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American Morning
Colin Powell Meets With U.N. Secretary General
Aired August 21, 2003 - 09:00 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: To the critical issue of the U.N., a meeting taking place, in fact, at this hour. In a push to improve security in Iraq, the secretary of state, Colin Powell, meets with the U.N. secretary general, Kofi Annan.
Michael Okwu there at U.N. headquarters to take us through it.
What can we anticipate to come out of this meeting today -- Michael, good morning.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
Lots of hand shaking, certainly some condolences expressed on the part of the secretary of state to the United Nations for Tuesday's attacks and certainly some rolling up of their sleeves to start talking, perhaps, about a resolution. We understand that the two men are meeting at this moment and high or somewhere on that agenda will be a possible resolution that would deploy a multinational force of policemen and a security force.
We understand from U.S. officials that they'd like to downplay this a little bit. The fact is, they say, they're not being very proactive about a resolution. There is no, there is nothing in black and white at this point. They're simply trying to get an idea of what conceptually would be in such a resolution should it come to pass.
They say the main reason for this meeting is to show solidarity between the United States and the United Nations. In the past weeks, countries like India, France, Germany and Russia have all been reluctant to send any kind of personnel overseas to Iraq. The reason for this really is a power issue. Most of these countries did not back the war in Iraq and they did not want to be seen as sending troops that would be under a U.S. command.
The U.S. is hoping, perhaps, should this resolution come to pass, that Tuesday's attacks and appeals specifically by the secretary general, Kofi Annan, for a more secure environment, would soften the position of those countries.
We also understand that the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, will be meeting Kofi Annan later this afternoon. The British foreign secretary basically pushing for a stronger U.N. mandate now for the past week or so.
In the meantime, very poignant and dramatic days here at the United Nations. Again, just about everybody here knew somebody who was in that building. There was a candlelight vigil last night, one of many vigils that took place throughout the course of the day yesterday following the recognition that many of their talented and most respected people were killed and also the recognition that many more people might be found dead before this is all over.
One other thing, Bill. There was a very dramatic moment at the Security Council yesterday, just as they were condemning the Tuesday attack. There was a moment of silence and perhaps, in many respects, it was also a moment of truth. The fact is, things have changed on the ground for the United Nations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Indeed, it has.
Michael, thanks.
And listening to the spokesperson last hour, two still missing, possibly in that rubble of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
We may hear a bit later this hour from Kofi Annan and Secretary Powell. They'll hold a joint statement possibly with the reporters there at the U.N.
If it happens, we'll get it to you live.
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 August 21, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: To the critical issue of the U.N., a meeting taking place, in fact, at this hour. In a push to improve security in Iraq, the secretary of state, Colin Powell, meets with the U.N. secretary general, Kofi Annan.
Michael Okwu there at U.N. headquarters to take us through it.
What can we anticipate to come out of this meeting today -- Michael, good morning.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Bill.
Lots of hand shaking, certainly some condolences expressed on the part of the secretary of state to the United Nations for Tuesday's attacks and certainly some rolling up of their sleeves to start talking, perhaps, about a resolution. We understand that the two men are meeting at this moment and high or somewhere on that agenda will be a possible resolution that would deploy a multinational force of policemen and a security force.
We understand from U.S. officials that they'd like to downplay this a little bit. The fact is, they say, they're not being very proactive about a resolution. There is no, there is nothing in black and white at this point. They're simply trying to get an idea of what conceptually would be in such a resolution should it come to pass.
They say the main reason for this meeting is to show solidarity between the United States and the United Nations. In the past weeks, countries like India, France, Germany and Russia have all been reluctant to send any kind of personnel overseas to Iraq. The reason for this really is a power issue. Most of these countries did not back the war in Iraq and they did not want to be seen as sending troops that would be under a U.S. command.
The U.S. is hoping, perhaps, should this resolution come to pass, that Tuesday's attacks and appeals specifically by the secretary general, Kofi Annan, for a more secure environment, would soften the position of those countries.
We also understand that the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, will be meeting Kofi Annan later this afternoon. The British foreign secretary basically pushing for a stronger U.N. mandate now for the past week or so.
In the meantime, very poignant and dramatic days here at the United Nations. Again, just about everybody here knew somebody who was in that building. There was a candlelight vigil last night, one of many vigils that took place throughout the course of the day yesterday following the recognition that many of their talented and most respected people were killed and also the recognition that many more people might be found dead before this is all over.
One other thing, Bill. There was a very dramatic moment at the Security Council yesterday, just as they were condemning the Tuesday attack. There was a moment of silence and perhaps, in many respects, it was also a moment of truth. The fact is, things have changed on the ground for the United Nations -- Bill.
HEMMER: Indeed, it has.
Michael, thanks.
And listening to the spokesperson last hour, two still missing, possibly in that rubble of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad.
We may hear a bit later this hour from Kofi Annan and Secretary Powell. They'll hold a joint statement possibly with the reporters there at the U.N.
If it happens, we'll get it to you live.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
