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Blix, ElBaradei Receive Invitations to Visit Baghdad

Aired March 15, 2003 - 14:25   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, for the latest at the United Nations, we turn to CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth, who had an exclusive interview with the U.N. weapons chief, Hans Blix -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka. And the reason for that is that Dr. Blix and his International Atomic Energy Agency inspector counterpart, Mohamed ElBaradei, have both received invitations to make another trip back to Baghdad. I asked Dr. Blix just minutes ago what his reaction is to this invitation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I just learned about it, and we're going to translate it into detail. And we're going to study it. And I think we will need to discuss, Mr. ElBaradei and I, over the weekend.

I understand that it is in the line with the visits that we have paid before. We had one in the middle of January and we had another one in the middle of February, so it's about once a month. However, the situation is a little different now, tense. We are -- our major occupation at the moment is to finalize the work program, which we are to deliver to the Security Council. And we have said to the council that that should be ready by Monday night -- in English, at any rate, and it will contain then what we consider to be the key remaining disarmament tasks. And I think the council is very interested in that.

So I don't think we have any firm views on where the invitation will take us at the moment. We'll study the contents of it and discuss it.

ROTH: So are you saying you are too busy, maybe, to go back with key disarmament work?

BLIX: No, no, not necessarily. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). On the contrary, I think it perhaps makes it more important to consider how fast one can proceed with the key remaining disarmament tasks. But evidently, there are other movements at the political stage that are happening, and we would -- I certainly would look to talk to the president of the Security Council.

ROTH: Yes, how much would you use the council as your board of advisers and would you go guy what they said? BLIX: We are a subsidiary organ to the Security Council, so it's natural that we report to the president of the council at any time when it is an important matter.

ROTH: One diplomat said it was a stunt, a last-minute stunt. How do you feel going back at such a time? Are they using you to stall? Or is there another attempt to get more information?

BLIX: Well, I certainly wouldn't use the word "stunt" about anything in this context, but we will have to give serious thought to what we -- what the answer will be, and to -- and properly translated first -- and today will be a day when we work on the key remaining disarmament tasks of the work program.

ROTH: If you did go back, what do you want to hear from them?

BLIX: I think everybody is talking now about speeding up the implementation of certain items in the Security Council. They're talking about the -- finalizing the disarmament, the destruction of the missiles, is one element. Another is to get the -- to get interviews going abroad. And a third one relates to clarifications about the unmanned vehicles, vehicles, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of anthrax, et cetera. So there are a few issues that are on the table, that the council has focused on already. But we will have our proper list of what we consider to be key tasks.

ROTH: Anthrax information, you are awaiting? You have got VX information Friday evening. What can you update us with anthrax and VX? What is the importance of this mission now, even though I guess you are waiting for more translation?

BLIX: Not much that I can say about it yet. There's long letters and long explanations, and we will have that translated, about VX. What I can say is that Iraqis are very, very active in order to provide replies to questions which we had in the document we submitted to the council recently. And we will make an assessment of that. That's about all I can say at the moment.

ROTH: You're a dogged investigator, you come into work on a Saturday here. Is this the last weekend, do you think, for your work efforts?

BLIX: I don't know. I hope not. I hope that we can continue. But we'll see. It's -- it's not in our hands altogether.

ROTH: OK, Thank you very much, Dr. Blix.

BLIX: OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: That's Hans Blix just minutes ago entering U.N. headquarters on a Saturday, on a weekend. He is going to be up there working in his office with his top advisers. They have a lot now to talk about, they are going to be analyzing last night's submission by Iraq of VX data on nerve agent materials, also they are awaiting information on anthrax and now they have an invitation to go back for the fourth time since November to Baghdad at this very perilous, dangerous moment when diplomacy doesn't have many hours left -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And speaking of diplomacy, Richard, as President Bush makes his way to the Azores tomorrow for that summit with Spanish and British prime ministers, does anyone at the U.N., perhaps even including Hans Blix, believe that this really is a final push for diplomacy, or is this a summit in which to come up with a new plan for war?

ROTH: Well, Blix will steer clear of diplomacy and leave that to the nations. He will take his orders from the Security Council, though he knows what's going on, that he may not have much more time, and he also has to get a call, if it should come, regarding an evacuation plan for his inspectors. He would need 24 to 48 hours notice.

As for diplomacy, talked to one diplomat who said there are no meetings, nothing is happening today. The uncommitted delegates are rather lukewarm, possibly pulling their idea, which involves giving Iraq more time, several more weeks. And this didn't help. The White House immediately shot down Chile's president, who had another compromise proposal yesterday afternoon.

This Security Council may meet on Monday. Everyone right now is watching what happens in that summit. Some diplomats even those who disagree with the U.S. hoping something will come out of it that might form some sort of unity on the Security Council. But it's been weeks now, and it seems U.S. and Britain are polls apart from the French, Russian and Chinese positions.

WHITFIELD: And Richard, just crossing the wires according to Reuters that France proposing the Security Council ministers meet after Tuesday. Are you hearing anything about whether that is indeed the case or a plan?

ROTH: I haven't heard that here, but weeks ago here at the U.N., the French foreign minister proposed a heads of state meeting on March 14. That has come and gone. We are told that the French would like to have a heads of state Security Council meeting after the war, I believe, which would probably discuss the future, maybe, of the U.N, the organization, maybe a healing session.

But as for a meeting this week, unless there's some agreement, it's unlikely that many diplomats at a high level will agree to that, because the U.S. may even be withdrawing its resolution. It seems unlikely they would want to have President Bush or other leaders here representing the U.S. France -- this is a French idea and it may stay a French idea for now.

WHITFIELD: Richard Roth from the U.N., thank you very much.

