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CNN Live At Daybreak
Chief Weapons Inspector at Training Session for New Weapons Inspectors
Aired February 07, 2003 - 05:05 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The head of the U.N. weapons inspections of racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles. Hans Blix was in New York Wednesday, London yesterday, and he's in Vienna today, so when it's Saturday, it must be Baghdad.
Our Richard Roth is following his every move. Richard is now in Vienna. Let's go there live.
Richard -- what is Hans Blix doing today?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Hans Blix is here to conclude the latest round of training for new U.N. weapons inspectors. Very unclear when they're going to be working and especially how long they're going to be working in Iraq. And they cover all of the fields -- chemical, biological and missiles -- things like that.
On arrival here at the U.N. headquarters in Vienna, Hans Blix was asked by me about the private interview conducted by the Iraqi -- conducted by the U.N. weapons inspectors for the first time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I think I'd like to get down to Baghdad and hear the results of that. I think it seems as if they are making an effort.
ROTH: Do you want to see more this weekend?
BLIX: We want to see a lot more this weekend.
ROTH: President Bush says the "game is over." Is it over for you and your inspections, though?
BLIX: No, I'm just going to give the last words to the latest training course.
ROTH: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the last, do you think?
BLIX: Well, I hope so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Blix says he hopes wisdom will prevail. Inside, he told this latest batch of inspectors that he believes the Arab countries, the Europeans and even President Bush and Tony Blair think that inspections is the best alternative to any war -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, what does Mr. Blix expect to hear from Iraqi officials on Saturday? And does he want immediate results? Does he want the Iraqis to take him to the homes of scientists for more one- on-one interviews?
ROTH: I think it's fair to say that Blix would like more than one interview with the scientists. He would like to have iron-clad guarantees that the inspectors will have multiple interviews with scientists, have U-2 reconnaissance surveillance flights with no conditions, and just more substantive cooperation. If he gets it, his report to the Security Council February 14 will likely be more positive than his previous reports.
COSTELLO: Richard Roth live from Vienna.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Weapons Inspectors>
Aired February 7, 2003 - 05:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The head of the U.N. weapons inspections of racking up a lot of frequent flyer miles. Hans Blix was in New York Wednesday, London yesterday, and he's in Vienna today, so when it's Saturday, it must be Baghdad.
Our Richard Roth is following his every move. Richard is now in Vienna. Let's go there live.
Richard -- what is Hans Blix doing today?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Hans Blix is here to conclude the latest round of training for new U.N. weapons inspectors. Very unclear when they're going to be working and especially how long they're going to be working in Iraq. And they cover all of the fields -- chemical, biological and missiles -- things like that.
On arrival here at the U.N. headquarters in Vienna, Hans Blix was asked by me about the private interview conducted by the Iraqi -- conducted by the U.N. weapons inspectors for the first time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I think I'd like to get down to Baghdad and hear the results of that. I think it seems as if they are making an effort.
ROTH: Do you want to see more this weekend?
BLIX: We want to see a lot more this weekend.
ROTH: President Bush says the "game is over." Is it over for you and your inspections, though?
BLIX: No, I'm just going to give the last words to the latest training course.
ROTH: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the last, do you think?
BLIX: Well, I hope so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Blix says he hopes wisdom will prevail. Inside, he told this latest batch of inspectors that he believes the Arab countries, the Europeans and even President Bush and Tony Blair think that inspections is the best alternative to any war -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, what does Mr. Blix expect to hear from Iraqi officials on Saturday? And does he want immediate results? Does he want the Iraqis to take him to the homes of scientists for more one- on-one interviews?
ROTH: I think it's fair to say that Blix would like more than one interview with the scientists. He would like to have iron-clad guarantees that the inspectors will have multiple interviews with scientists, have U-2 reconnaissance surveillance flights with no conditions, and just more substantive cooperation. If he gets it, his report to the Security Council February 14 will likely be more positive than his previous reports.
COSTELLO: Richard Roth live from Vienna.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Weapons Inspectors>
