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Blair Meeting Moved to White House

Aired January 31, 2003 - 10:01   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington, taking the weapons report and adding the next chapter. This one could lead to war. President Bush and Britain's Tony Blair meet to forge a plan on Iraq, charting a course first through diplomacy, and then, if necessary the battle field.
Our Christiane Amanpour traveled with Mr. Blair to the U.S., and interviewed him just a short time ago. She joins us from outside the British ambassador's residence -- Christiane, good morning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning. First a report, a logistical change. This summit between Blair and President Bush was due to be held at Camp David this afternoon. But it has been switched now to the White House because of the bad weather. It is raining, it's been quite cloudy, and, anyway, the latest that we've heard is that the meeting will be held at the White House, and not Camp David.

Having said that, Blair is here as the U.S.'s closest ally in the strategy to confront Iraq. He is going to be talking to President Bush, as we've been saying, and what he is going to be talking about is the need for a little more time or, perhaps, much more time. Basically, what we're being told is, by Blair and his people here, is that it is not a question today of setting a firm deadline but of coming up, eventually, with a judgment that Saddam Hussein is or is not cooperating. And right now, Blair says, that judgment is that he is not cooperating.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The timing is really governed by the judgment as to whether Iraq is cooperating or not, because the United Nations resolution we passed last November didn't just say that the inspectors should go in there and have access to sites and so on. It laid down a very, very clear obligation on Iraq, fully and completely, to cooperate with the inspectors. Now, at the present, they're not doing that. The inspectors will give another report, I think, in a couple of week's time. If they carry on not cooperating with the inspectors, then the judgment, the Security Council will have to take, is that they're in breach of the United Nations resolution, and that action should follow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: So, officials here have been telling us that after the meeting between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush, we're likely to hear that there has been an agreement, that they must go the U.N. route, they must use this time, time necessary to get all the military forces in position. They must use that time to build as broad a coalition as possible, and to make sure that no U.N. Security Council member that wields a veto vote, will actually have reason to use that veto.

In other words, countries like France, a permanent member of the Security Council, which is saying that it sees no reason to go to war right now, by the end of a process of negotiations and consultations, presentation of more evidence, presentation of, perhaps, more reports by Hans Blix, down the line, every couple of weeks or so, that overwhelming body of evidence, they say, needs to be accumulated, so that all the members of -- certainly, the permanent members of the Security Council can have another resolution as they go forward -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Christiane, did Mr. Blair talk about concern back home, where, clearly, the majority of the British people do not support going to war against Iraq, as he walks this very difficult tightrope, what he believes is right, and what many of the people that he represents believe is right?

AMANPOUR: Yes, and it's not just Mr. Blair. It's people in countries all over Europe and all over the rest of the world. Even in Australia, where the prime minister has put himself solidly behind President Bush. What world leaders want, in order to be able to properly support a military confrontation, if it should come to that, is the cover of a U.N. resolution, the cover of international legality. And, really, the cover of an overwhelming presentation of evidence that Iraq is not cooperating.

And so they are hoping, perhaps, to get several more reports from Blix before any decision on war is made. So we're talking, perhaps, six weeks or even more, according to officials right now, before a final judgment is made.

KAGAN: Christiane Amanpour in Washington. Christiane, thank you so much, and we are going to hear a lot more of Christiane's entire interview with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. That is going to be later this hour. She will also be back with us live to answer some more questions, so stay tuned for that -- Leon.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair is likely to push for a new U.N. resolution -- excuse me -- the White House is likely to seek a somewhat different course, setting a deadline for Iraqi compliance. CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux checks in from her post at the executive mansion this morning to set the stage for us, good morning. Speaking of stages, Suzanne, we understand the stage has already been moved from Camp David back to the White House.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're seeing a little bit of rough weather here, and that's the reason why that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be meeting the president here at the White House this afternoon.

We're told they'll meet for several hours before there will be a press availability. Then we'll hear from both President Bush as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This is the administration's thinking on this one. They hope to answer a number of questions, some key issues of whether or not -- and just how long they'll let weapons inspectors continue their jobs, whether or not military action is necessary, and if it is, just who would be involved, what would the timetable be.

But really, what is most significant is the changing of thinking of the administration on this, the idea of a second resolution from the U.N. Security Council. You may recall that last year in the fall, the administration was dead set against this idea. They really thought it was a roadblock, a delay tactic. But now the administration, including White House spokesman Ari Fleischer again this morning saying that it was desirable but not mandatory that they have a second resolution. The thinking here is hopefully they will be able to get more support from U.S. allies, most notably the French, if they can get them on board with the use of a second resolution.

This would call for a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply. And if not, would mandate, would go ahead and authorize the use of military action by the U.N. Security Council. They're hoping that, perhaps, they can get the allies on board if they pushed for that second resolution. The other thing, of course, Leon, is also providing political cover not only for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, but others who see a great deal of opposition from their own people against military action. This is something that the White House, of course, is very much aware of, that there are political considerations as well. So they're hoping that, yes, this is something that is being debated. They haven't committed to it yet, but they're certainly open to that idea -- Leon.