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 March 15, 2003 - 14:25   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, for the latest at the United Nations, we turn to CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth, who had an exclusive interview with the U.N. weapons chief, Hans Blix -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Fredricka. And the reason for that is that Dr. Blix and his International Atomic Energy Agency inspector counterpart, Mohamed ElBaradei, have both received invitations to make another trip back to Baghdad. I asked Dr. Blix just minutes ago what his reaction is to this invitation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: Well, I just learned about it, and we're going to translate it into detail. And we're going to study it. And I think we will need to discuss, Mr. ElBaradei and I, over the weekend.

I understand that it is in the line with the visits that we have paid before. We had one in the middle of January and we had another one in the middle of February, so it's about once a month. However, the situation is a little different now, tense. We are -- our major occupation at the moment is to finalize the work program, which we are to deliver to the Security Council. And we have said to the council that that should be ready by Monday night -- in English, at any rate, and it will contain then what we consider to be the key remaining disarmament tasks. And I think the council is very interested in that.

So I don't think we have any firm views on where the invitation will take us at the moment. We'll study the contents of it and discuss it.

ROTH: So are you saying you are too busy, maybe, to go back with key disarmament work?

BLIX: No, no, not necessarily. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). On the contrary, I think it perhaps makes it more important to consider how fast one can proceed with the key remaining disarmament tasks. But evidently, there are other movements at the political stage that are happening, and we would -- I certainly would look to talk to the president of the Security Council.

ROTH: Yes, how much would you use the council as your board of advisers and would you go guy what they said? BLIX: We are a subsidiary organ to the Security Council, so it's natural that we report to the president of the council at any time when it is an important matter.

ROTH: One diplomat said it was a stunt, a last-minute stunt. How do you feel going back at such a time? Are they using you to stall? Or is there another attempt to get more information?

BLIX: Well, I certainly wouldn't use the word "stunt" about anything in this context, but we will have to give serious thought to what we -- what the answer will be, and to -- and properly translated first -- and today will be a day when we work on the key remaining disarmament tasks of the work program.

ROTH: If you did go back, what do you want to hear from them?

BLIX: I think everybody is talking now about speeding up the implementation of certain items in the Security Council. They're talking about the -- finalizing the disarmament, the destruction of the missiles, is one element. Another is to get the -- to get interviews going abroad. And a third one relates to clarifications about the unmanned vehicles, vehicles, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of anthrax, et cetera. So there are a few issues that are on the table, that the council has focused on already. But we will have our proper list of what we consider to be key tasks.

ROTH: Anthrax information, you are awaiting? You have got VX information Friday evening. What can you update us with anthrax and VX? What is the importance of this mission now, even though I guess you are waiting for more translation?

BLIX: Not much that I can say about it yet. There's long letters and long explanations, and we will have that translated, about VX. What I can say is that Iraqis are very, very active in order to provide replies to questions which we had in the document we submitted to the council recently. And we will make an assessment of that. That's about all I can say at the moment.

ROTH: You're a dogged investigator, you come into work on a Saturday here. Is this the last weekend, do you think, for your work efforts?

BLIX: I don't know. I hope not. I hope that we can continue. But we'll see. It's -- it's not in our hands altogether.

ROTH: OK, Thank you very much, Dr. Blix.

BLIX: OK.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: That's Hans Blix just minutes ago entering U.N. headquarters on a Saturday, on a weekend. He is going to be up there working in his office with his top advisers. They have a lot now to talk about, they are going to be analyzing last night's submission by Iraq of VX data on nerve agent materials, also they are awaiting information on anthrax and now they have an invitation to go back for the fourth time since November to Baghdad at this very perilous, dangerous moment when diplomacy doesn't have many hours left -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And speaking of diplomacy, Richard, as President Bush makes his way to the Azores tomorrow for that summit with Spanish and British prime ministers, does anyone at the U.N., perhaps even including Hans Blix, believe that this really is a final push for diplomacy, or is this a summit in which to come up with a new plan for war?

ROTH: Well, Blix will steer clear of diplomacy and leave that to the nations. He will take his orders from the Security Council, though he knows what's going on, that he may not have much more time, and he also has to get a call, if it should come, regarding an evacuation plan for his inspectors. He would need 24 to 48 hours notice.

As for diplomacy, talked to one diplomat who said there are no meetings, nothing is happening today. The uncommitted delegates are rather lukewarm, possibly pulling their idea, which involves giving Iraq more time, several more weeks. And this didn't help. The White House immediately shot down Chile's president, who had another compromise proposal yesterday afternoon.

This Security Council may meet on Monday. Everyone right now is watching what happens in that summit. Some diplomats even those who disagree with the U.S. hoping something will come out of it that might form some sort of unity on the Security Council. But it's been weeks now, and it seems U.S. and Britain are polls apart from the French, Russian and Chinese positions.

WHITFIELD: And Richard, just crossing the wires according to Reuters that France proposing the Security Council ministers meet after Tuesday. Are you hearing anything about whether that is indeed the case or a plan?

ROTH: I haven't heard that here, but weeks ago here at the U.N., the French foreign minister proposed a heads of state meeting on March 14. That has come and gone. We are told that the French would like to have a heads of state Security Council meeting after the war, I believe, which would probably discuss the future, maybe, of the U.N, the organization, maybe a healing session.

But as for a meeting this week, unless there's some agreement, it's unlikely that many diplomats at a high level will agree to that, because the U.S. may even be withdrawing its resolution. It seems unlikely they would want to have President Bush or other leaders here representing the U.S. France -- this is a French idea and it may stay a French idea for now.

WHITFIELD: Richard Roth from the U.N., thank you very much.

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