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CNN Live Event/Special

Annan Addresses Reporters

Aired April 29, 2003 - 10:06   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.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm now being told Kofi Annan, U.N. secretary-general, is now speaking in New York. Let's listen in.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: ... with Washington, and they have been consistent on that, and in Iraq they've been trying to support a U.N. role in which they would also play an active role.

QUESTION: Secretary-General, every single day, the coalition forces as well as the Iraqis seem to be taking incremental steps in forming some sort of transitional government. How crucial is it that the United Nations play a significant role now?

ANNAN: Well, I think it is a process. It is the idea of establishing an Iraqi government. It's a process. We're in the early phase, and as we move down the line, I hope there will be an understanding which would allow the U.N. to play an effective role in the process.

QUESTION: Secretary-general, concerning the UNESCO meeting today, how is the...

ANNAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

QUESTION: The UNESCO meeting in London on the looted Iraqi antiquities, how is that search going?

ANNAN: I think everybody is cooperating on that issue, and they are trying to encourage people who took those items to return them. And also trying to take measures to ensure that those who get their hands on these items return them to the authorities and, I think, UNESCO, as the lead U.N. agency on cultural issues, is working with the governments and others concerned to ensure that we protect the Iraqi heritage -- thank you.

HARRIS: Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the U.N. there, speaking to the press on his way in to the Security Council chamber this morning. Apologize for the couple of left turns there, but we wanted to try to get his remarks there on Iraq.

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 29, 2003 - 10:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm now being told Kofi Annan, U.N. secretary-general, is now speaking in New York. Let's listen in.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: ... with Washington, and they have been consistent on that, and in Iraq they've been trying to support a U.N. role in which they would also play an active role.

QUESTION: Secretary-General, every single day, the coalition forces as well as the Iraqis seem to be taking incremental steps in forming some sort of transitional government. How crucial is it that the United Nations play a significant role now?

ANNAN: Well, I think it is a process. It is the idea of establishing an Iraqi government. It's a process. We're in the early phase, and as we move down the line, I hope there will be an understanding which would allow the U.N. to play an effective role in the process.

QUESTION: Secretary-general, concerning the UNESCO meeting today, how is the...

ANNAN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

QUESTION: The UNESCO meeting in London on the looted Iraqi antiquities, how is that search going?

ANNAN: I think everybody is cooperating on that issue, and they are trying to encourage people who took those items to return them. And also trying to take measures to ensure that those who get their hands on these items return them to the authorities and, I think, UNESCO, as the lead U.N. agency on cultural issues, is working with the governments and others concerned to ensure that we protect the Iraqi heritage -- thank you.

HARRIS: Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the U.N. there, speaking to the press on his way in to the Security Council chamber this morning. Apologize for the couple of left turns there, but we wanted to try to get his remarks there on Iraq.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com