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European Union Meeting in Emergency Session in Brussels Today
Aired February 17, 2003 - 06:25 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: Turning our attention to Iraq now, the 15 nation European Union is meeting in emergency session in Brussels today over a possible U.S.-led war with Iraq. As you might imagine, the E.U. is not united on this issue.
Joining us from Brussels to talk about that is Illeana Betel of "The European Voice."
Thanks for joining us this morning.
ILLEANA BETEL, "THE EUROPEAN VOICE":. Hi, good morning.
COSTELLO:. So, Greece is sort of playing the peacemaker here, because the prime minister is president of the European Union. Will he be able to bridge the gulf that divides members of the European Union? BETEL:. Bridging the gulf probably will not end up being the issue, because he won't be able to do that. It will probably turn into a more general discussion of what are the parameters in which a decision could be taken given that there really is such disparate views within the Union right now. You have France and Germany absolutely opposed to any kind of war in Iraq. You have Britain absolutely in favor of a war in Iraq. And you have other member states that are sort of veering between the two. Probably the discussion will turn much more into a general discussion of how can we come to reaching some kind of even gulf.
COSTELLO:. Might it get contentious?
BETEL:. It'll get very contentious. We won't see that, but given that in the last E.U. summit, which was not about Iraq, France and Germany, or, rather, Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair did not come to blows, but undoubtedly had the strongest words that any two heads of state, not just in the E.U., have ever had with each other over a completely different issue, there is every reason to assume that this time, too, there will, it will become exceedingly contentious. But probably what will come out in public will be a broad statement in which all sides have their views expressed and there'll be a strong backing, most probably, for a new U.N. resolution in which effectively the E.U. can transfer its differences back to the Security Council rather than battle it out here in the E.U. -- Carol.
COSTELLO:. And, of course, CNN will be following this throughout the day. Illeana Betel of "The European Voice," thank you for joining us live from Brussels this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Today>
Aired February 17, 2003 - 06:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Turning our attention to Iraq now, the 15 nation European Union is meeting in emergency session in Brussels today over a possible U.S.-led war with Iraq. As you might imagine, the E.U. is not united on this issue.
Joining us from Brussels to talk about that is Illeana Betel of "The European Voice."
Thanks for joining us this morning.
ILLEANA BETEL, "THE EUROPEAN VOICE":. Hi, good morning.
COSTELLO:. So, Greece is sort of playing the peacemaker here, because the prime minister is president of the European Union. Will he be able to bridge the gulf that divides members of the European Union? BETEL:. Bridging the gulf probably will not end up being the issue, because he won't be able to do that. It will probably turn into a more general discussion of what are the parameters in which a decision could be taken given that there really is such disparate views within the Union right now. You have France and Germany absolutely opposed to any kind of war in Iraq. You have Britain absolutely in favor of a war in Iraq. And you have other member states that are sort of veering between the two. Probably the discussion will turn much more into a general discussion of how can we come to reaching some kind of even gulf.
COSTELLO:. Might it get contentious?
BETEL:. It'll get very contentious. We won't see that, but given that in the last E.U. summit, which was not about Iraq, France and Germany, or, rather, Jacques Chirac and Tony Blair did not come to blows, but undoubtedly had the strongest words that any two heads of state, not just in the E.U., have ever had with each other over a completely different issue, there is every reason to assume that this time, too, there will, it will become exceedingly contentious. But probably what will come out in public will be a broad statement in which all sides have their views expressed and there'll be a strong backing, most probably, for a new U.N. resolution in which effectively the E.U. can transfer its differences back to the Security Council rather than battle it out here in the E.U. -- Carol.
COSTELLO:. And, of course, CNN will be following this throughout the day. Illeana Betel of "The European Voice," thank you for joining us live from Brussels this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Today>
