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CNN Live Today
Powell Might Visit Syria, Middle East
Aired April 17, 2003 - 12:16 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: On the law and order front, Franks says more than 2,000 Iraqis have volunteered to be unarmed police officers in Baghdad. That should help the situation somewhat. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State Colin Powell expects to travel to Syria and have "a very candid and straightforward conversation with leaders in Damascus." But he did not say when that trip might take place.
Our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel is standing by. She has more -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Secretary Powell made those comments yesterday in an interview with the Associated Press Television. State Department officials later explained that Secretary Powell was not announcing a trip that had already been scheduled, but rather confirming that he will be making a major swing through the region in the near future, and Syria would be one of the stops during that trip.
Nevertheless, in such a charged environment, following the U.S. military victory in Iraq and recent rhetoric from Secretary Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, the very fact you'd have Powell float even the prospect of a future trip to Syria has certainly allayed concerns in Damascus. They were very concerned, Wolf, as you know, that perhaps Syria would be next on a U.S. hit list.
But in that same interview with APTV, Secretary Powell also said that he had handed -- that U.S. officials had given intelligence to Damascus about various Iraqi officials who they feared might try to cross the border into Iraq, to ensure that no Iraqi war criminal would find refuge in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: We have been candid with the Syrians, and we have also made it clear to the Syrians that we don't think it would be in their interest to be a draw for people who are trying to get out of Iraq or get out of other places in the world and find a safe haven. Syria does not want to be a safe haven in the aftermath of "Operation Iraqi Freedom."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAROUK AL SHARAA, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: He was intending to visit Damascus, he is welcome. Because I believe that dialogue between the two countries is important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: It certainly seems as if Syria has gotten the message, Wolf, and is also trying to do its part to lower the temperature. The focus right now on diplomacy. This weekend, the Spanish foreign minister will travel to Damascus. Secretary Powell said he has spoken with Foreign Minister Pelosio (ph), and that they had discussed the message that she would be delivering -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Andrea Koppel at the State Department, thanks very much. Important development on the Syrian front as well.
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 April 17, 2003 - 12:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: On the law and order front, Franks says more than 2,000 Iraqis have volunteered to be unarmed police officers in Baghdad. That should help the situation somewhat. Meanwhile, the Secretary of State Colin Powell expects to travel to Syria and have "a very candid and straightforward conversation with leaders in Damascus." But he did not say when that trip might take place.
Our State Department correspondent Andrea Koppel is standing by. She has more -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Secretary Powell made those comments yesterday in an interview with the Associated Press Television. State Department officials later explained that Secretary Powell was not announcing a trip that had already been scheduled, but rather confirming that he will be making a major swing through the region in the near future, and Syria would be one of the stops during that trip.
Nevertheless, in such a charged environment, following the U.S. military victory in Iraq and recent rhetoric from Secretary Powell and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, the very fact you'd have Powell float even the prospect of a future trip to Syria has certainly allayed concerns in Damascus. They were very concerned, Wolf, as you know, that perhaps Syria would be next on a U.S. hit list.
But in that same interview with APTV, Secretary Powell also said that he had handed -- that U.S. officials had given intelligence to Damascus about various Iraqi officials who they feared might try to cross the border into Iraq, to ensure that no Iraqi war criminal would find refuge in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: We have been candid with the Syrians, and we have also made it clear to the Syrians that we don't think it would be in their interest to be a draw for people who are trying to get out of Iraq or get out of other places in the world and find a safe haven. Syria does not want to be a safe haven in the aftermath of "Operation Iraqi Freedom."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAROUK AL SHARAA, SYRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: He was intending to visit Damascus, he is welcome. Because I believe that dialogue between the two countries is important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: It certainly seems as if Syria has gotten the message, Wolf, and is also trying to do its part to lower the temperature. The focus right now on diplomacy. This weekend, the Spanish foreign minister will travel to Damascus. Secretary Powell said he has spoken with Foreign Minister Pelosio (ph), and that they had discussed the message that she would be delivering -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Andrea Koppel at the State Department, thanks very much. Important development on the Syrian front as well.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