HARRIS: Suzanne, then what about this idea that was floated in the last -- last 48 hours or so, this idea of Saddam Hussein going into exile? An idea that many people, most people believe that he wouldn't do anyway. But is that going to be a topic of discussion between Misters Bush and Blair today, and is the White House serious about pursuing that?

MALVEAUX: Well, it very well could be a topic of discussion, Leon. We heard from the President just yesterday talking about that, saying that, of course, he would welcome that if Saddam Hussein voluntarily left his own country, or if he was overthrown by his own people.

But make no mistake, Leon, there is no one at the White House, in this administration that believes that is a likely scenario. They believe that he is probably, in all likelihood, going to fight until the end. So yes, it's a possibility, but it is not one that they're taking very seriously here.

HARRIS: Got you. Thank you very much, Suzanne. Suzanne Malveaux, checking in from the White House.

Once again, folks, we are going to remind you, as we keep our eye here on these meetings between Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush, Christiane Amanpour, our chief international correspondent, got a chance to sit down one-on-one with Mr. Blair earlier today, and she will be back next hour with us live to talk about that interview, and also to show that interview, so stay with us. We will have that for you.

KAGAN: Well, this is one day after Iraq invited the United Nations two chief inspectors back to Baghdad. The head of the nuclear agency says they will accept, but with conditions. And it is those conditions that could be a deal breaker for Baghdad. We go now to the Iraqi capital where our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is standing by -- Nic, hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, those two issues they'd like to see dealt with are the issues that have been dogging the U.N. weapons inspection mission here for some time. One of them, to get private interviews with Iraqi scientists. That is something inspectors believe is absolutely crucial if they are going to truly get to the bottom of whether or not Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

They want to hold those interviews in private. So far Iraqi officials say they're encouraging their scientists to do this, the scientists say they don't feel safe going into the interviews without other officials with them.

The other issue that's become very contentious lately, the U.N. wants to use U-2 surveillance aircraft to overfly Iraq so that they can support the inspection mission on the ground. The Iraqi officials here say the only way that can happen is if allied aircraft patrolling the northern and southern no-fly zones stop for the period that the U- 2 is over Iraqi airspace. The U.N. has categorically ruled that out up until now. These are the two issues -- very big issues that have to be agreed upon before Hans Blix, Mohammed ElBaradei will consider coming back here -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Nic, thank you very much -- Leon.

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 31, 2003 - 10:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: In Washington, taking the weapons report and adding the next chapter. This one could lead to war. President Bush and Britain's Tony Blair meet to forge a plan on Iraq, charting a course first through diplomacy, and then, if necessary the battle field.
Our Christiane Amanpour traveled with Mr. Blair to the U.S., and interviewed him just a short time ago. She joins us from outside the British ambassador's residence -- Christiane, good morning.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning. First a report, a logistical change. This summit between Blair and President Bush was due to be held at Camp David this afternoon. But it has been switched now to the White House because of the bad weather. It is raining, it's been quite cloudy, and, anyway, the latest that we've heard is that the meeting will be held at the White House, and not Camp David.

Having said that, Blair is here as the U.S.'s closest ally in the strategy to confront Iraq. He is going to be talking to President Bush, as we've been saying, and what he is going to be talking about is the need for a little more time or, perhaps, much more time. Basically, what we're being told is, by Blair and his people here, is that it is not a question today of setting a firm deadline but of coming up, eventually, with a judgment that Saddam Hussein is or is not cooperating. And right now, Blair says, that judgment is that he is not cooperating.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The timing is really governed by the judgment as to whether Iraq is cooperating or not, because the United Nations resolution we passed last November didn't just say that the inspectors should go in there and have access to sites and so on. It laid down a very, very clear obligation on Iraq, fully and completely, to cooperate with the inspectors. Now, at the present, they're not doing that. The inspectors will give another report, I think, in a couple of week's time. If they carry on not cooperating with the inspectors, then the judgment, the Security Council will have to take, is that they're in breach of the United Nations resolution, and that action should follow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: So, officials here have been telling us that after the meeting between Prime Minister Blair and President Bush, we're likely to hear that there has been an agreement, that they must go the U.N. route, they must use this time, time necessary to get all the military forces in position. They must use that time to build as broad a coalition as possible, and to make sure that no U.N. Security Council member that wields a veto vote, will actually have reason to use that veto.

In other words, countries like France, a permanent member of the Security Council, which is saying that it sees no reason to go to war right now, by the end of a process of negotiations and consultations, presentation of more evidence, presentation of, perhaps, more reports by Hans Blix, down the line, every couple of weeks or so, that overwhelming body of evidence, they say, needs to be accumulated, so that all the members of -- certainly, the permanent members of the Security Council can have another resolution as they go forward -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Christiane, did Mr. Blair talk about concern back home, where, clearly, the majority of the British people do not support going to war against Iraq, as he walks this very difficult tightrope, what he believes is right, and what many of the people that he represents believe is right?

