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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: Say You Want Resolution
Aired February 24, 2003 - 06:08 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More on Iraq in this morning's "Wake-Up Call." Our State Department producer, Elise Labott, is on the phone from Washington.
Elise -- where does this second resolution stand?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Well, Fredricka, over the weekend, Secretary Powell said the text that the U.S. and Britain will present this week will be simple and to the point, and will reiterate what the U.S. has been saying all along: that Iraq is in violation of the previous Resolution 1441. It could also impose some kind of deadline for Iraq to comply and serious consequences if it doesn't.
And this decision on whether to take this resolution to a vote could come on March 7, just two weeks from now, when chief weapons inspector Hans Blix will make his next report to the council.
And in the meantime, the U.S. will be working those non-permanent Security Council members to support the resolution in hopes of dissuading the permanent members -- France, Russia, China -- from using their veto against it -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And let's talk about the emphasis on some of the permanent members, such as China, where Powell is visiting right now. Any real breakthroughs on any agreements?
LABOTT: Well, not yet. You know, there's going to be a lot of lobbying over the next few weeks, but the secretary sure has his work cut out for him in Beijing. First of all, he's trying to persuade the Chinese government to support the U.N. resolution, because China has voiced opposition to military force, wants more time for those inspectors.
But Secretary Powell also wants to push the Chinese government to get more involved with the North Korea issue. He wants Beijing to use its influence with Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons program, which they've been reluctant to do. And he also wants the Chinese to support the U.S. position that this is an international issue rather than framing the problem as it's only a matter between the U.S. and North Korea.
So, he sure has his work cut out for the Chinese on all fronts.
WHITFIELD: All right, Elise, thank you very much, and thanks for getting up this early 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.
Aired February 24, 2003 - 06:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: More on Iraq in this morning's "Wake-Up Call." Our State Department producer, Elise Labott, is on the phone from Washington.
Elise -- where does this second resolution stand?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT PRODUCER: Well, Fredricka, over the weekend, Secretary Powell said the text that the U.S. and Britain will present this week will be simple and to the point, and will reiterate what the U.S. has been saying all along: that Iraq is in violation of the previous Resolution 1441. It could also impose some kind of deadline for Iraq to comply and serious consequences if it doesn't.
And this decision on whether to take this resolution to a vote could come on March 7, just two weeks from now, when chief weapons inspector Hans Blix will make his next report to the council.
And in the meantime, the U.S. will be working those non-permanent Security Council members to support the resolution in hopes of dissuading the permanent members -- France, Russia, China -- from using their veto against it -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And let's talk about the emphasis on some of the permanent members, such as China, where Powell is visiting right now. Any real breakthroughs on any agreements?
LABOTT: Well, not yet. You know, there's going to be a lot of lobbying over the next few weeks, but the secretary sure has his work cut out for him in Beijing. First of all, he's trying to persuade the Chinese government to support the U.N. resolution, because China has voiced opposition to military force, wants more time for those inspectors.
But Secretary Powell also wants to push the Chinese government to get more involved with the North Korea issue. He wants Beijing to use its influence with Pyongyang to halt its nuclear weapons program, which they've been reluctant to do. And he also wants the Chinese to support the U.S. position that this is an international issue rather than framing the problem as it's only a matter between the U.S. and North Korea.
So, he sure has his work cut out for the Chinese on all fronts.
WHITFIELD: All right, Elise, thank you very much, and thanks for getting up this early 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.
