis have told him of four more warheads they found. An agreement also from the Iraqi side to add more names of scientists to a list of names they have already handed to the U.N. teams. Now, that is because the U.N. said, Hold on a minute, the list you've given us is incomplete.

We know there are more scientists out there involved in past programs. Iraqi authorities now agreeing to put those names forward. Also very key to the U.N. officials was to get agreement that Iraqi authorities would help encourage their scientists to get involved in private talks with U.N. inspectors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMER AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: Seven -- persons asked for interviews in private will be encouraged to accept this.

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

Nine -- Iraq will enact national legislation, as soon as possible, regarding prescribed activities.

Ten -- Iraq agreed to continue technical discussions with the IAEA to clarify issues regarding aluminum tubes, alleged uranium importation, and the use of high explosives, as well as other outstanding issues. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Now, while these ten points do answer many of the U.N.'s questions, some things remain unresolved. The U.N. wants to fly U2 surveillance aircraft high over the skies of Iraq to support the weapons inspectors on the ground. There's no agreement on that. However, despite this, Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief, says that he is confident, based on his recent experience with Iraqi authorities, that they will make good on these agreements -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Nic, I know -- I have got to ask you about the news over the weekend about at least the discussions being held in other capitals in the region about finding some place for Saddam Hussein to go in exile. Now, I know what the official reaction there in Iraq is going to be. That's out of the question. It is not even going to be considered. But is there any way to gauge what maybe people on the street think about this idea, if they have been hearing this news?

ROBERTSON: People on the street here, generally, will tell you exactly what they think that we should hear. And that, generally, would be that they are positively in support of President Saddam Hussein, that they would positively see no reason for him to be changed, for him to step down, because he is very much liked.

In private, in private discussions, people may venture other opinions. And certainly, the issues, the points being put forward by senior leadership officials here in Iraq are the very same as what we would likely hear from people here on the street here, Leon, and that is -- President Saddam Hussein is not contemplating going into exile any time soon -- Leon.

HARRIS: Won't go silently or quietly into that good night. We understand that for sure. Thanks, Nic. Nic Robertson, reporting live from the evening hours in Baghdad.

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 - 10:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, two days of talks between U.N. weapons inspectors and Iraqi officials forged some common ground and exposed some gaping holes, as well. Baghdad vows to more fully cooperate with the inspections, and that pledge is going to be put to the test with unanswered questions about old biochemical weapons.
Let's go now to Baghdad where the talks are held, and that is where CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is standing by -- good morning, or good afternoon to you, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's almost good evening here Leon, but good morning to you.

Almost ten points -- there were ten points of agreement between the Iraqi authorities and the U.N. weapons chief, Hans Blix. One of those points that Iraqi authorities would form an investigative team to research and find out if there are any more chemical warheads lying around the country, similar to those the U.N. inspection team found last week.

Already, Hans Blix says that the Iraqis have told him of four more warheads they found. An agreement also from the Iraqi side to add more names of scientists to a list of names they have already handed to the U.N. teams. Now, that is because the U.N. said, Hold on a minute, the list you've given us is incomplete.

We know there are more scientists out there involved in past programs. Iraqi authorities now agreeing to put those names forward. Also very key to the U.N. officials was to get agreement that Iraqi authorities would help encourage their scientists to get involved in private talks with U.N. inspectors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMER AL-SAADI, IRAQI SCIENTIFIC ADVISER: Seven -- persons asked for interviews in private will be encouraged to accept this.

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

Nine -- Iraq will enact national legislation, as soon as possible, regarding prescribed activities.

Ten -- Iraq agreed to continue technical discussions with the IAEA to clarify issues regarding aluminum tubes, alleged uranium importation, and the use of high explosives, as well as other outstanding issues. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Now, while these ten points do answer many of the U.N.'s questions, some things remain unresolved. The U.N. wants to fly U2 surveillance aircraft high over the skies of Iraq to support the weapons inspectors on the ground. There's no agreement on that. However, despite this, Hans Blix, the U.N. weapons chief, says that he is confident, based on his recent experience with Iraqi authorities, that they will make good on these agreements -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Nic, I know -- I have got to ask you about the news over the weekend about at least the discussions being held in other capitals in the region about finding some place for Saddam Hussein to go in exile. Now, I know what the official reaction there in Iraq is going to be. That's out of the question. It is not even going to be considered. But is there any way to gauge what maybe people on the street think about this idea, if they have been hearing this news?

ROBERTSON: People on the street here, generally, will tell you exactly what they think that we should hear. And that, generally, would be that they are positively in support of President Saddam Hussein, that they would positively see no reason for him to be changed, for him to step down, because he is very much liked.

In private, in private discussions, people may venture other opinions. And certainly, the issues, the points being put forward by senior leadership officials here in Iraq are the very same as what we would likely hear from people here on the street here, Leon, and that is -- President Saddam Hussein is not contemplating going into exile any time soon -- Leon.

HARRIS: Won't go silently or quietly into that good night. We understand that for sure. Thanks, Nic. Nic Robertson, reporting live from the evening hours in Baghdad.

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