AMANPOUR: Yes, and it's not just Mr. Blair. It's people in countries all over Europe and all over the rest of the world. Even in Australia, where the prime minister has put himself solidly behind President Bush. What world leaders want, in order to be able to properly support a military confrontation, if it should come to that, is the cover of a U.N. resolution, the cover of international legality. And, really, the cover of an overwhelming presentation of evidence that Iraq is not cooperating.

And so they are hoping, perhaps, to get several more reports from Blix before any decision on war is made. So we're talking, perhaps, six weeks or even more, according to officials right now, before a final judgment is made.

KAGAN: Christiane Amanpour in Washington. Christiane, thank you so much, and we are going to hear a lot more of Christiane's entire interview with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. That is going to be later this hour. She will also be back with us live to answer some more questions, so stay tuned for that -- Leon.

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, while British Prime Minister Tony Blair is likely to push for a new U.N. resolution -- excuse me -- the White House is likely to seek a somewhat different course, setting a deadline for Iraqi compliance. CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux checks in from her post at the executive mansion this morning to set the stage for us, good morning. Speaking of stages, Suzanne, we understand the stage has already been moved from Camp David back to the White House.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We're seeing a little bit of rough weather here, and that's the reason why that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be meeting the president here at the White House this afternoon.

We're told they'll meet for several hours before there will be a press availability. Then we'll hear from both President Bush as well as British Prime Minister Tony Blair. This is the administration's thinking on this one. They hope to answer a number of questions, some key issues of whether or not -- and just how long they'll let weapons inspectors continue their jobs, whether or not military action is necessary, and if it is, just who would be involved, what would the timetable be.

But really, what is most significant is the changing of thinking of the administration on this, the idea of a second resolution from the U.N. Security Council. You may recall that last year in the fall, the administration was dead set against this idea. They really thought it was a roadblock, a delay tactic. But now the administration, including White House spokesman Ari Fleischer again this morning saying that it was desirable but not mandatory that they have a second resolution. The thinking here is hopefully they will be able to get more support from U.S. allies, most notably the French, if they can get them on board with the use of a second resolution.

This would call for a deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply. And if not, would mandate, would go ahead and authorize the use of military action by the U.N. Security Council. They're hoping that, perhaps, they can get the allies on board if they pushed for that second resolution. The other thing, of course, Leon, is also providing political cover not only for British Prime Minister Tony Blair, but others who see a great deal of opposition from their own people against military action. This is something that the White House, of course, is very much aware of, that there are political considerations as well. So they're hoping that, yes, this is something that is being debated. They haven't committed to it yet, but they're certainly open to that idea -- Leon.

HARRIS: Suzanne, then what about this idea that was floated in the last -- last 48 hours or so, this idea of Saddam Hussein going into exile? An idea that many people, most people believe that he wouldn't do anyway. But is that going to be a topic of discussion between Misters Bush and Blair today, and is the White House serious about pursuing that?

MALVEAUX: Well, it very well could be a topic of discussion, Leon. We heard from the President just yesterday talking about that, saying that, of course, he would welcome that if Saddam Hussein voluntarily left his own country, or if he was overthrown by his own people.

But make no mistake, Leon, there is no one at the White House, in this administration that believes that is a likely scenario. They believe that he is probably, in all likelihood, going to fight until the end. So yes, it's a possibility, but it is not one that they're taking very seriously here.

HARRIS: Got you. Thank you very much, Suzanne. Suzanne Malveaux, checking in from the White House.

Once again, folks, we are going to remind you, as we keep our eye here on these meetings between Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush, Christiane Amanpour, our chief international correspondent, got a chance to sit down one-on-one with Mr. Blair earlier today, and she will be back next hour with us live to talk about that interview, and also to show that interview, so stay with us. We will have that for you.

KAGAN: Well, this is one day after Iraq invited the United Nations two chief inspectors back to Baghdad. The head of the nuclear agency says they will accept, but with conditions. And it is those conditions that could be a deal breaker for Baghdad. We go now to the Iraqi capital where our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is standing by -- Nic, hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. Well, those two issues they'd like to see dealt with are the issues that have been dogging the U.N. weapons inspection mission here for some time. One of them, to get private interviews with Iraqi scientists. That is something inspectors believe is absolutely crucial if they are going to truly get to the bottom of whether or not Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction.

They want to hold those interviews in private. So far Iraqi officials say they're encouraging their scientists to do this, the scientists say they don't feel safe going into the interviews without other officials with them.

The other issue that's become very contentious lately, the U.N. wants to use U-2 surveillance aircraft to overfly Iraq so that they can support the inspection mission on the ground. The Iraqi officials here say the only way that can happen is if allied aircraft patrolling the northern and southern no-fly zones stop for the period that the U- 2 is over Iraqi airspace. The U.N. has categorically ruled that out up until now. These are the two issues -- very big issues that have to be agreed upon before Hans Blix, Mohammed ElBaradei will consider coming back here -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Nic, thank you very much -- Leon.

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