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CNN Live At Daybreak
Tensions at United Nations
Aired February 28, 2003 - 06:05 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: We want to look now at how the missile issue is playing out at the United Nations. Our Michael Okwu has details on the Iraqi letter that Rym was talking about, and other frustrations among Security Council members.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The letter, according to U.N. officials, was very short, but indicated that the Iraqis believed that this was an unfair request. In the meantime, they have requested for a technical mission to be sent from the United Nations to Iraq as soon as possible to supervise and to verify the destruction of the missiles.
Now, the letter did not specify a particular date, but chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has made it very clear in his initial request to Baghdad that they begin destroying this missile and its related components by March 1.
In the meantime, Blix has submitted a quarterly report to the secretary general. Excerpts of the draft report indicate that so far Iraq's efforts have been very limited. Quoting now: "It is hard to understand why a number of the measures which are now being taken could not have been initiated earlier. If they had been taken earlier, they might have borne fruit by now."
Meantime, a very tense meeting behind closed doors at the Security Council. The United States, Great Britain and Spain on the one hand, France, China and Russia on the other, trying to win over the votes of the elected 10 members, the nonpermanent members of the Security Council.
The Chilean ambassador indicated that he believed the big powers were being bullies.
JUAN GABRIEL VALDES, CHILEAN AMB. TO U.N.: This divided council is, in fact, throwing the decision on the shoulders of the elected members, while the permanent members stick to their positions without making efforts to approximate their views.
OKWU: The Chilean ambassador went on to say that they are all defending their positions with increasing levels of irritation.
Michael Okwu, CNN, at the United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 28, 2003 - 06:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We want to look now at how the missile issue is playing out at the United Nations. Our Michael Okwu has details on the Iraqi letter that Rym was talking about, and other frustrations among Security Council members.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The letter, according to U.N. officials, was very short, but indicated that the Iraqis believed that this was an unfair request. In the meantime, they have requested for a technical mission to be sent from the United Nations to Iraq as soon as possible to supervise and to verify the destruction of the missiles.
Now, the letter did not specify a particular date, but chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has made it very clear in his initial request to Baghdad that they begin destroying this missile and its related components by March 1.
In the meantime, Blix has submitted a quarterly report to the secretary general. Excerpts of the draft report indicate that so far Iraq's efforts have been very limited. Quoting now: "It is hard to understand why a number of the measures which are now being taken could not have been initiated earlier. If they had been taken earlier, they might have borne fruit by now."
Meantime, a very tense meeting behind closed doors at the Security Council. The United States, Great Britain and Spain on the one hand, France, China and Russia on the other, trying to win over the votes of the elected 10 members, the nonpermanent members of the Security Council.
The Chilean ambassador indicated that he believed the big powers were being bullies.
JUAN GABRIEL VALDES, CHILEAN AMB. TO U.N.: This divided council is, in fact, throwing the decision on the shoulders of the elected members, while the permanent members stick to their positions without making efforts to approximate their views.
OKWU: The Chilean ambassador went on to say that they are all defending their positions with increasing levels of irritation.
Michael Okwu, CNN, at the United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
