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Iraq Considering U.N. Demand to Destroy Missiles

Aired February 24, 2003 - 06:06   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: Let's get some reaction from Iraq on the latest moves by the U.S. as it prepares to submit its U.N. resolution.
For that, we go back to Baghdad where our Rym Brahimi is.

Hi again -- Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi again, Fredricka.

We've just had confirmation from the Russian Foreign Ministry that former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov was in Baghdad at the weekend. He met with President Saddam Hussein. He was sent here to Baghdad at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Now, we understand from the Foreign Ministry that he was here to obtain assurances from the Iraqi government that it will continue to comply with Resolution 1441, and that it will not get in the way of any of the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors. Apparently, Primakov obtained such assurances.

Now, that, of course, has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the context of that U.N. resolution, the new resolution that the U.S. plans to try and obtain at the U.N. Security Council. So far, Iraq says there is no need for a new resolution. The argument here in Baghdad being that Iraq is complying with Resolution 1441 since it accepted it back in November, saying that a new resolution would only be a way for the United States to find a better pretext to attack Iraq.

Now, another hot issue here is, of course, the request by Hans Blix for Iraq to destroy the Al Samoud 2 missile. So far, Iraqi officials say they've taken that request into deep consideration. The chief of the National Monitoring Directorate speaking to reporters said he would like the U.N. and Iraq to have talks on this issue without, what he calls, the interference of the U.S. and Britain -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rym, 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 24, 2003 - 06:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let's get some reaction from Iraq on the latest moves by the U.S. as it prepares to submit its U.N. resolution.
For that, we go back to Baghdad where our Rym Brahimi is.

Hi again -- Rym.

RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi again, Fredricka.

We've just had confirmation from the Russian Foreign Ministry that former Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov was in Baghdad at the weekend. He met with President Saddam Hussein. He was sent here to Baghdad at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Now, we understand from the Foreign Ministry that he was here to obtain assurances from the Iraqi government that it will continue to comply with Resolution 1441, and that it will not get in the way of any of the work of the U.N. weapons inspectors. Apparently, Primakov obtained such assurances.

Now, that, of course, has been (UNINTELLIGIBLE) in the context of that U.N. resolution, the new resolution that the U.S. plans to try and obtain at the U.N. Security Council. So far, Iraq says there is no need for a new resolution. The argument here in Baghdad being that Iraq is complying with Resolution 1441 since it accepted it back in November, saying that a new resolution would only be a way for the United States to find a better pretext to attack Iraq.

Now, another hot issue here is, of course, the request by Hans Blix for Iraq to destroy the Al Samoud 2 missile. So far, Iraqi officials say they've taken that request into deep consideration. The chief of the National Monitoring Directorate speaking to reporters said he would like the U.N. and Iraq to have talks on this issue without, what he calls, the interference of the U.S. and Britain -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Rym, 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.