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American Morning
Discussion with Member of Red Cross
Aired March 26, 2003 - 09:55 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: You heard the question a short time ago to Kofi Annan about the American POWs. I want to bring in a member of the International Committee for the Red Cross, Tamira Alrifah live from Kuwait City to talk about the status of these people.
Good evening to you.
Last time we talked, there was not much progress toward Baghdad. Has there been much since in terms of communication and getting access to the POWs?
TAMIRA ALRIFAH, INTL. COM. RED CROSS: Yes, all I can tell you right now, we did get in touch with the authorities concerned on both sides. This is an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) principle in order to get access to both, the people detained by the Iraqis and by the coalition authorities. And in this regard, I can describe the say that we really don't have a reason to think that we will not have access to those people.
HEMMER: Today is Wednesday, it could come when then, best-case scenario?
ALRIFAH: I can't give a timeframe. I just would like to say that within the Geneva Conventions, that we are reminding everybody of, it does say that the International Committee of the Red Cross should visit POWs, but it does not satisfy a time frame. So we are in the negotiations right now, and we are hopeful.
HEMMER: Within the Red Cross then, if there is no specified time frame then, this could go on for quite some time. Do have you any recourse in terms of putting pressure on the Iraqi authorities that will gain you access to see and check on their condition?
ALRIFAH: We keep asking. There is no timeframe, but we ask as soon as we hear of POWs. And I insist, there is no reason to think that we're not going to get there.
HEMMER: You mentioned the coalition POWs now being held as well. Access to them will come when then?
ALRIFAH: The same -- we're still holding the same kind of dialogue.
HEMMER: Do you believe both sides wait until one side makes a move?
ALRIFAH: There is no reciprocity under international law. It's not because the other side does one thing, then we have to do it. No, we approach them separately.
HEMMER: Yes, I understand that, but I'm just curious about the rules of engagement right now, if one side is waiting on the other to act. Is there any information that may support that?
ALRIFAH: No, we don't really think that, because we've had ongoing dialogues for a very long time with both sides, even before this issue of POW happened. So we don't think there is such an issue.
HEMMER: Well, listen, I wish you the very best of luck in getting this done, because I know a lot of families watching at home are quite concerned at this point. Tamira Alrifah, thanks. We'll talk to you again, all right.
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 March 26, 2003 - 09:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: You heard the question a short time ago to Kofi Annan about the American POWs. I want to bring in a member of the International Committee for the Red Cross, Tamira Alrifah live from Kuwait City to talk about the status of these people.
Good evening to you.
Last time we talked, there was not much progress toward Baghdad. Has there been much since in terms of communication and getting access to the POWs?
TAMIRA ALRIFAH, INTL. COM. RED CROSS: Yes, all I can tell you right now, we did get in touch with the authorities concerned on both sides. This is an (UNINTELLIGIBLE) principle in order to get access to both, the people detained by the Iraqis and by the coalition authorities. And in this regard, I can describe the say that we really don't have a reason to think that we will not have access to those people.
HEMMER: Today is Wednesday, it could come when then, best-case scenario?
ALRIFAH: I can't give a timeframe. I just would like to say that within the Geneva Conventions, that we are reminding everybody of, it does say that the International Committee of the Red Cross should visit POWs, but it does not satisfy a time frame. So we are in the negotiations right now, and we are hopeful.
HEMMER: Within the Red Cross then, if there is no specified time frame then, this could go on for quite some time. Do have you any recourse in terms of putting pressure on the Iraqi authorities that will gain you access to see and check on their condition?
ALRIFAH: We keep asking. There is no timeframe, but we ask as soon as we hear of POWs. And I insist, there is no reason to think that we're not going to get there.
HEMMER: You mentioned the coalition POWs now being held as well. Access to them will come when then?
ALRIFAH: The same -- we're still holding the same kind of dialogue.
HEMMER: Do you believe both sides wait until one side makes a move?
ALRIFAH: There is no reciprocity under international law. It's not because the other side does one thing, then we have to do it. No, we approach them separately.
HEMMER: Yes, I understand that, but I'm just curious about the rules of engagement right now, if one side is waiting on the other to act. Is there any information that may support that?
ALRIFAH: No, we don't really think that, because we've had ongoing dialogues for a very long time with both sides, even before this issue of POW happened. So we don't think there is such an issue.
HEMMER: Well, listen, I wish you the very best of luck in getting this done, because I know a lot of families watching at home are quite concerned at this point. Tamira Alrifah, thanks. We'll talk to you again, all right.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
