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American Morning
U.S. Preparing New Resolution on Iraq
Aired February 24, 2003 - 07:11 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: An interesting day today and throughout the week at the U.N. As early as today, the U.S. and Britain may introduce that new resolution on Iraq. If it passes, it could pave the way for war against Baghdad.
However, several permanent Security Council members still remain opposed to military force at this time.
Richard Roth back at his post at the U.N. to fill us in on what we may anticipate today and going forward.
Richard -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, it's countdown time now here at the U.N. Everyone is expecting this new resolution from the U.S. and Britain. It could come today. It could come tomorrow. But no matter when it comes, it will be there, and some countries on the Security Council will face some big decisions.
Inside the United Nations Security Council, there is division among the permanent members of the Security Council, the so-called permanent five, those with veto powers -- the U.S., the U.K., China, Russia and France. And as you know, the U.S. and the U.K. are the ones who are going to be introducing this resolution. The others think the United Nations weapons inspectors are finding out enough about Iraq that there's enough cooperation to keep the process going.
Also under scrutiny, the so-called elected 10 -- there is Angola --countries that dont have vetoes who have two-year terms on the council, small countries, but they'll have big power for the next two weeks. The U.S. will be wooing them. There's Chile. Everybody is after these votes. A resolution to pass needs nine countries with no vetoes from those five big powers we referred to earlier.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today arriving in Brussels says the U.S. and United Kingdom want a vote on this resolution within two weeks of submission. That would put the resolution vote possibly just days after Dr. Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector, briefs again on Iraq's level of cooperation. Blix, late Friday, telling Iraq it has to start destroying by Monday -- actually by next Saturday those Al Samoud 2 missiles. A big test, Bill, for Iraq, and then the Security Council votes may swing one way or the other based upon its latest disarmament order -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, thank you.
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 - 07:11 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: An interesting day today and throughout the week at the U.N. As early as today, the U.S. and Britain may introduce that new resolution on Iraq. If it passes, it could pave the way for war against Baghdad.
However, several permanent Security Council members still remain opposed to military force at this time.
Richard Roth back at his post at the U.N. to fill us in on what we may anticipate today and going forward.
Richard -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, it's countdown time now here at the U.N. Everyone is expecting this new resolution from the U.S. and Britain. It could come today. It could come tomorrow. But no matter when it comes, it will be there, and some countries on the Security Council will face some big decisions.
Inside the United Nations Security Council, there is division among the permanent members of the Security Council, the so-called permanent five, those with veto powers -- the U.S., the U.K., China, Russia and France. And as you know, the U.S. and the U.K. are the ones who are going to be introducing this resolution. The others think the United Nations weapons inspectors are finding out enough about Iraq that there's enough cooperation to keep the process going.
Also under scrutiny, the so-called elected 10 -- there is Angola --countries that dont have vetoes who have two-year terms on the council, small countries, but they'll have big power for the next two weeks. The U.S. will be wooing them. There's Chile. Everybody is after these votes. A resolution to pass needs nine countries with no vetoes from those five big powers we referred to earlier.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today arriving in Brussels says the U.S. and United Kingdom want a vote on this resolution within two weeks of submission. That would put the resolution vote possibly just days after Dr. Hans Blix, the chief weapons inspector, briefs again on Iraq's level of cooperation. Blix, late Friday, telling Iraq it has to start destroying by Monday -- actually by next Saturday those Al Samoud 2 missiles. A big test, Bill, for Iraq, and then the Security Council votes may swing one way or the other based upon its latest disarmament order -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
