Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

U.S. May Seek End to Iraqi Sanctions This Week

Aired May 08, 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: Washington is going to join the war time ally Spain and Great Britain in another power play at the United Nations. This one is seeking the end of international economic sanctions against Iraq. Quite simply, the coalition leaders say that the target of those sanctions, namely the Saddam Hussein regime, no longer exists, therefore the need for sanctions no longer exists.
CNN's Michael Okwu is standing by now at U.N. headquarters where this resolution is expected to come. Michael, is that going to happen today or tomorrow?

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's unclear at this point, although U.S. officials have been saying, Leon, that it would happen by the end of the week, although there were some reports of that last week, so all of us are a little reluctant to believe it to the T, but it sure looks like it may be coming today or tomorrow.

In fact, that draft resolution has begun circulating among some members of the Security Council, and we understand, Leon, that it calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions. In addition to that, it also calls for some sort of international oversight over the future of Iraq's oil sales as well as the appointment of a U.N. special coordinator to work with coalition forces on the ground.

Now, in a meeting yesterday with the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he envisions a very vital role for the United Nations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: It is a resolution that does not fight the battles of the past, but is forward-looking. A resolution that will unite the international community to help the people of Iraq to a better life, and to build a new government. It will lift the sanctions to that end, and I think it's a resolution that everybody will be able to rally around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POWELL: Now, this resolution will certainly have to make concessions to mend fences with key states on the Security Council. Key states that were bitterly opposed to the war in Iraq.

The resolution would allow for the partial pay out of the existing $10 billion in contracts that were approved before the war. Apparently Russia has some $1.5 billion outstanding, France also has a significant amount. But in mending fences, it will not be very easy. It is unclear at this point, specifically, what the U.N. coordinator's role will be, whether that will just be a nominal role. The secretary-general has felt that his hands are tied without specific -- specific approval from the Security Council about appointing such a person, and getting very specific details about his job description.

In addition to that, France and Russia have already come forward with their own proposals. The French want an immediate suspension of sanctions, the Russians have been calling all along for the oil industry to be put into the hands of the United Nations and Kofi Annan.

And still, it is unclear, Leon, what specifically this resolution says, if anything, about the role of U.N. weapons inspectors. One of the very key points that Security Council members were making was that they did not want to lift any sanctions until Iraq was approved free of weapons of mass destruction, and that the only internationally recognized body to do that are the U.N. weapons inspectors. U.S. officials have been saying, for the better part of the last three weeks now, that they do not see any imminent role for them in the country -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, sounds like the expected chess match round two at the U.N. is going to happen after all. We'll check and see how that plays out down the road -- thanks, Michael.

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 May 8, 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: Washington is going to join the war time ally Spain and Great Britain in another power play at the United Nations. This one is seeking the end of international economic sanctions against Iraq. Quite simply, the coalition leaders say that the target of those sanctions, namely the Saddam Hussein regime, no longer exists, therefore the need for sanctions no longer exists.
CNN's Michael Okwu is standing by now at U.N. headquarters where this resolution is expected to come. Michael, is that going to happen today or tomorrow?

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's unclear at this point, although U.S. officials have been saying, Leon, that it would happen by the end of the week, although there were some reports of that last week, so all of us are a little reluctant to believe it to the T, but it sure looks like it may be coming today or tomorrow.

In fact, that draft resolution has begun circulating among some members of the Security Council, and we understand, Leon, that it calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions. In addition to that, it also calls for some sort of international oversight over the future of Iraq's oil sales as well as the appointment of a U.N. special coordinator to work with coalition forces on the ground.

Now, in a meeting yesterday with the U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Secretary of State Colin Powell said that he envisions a very vital role for the United Nations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: It is a resolution that does not fight the battles of the past, but is forward-looking. A resolution that will unite the international community to help the people of Iraq to a better life, and to build a new government. It will lift the sanctions to that end, and I think it's a resolution that everybody will be able to rally around.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POWELL: Now, this resolution will certainly have to make concessions to mend fences with key states on the Security Council. Key states that were bitterly opposed to the war in Iraq.

The resolution would allow for the partial pay out of the existing $10 billion in contracts that were approved before the war. Apparently Russia has some $1.5 billion outstanding, France also has a significant amount. But in mending fences, it will not be very easy. It is unclear at this point, specifically, what the U.N. coordinator's role will be, whether that will just be a nominal role. The secretary-general has felt that his hands are tied without specific -- specific approval from the Security Council about appointing such a person, and getting very specific details about his job description.

In addition to that, France and Russia have already come forward with their own proposals. The French want an immediate suspension of sanctions, the Russians have been calling all along for the oil industry to be put into the hands of the United Nations and Kofi Annan.

And still, it is unclear, Leon, what specifically this resolution says, if anything, about the role of U.N. weapons inspectors. One of the very key points that Security Council members were making was that they did not want to lift any sanctions until Iraq was approved free of weapons of mass destruction, and that the only internationally recognized body to do that are the U.N. weapons inspectors. U.S. officials have been saying, for the better part of the last three weeks now, that they do not see any imminent role for them in the country -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, sounds like the expected chess match round two at the U.N. is going to happen after all. We'll check and see how that plays out down the road -- thanks, Michael.

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