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CNN Live Today
Security Council Continues Debate
Aired February 19, 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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is facing now what could be its biggest hurdle on the road to war: strong opposition in the U.N. Dozens of countries have lined up to object to military action in Iraq, and that is presenting a major diplomatic challenge for the White House.
Our senior U.N. correspondent is at his post in New York where it is day two of an intense debate over Iraq. Let's check in now with Richard Roth -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Some 32 countries will get the right to speak inside the Security Council chamber today, following up yesterday's four hour session. Many of the countries saying the inspectors should be given more time to do their job in Iraq, and that the road to war would be quite risky, causing devastation in the region.
You're looking live inside the Security Council. In a matter of minutes, the first speaker will begin. Meanwhile, in the hallways, the United States and the United Kingdom will be working on, perhaps, a second resolution to be considered later this week, early next week, or perhaps never if there's some type of veto threat. We saw earlier the United States deputy ambassador huddling with the German president of the Security Council. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, yesterday was asked about the chances for this resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: At this point, I'm just not in a position to tell you when or whether we might put forward such a resolution. I think that remains to be determined, and it's going to be decided in our respective capitals. But I would expect such a decision to be taken quite shortly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Meanwhile, the United Nations top diplomat, Kofi Annan, touring Europe after visiting the pope, came out strongly again today saying that war is not inevitable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: I have maintained that war is not inevitable, and that war is always a human catastrophe, and we should exhaust all of the possibilities for peaceful settlement before war is ever contemplated. And even then, it should only be contemplated when it is obviously -- when the alternative is obviously worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Of course, the United Nations -- diplomacy will always be paramount. You're looking now live. That's the president of the Security Council, German ambassador Pleuger, about to call the session to order. This two-day debate is not going to really result in a vote. It may change a few minds, perhaps, on the Security Council of those members who are wondering which way to lean, either the U.S. way or the French way. But, more likely, a resolution will determine what happens here, Leon. The exact wording, whether there will be an ultimatum to Iraq, or whether it will just say they are in material breach, and leave it up to the members to decide if they want to vote on a resolution that might be international authorization to war -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Richard, how is this debate likely to change at least the timing of the introduction of this resolution that we've been talking about recently?
ROTH: Well, it may delay it slightly, but I don't think the United States or the United Kingdom were even ready to go to a second resolution draft. They were probably taken aback a little bit by the resounding applause for the French and Russian positions on Friday, and the major demonstrations that took place around the world. President Bush yesterday saying he would like to have a second resolution, but he calls it now maybe not necessary. He says Saddam Hussein is not even living up to the first resolution.
HARRIS: All right. Good deal. Richard Roth, thank you very much.
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 February 19, 2003 - 10:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is facing now what could be its biggest hurdle on the road to war: strong opposition in the U.N. Dozens of countries have lined up to object to military action in Iraq, and that is presenting a major diplomatic challenge for the White House.
Our senior U.N. correspondent is at his post in New York where it is day two of an intense debate over Iraq. Let's check in now with Richard Roth -- good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon. Some 32 countries will get the right to speak inside the Security Council chamber today, following up yesterday's four hour session. Many of the countries saying the inspectors should be given more time to do their job in Iraq, and that the road to war would be quite risky, causing devastation in the region.
You're looking live inside the Security Council. In a matter of minutes, the first speaker will begin. Meanwhile, in the hallways, the United States and the United Kingdom will be working on, perhaps, a second resolution to be considered later this week, early next week, or perhaps never if there's some type of veto threat. We saw earlier the United States deputy ambassador huddling with the German president of the Security Council. U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, yesterday was asked about the chances for this resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: At this point, I'm just not in a position to tell you when or whether we might put forward such a resolution. I think that remains to be determined, and it's going to be decided in our respective capitals. But I would expect such a decision to be taken quite shortly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Meanwhile, the United Nations top diplomat, Kofi Annan, touring Europe after visiting the pope, came out strongly again today saying that war is not inevitable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: I have maintained that war is not inevitable, and that war is always a human catastrophe, and we should exhaust all of the possibilities for peaceful settlement before war is ever contemplated. And even then, it should only be contemplated when it is obviously -- when the alternative is obviously worse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Of course, the United Nations -- diplomacy will always be paramount. You're looking now live. That's the president of the Security Council, German ambassador Pleuger, about to call the session to order. This two-day debate is not going to really result in a vote. It may change a few minds, perhaps, on the Security Council of those members who are wondering which way to lean, either the U.S. way or the French way. But, more likely, a resolution will determine what happens here, Leon. The exact wording, whether there will be an ultimatum to Iraq, or whether it will just say they are in material breach, and leave it up to the members to decide if they want to vote on a resolution that might be international authorization to war -- Leon.
HARRIS: Well, Richard, how is this debate likely to change at least the timing of the introduction of this resolution that we've been talking about recently?
ROTH: Well, it may delay it slightly, but I don't think the United States or the United Kingdom were even ready to go to a second resolution draft. They were probably taken aback a little bit by the resounding applause for the French and Russian positions on Friday, and the major demonstrations that took place around the world. President Bush yesterday saying he would like to have a second resolution, but he calls it now maybe not necessary. He says Saddam Hussein is not even living up to the first resolution.
HARRIS: All right. Good deal. Richard Roth, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
