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CNN Live Saturday

Chief U.N. Inspectors Meet With Iraqi Officials

Aired February 08, 2003 - 16:02   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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Some major developments in the showdown with Iraq. Events are moving quickly in Baghdad. The chief U.N. weapons inspectors met for hours with the Iraqis. President Bush is saying the game is over for Saddam Hussein, but the U.N. inspectors now say Iraq may be ready to make more concessions. Senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad and has more on today's critical meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In an indication of how critical the current round of talks, the men in charge of the weapons inspections, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, kept distant from waiting cameras, uncharacteristically making no comments on arrival. Nearby, a handful of international peace activists gave support for what many here suspect could be the defining moment for the inspection mission.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone, every side should utilize this visit to present a new phase of the crisis, otherwise, things will go out of gear.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Editorials in newspapers here hint at compromise, suggesting for the inspection process to work, Iraqis must make great sacrifices. In and of itself, not a commitment to compromise. However, compared to recent acerbic articles, an indication international pressure may be paying off.

(voice-over): On the agenda, as Blix and ElBaradei headed into their first meeting with Iraqi officials, private interviews with Iraqi scientists, use of U-2 surveillance aircraft and passage of legislation outlawing weapons of mass destruction. All issues the weapons chiefs have told their main interlocutor, General Amer al- Saadi, they expect Iraq to resolve. In the last few days, apparent progress interviewing Iraqi scientists hints further cooperation could be coming.

SINAN ABDUL HASSAN, IRAQI SCIENTIST (through translator): American threats against my country concentrated on the interviews as a pretext to launch aggression convinced me to accept the interview.

ROBERTSON: Leaving their first meeting, Blix and ElBaradei giving few clues to progress.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: All I can say is simply that we've had a long day of discussions and we are continuing tomorrow, and it is a useful discussion.

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: I think we are going through many of the issues, the outstanding disarmament issues that Iraqi side is providing explanation on some of the issues.

ROBERTSON: How much progress they make on the all-important outstanding issues, like the accounting for VX nerve agent, biological growth media and chemical warheads will determine how positive or otherwise Blix can be in his report to the U.N. Security Council next week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Now, the other developments that have happened later on today, another -- some documents have been given by Iraqi officials to the U.N. weapons inspectors. No details on those documents, but key, key -- it's been very important, U.N. weapons inspectors said, to get this type of evidence, perhaps an indication of some more cooperation. Also, another Iraqi scientist underwent a private interview with the U.N. weapons inspectors this evening. -- Carol.

LIN: Nic, is there any chance that the chief U.N. weapons inspectors will actually extend their trip in light of these recent developments?

ROBERTSON: There's no indication of that at this stage. Indeed, a press release from the foreign ministry here, just in the last hour or so, said that they expect -- the foreign ministry expects the weapons inspectors to complete their talks here tomorrow. Now, Hans Blix, Mohamed ElBaradei expected to leave 7:00 a.m. Baghdad time Monday. So, if the foreign ministry is accurate on that account, at this stage, nothing changes. But it appears they will meet on schedule in the early hours of Monday, Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much. Nic Robertson reporting live in Baghdad.

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 February 8, 2003 - 16:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Some major developments in the showdown with Iraq. Events are moving quickly in Baghdad. The chief U.N. weapons inspectors met for hours with the Iraqis. President Bush is saying the game is over for Saddam Hussein, but the U.N. inspectors now say Iraq may be ready to make more concessions. Senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is in Baghdad and has more on today's critical meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In an indication of how critical the current round of talks, the men in charge of the weapons inspections, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei, kept distant from waiting cameras, uncharacteristically making no comments on arrival. Nearby, a handful of international peace activists gave support for what many here suspect could be the defining moment for the inspection mission.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone, every side should utilize this visit to present a new phase of the crisis, otherwise, things will go out of gear.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Editorials in newspapers here hint at compromise, suggesting for the inspection process to work, Iraqis must make great sacrifices. In and of itself, not a commitment to compromise. However, compared to recent acerbic articles, an indication international pressure may be paying off.

(voice-over): On the agenda, as Blix and ElBaradei headed into their first meeting with Iraqi officials, private interviews with Iraqi scientists, use of U-2 surveillance aircraft and passage of legislation outlawing weapons of mass destruction. All issues the weapons chiefs have told their main interlocutor, General Amer al- Saadi, they expect Iraq to resolve. In the last few days, apparent progress interviewing Iraqi scientists hints further cooperation could be coming.

SINAN ABDUL HASSAN, IRAQI SCIENTIST (through translator): American threats against my country concentrated on the interviews as a pretext to launch aggression convinced me to accept the interview.

ROBERTSON: Leaving their first meeting, Blix and ElBaradei giving few clues to progress.

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: All I can say is simply that we've had a long day of discussions and we are continuing tomorrow, and it is a useful discussion.

MOHAMED ELBARADEI, DIRECTOR GENERAL, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: I think we are going through many of the issues, the outstanding disarmament issues that Iraqi side is providing explanation on some of the issues.

ROBERTSON: How much progress they make on the all-important outstanding issues, like the accounting for VX nerve agent, biological growth media and chemical warheads will determine how positive or otherwise Blix can be in his report to the U.N. Security Council next week.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: Now, the other developments that have happened later on today, another -- some documents have been given by Iraqi officials to the U.N. weapons inspectors. No details on those documents, but key, key -- it's been very important, U.N. weapons inspectors said, to get this type of evidence, perhaps an indication of some more cooperation. Also, another Iraqi scientist underwent a private interview with the U.N. weapons inspectors this evening. -- Carol.

LIN: Nic, is there any chance that the chief U.N. weapons inspectors will actually extend their trip in light of these recent developments?

ROBERTSON: There's no indication of that at this stage. Indeed, a press release from the foreign ministry here, just in the last hour or so, said that they expect -- the foreign ministry expects the weapons inspectors to complete their talks here tomorrow. Now, Hans Blix, Mohamed ElBaradei expected to leave 7:00 a.m. Baghdad time Monday. So, if the foreign ministry is accurate on that account, at this stage, nothing changes. But it appears they will meet on schedule in the early hours of Monday, Carol.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much. Nic Robertson reporting live in Baghdad.

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