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CNN Live Saturday

Blix Heads to Iraq

Aired November 16, 2002 - 18:16   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Several members of the United Nations' inspections advance team are already in Cyprus. That is the island nation in the Mediterranean that will serve as a staging area for the inspectors, at least for a little while. Chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is expected to meet up with the team there tomorrow.
The U.N. Chief Inspector Hans Blix is now in Vienna, Austria. He heads to Cyprus, as we just said, despite the pressure of his assignment, he's -- well, he's trying to keep his sense of humor. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth, believe it or not, has quite a sense of humor himself. He caught up with Blix in Paris, even if his luggage did not.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To the casual observer he looks like a world-weary traveler, but for 74-year- old Hans Blix his job on the other side of the world is just beginning.

(on camera): You've been at the U.N., in your job, since January 2000, I believe. How does it feel to finally be engaged to be going to Iraq?

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, it's a good feeling. We are eager of having prepared ourselves for such a long time, to eventually use the things that we have learned and to try to be directly helpful to the Security Council.

ROTH: Are you optimistic?

BLIX: Well, I will only say that we are determined to do our best. It is very hard to predict what's going to happen. But it certainly feels I feel that it would be in Iraq's interest to cooperate and to reveal whatever they have, as the Security Council says, this is their last chance.

ROTH (voice-over): Armed with the unanimous Security Council resolution ordering Iraq to accept his inspectors, Blix and an aide caught a late flight for Paris. The findings of Dr. Blix, starting with his first mission, could determine the difference between war and peace.

After a six-and-a-half hour flight, Blix, the Swedish weapons expert and diplomat, was back on the European continent. But a delay, a French government greeting party missed him at the gate and his luggage was slow in emerging. Blix joked how it would look, a weapons inspector losing his bags. Blix's sense of humor masking any sense of pressure.

BLIX: We are fully aware of the difficulties and the uncertainties. But we'll do our best.

ROTH: A cloudy Saturday morning at Charles de Gaulle Airport welcomes us. Blix's original schedule did not include Paris, but France wanted to hear first-hand what Blix's strategy will be in Iraq.

DOMINIQUE MOISI, POLITICAL ANALYST: It was natural for France to be also perceived as an actor on the evening of the return of the inspectors.

ROTH: The French foreign minister told Blix to tell Saddam Hussein to play by the rules of the inspection process.

BLIX: To initiate the new chapter of inspections, and of course we hope and expect to have full Iraqi cooperation.

ROTH (on camera): He's been the chief weapons inspector for nearly three years, but with no where to go. Finally, Hans Blix is ready to lead some of his troops into action. And advance squad of technicians gathers this weekend in Cyprus. Destination for Blix & Company? Baghdad, Iraq.

Richard Roth, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 November 16, 2002 - 18:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Several members of the United Nations' inspections advance team are already in Cyprus. That is the island nation in the Mediterranean that will serve as a staging area for the inspectors, at least for a little while. Chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, is expected to meet up with the team there tomorrow.
The U.N. Chief Inspector Hans Blix is now in Vienna, Austria. He heads to Cyprus, as we just said, despite the pressure of his assignment, he's -- well, he's trying to keep his sense of humor. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth, believe it or not, has quite a sense of humor himself. He caught up with Blix in Paris, even if his luggage did not.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To the casual observer he looks like a world-weary traveler, but for 74-year- old Hans Blix his job on the other side of the world is just beginning.

(on camera): You've been at the U.N., in your job, since January 2000, I believe. How does it feel to finally be engaged to be going to Iraq?

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, it's a good feeling. We are eager of having prepared ourselves for such a long time, to eventually use the things that we have learned and to try to be directly helpful to the Security Council.

ROTH: Are you optimistic?

BLIX: Well, I will only say that we are determined to do our best. It is very hard to predict what's going to happen. But it certainly feels I feel that it would be in Iraq's interest to cooperate and to reveal whatever they have, as the Security Council says, this is their last chance.

ROTH (voice-over): Armed with the unanimous Security Council resolution ordering Iraq to accept his inspectors, Blix and an aide caught a late flight for Paris. The findings of Dr. Blix, starting with his first mission, could determine the difference between war and peace.

After a six-and-a-half hour flight, Blix, the Swedish weapons expert and diplomat, was back on the European continent. But a delay, a French government greeting party missed him at the gate and his luggage was slow in emerging. Blix joked how it would look, a weapons inspector losing his bags. Blix's sense of humor masking any sense of pressure.

BLIX: We are fully aware of the difficulties and the uncertainties. But we'll do our best.

ROTH: A cloudy Saturday morning at Charles de Gaulle Airport welcomes us. Blix's original schedule did not include Paris, but France wanted to hear first-hand what Blix's strategy will be in Iraq.

DOMINIQUE MOISI, POLITICAL ANALYST: It was natural for France to be also perceived as an actor on the evening of the return of the inspectors.

ROTH: The French foreign minister told Blix to tell Saddam Hussein to play by the rules of the inspection process.

BLIX: To initiate the new chapter of inspections, and of course we hope and expect to have full Iraqi cooperation.

ROTH (on camera): He's been the chief weapons inspector for nearly three years, but with no where to go. Finally, Hans Blix is ready to lead some of his troops into action. And advance squad of technicians gathers this weekend in Cyprus. Destination for Blix & Company? Baghdad, Iraq.

Richard Roth, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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