Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
Battle for Iraqi Oil
Aired April 19, 2003 - 15:14 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A new battle is shaping up in Iraq, but this time it has nothing to do with Saddam Hussein. The issue? Iraq's plentiful oil fields. They're currently under coalition control, and that is a problem for other oil producing nations in the region who don't want the U.S. in charge of this vital resource. CNN's Rula Amin has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For years they called for the lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iraq. But now Iraq's neighbors have met and said that sanctions shouldn't be lifted until there is a legitimate government in Baghdad. A blunt rejection to the U.S. president's call for a quick end to the U.N. sanctions.
SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Lifting the sanctions should happen at a time where there is a legitimate government representing Iraq, so that it will comply with the implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
AMIN: At stake is Iraq's oil and who controls it. As it stands now, through the sanctions process, the U.N. controls Iraq's oil sales and how the money is spent. Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world. If sanctions are lifted, the de facto power in charge here is the United States.
The Saudi foreign minister was very explicit, saying the U.S. has no right to exploit Iraq's oil wealth, and too much flow of Iraqi oil will bring the price of oil down; with it the revenues of oil countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials say they want Iraqi oil fields to start pumping again, soonest, to pay for the reconstruction of Iraq, and there is a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done.
(on camera): Another sensitive issue, especially for the Europeans. They are worried. If the U.S. is in charge, U.S. companies will get the largest share in the contracts to reconstruct Iraq.
(voice-over): One of Iraq's prominent leaders from exile doesn't seem to have a problem with that.
AHMAD CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: I do not think that the United Nations is either capable or has the credibility in Iraq to play a major role, and the moral imperative is on the side of the United States, and the Iraqi people now will accept a leadership role for the United States in this process.
AMIN: But Chalabi has close ties to the United States, and there are those in Iraq who don't want the U.S. to run their country, even on temporary basis. And they are trying to make their voices heard.
Rula Amin, CNN Baghdad.
(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 April 19, 2003 - 15:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: A new battle is shaping up in Iraq, but this time it has nothing to do with Saddam Hussein. The issue? Iraq's plentiful oil fields. They're currently under coalition control, and that is a problem for other oil producing nations in the region who don't want the U.S. in charge of this vital resource. CNN's Rula Amin has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For years they called for the lifting of U.N. sanctions on Iraq. But now Iraq's neighbors have met and said that sanctions shouldn't be lifted until there is a legitimate government in Baghdad. A blunt rejection to the U.S. president's call for a quick end to the U.N. sanctions.
SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): Lifting the sanctions should happen at a time where there is a legitimate government representing Iraq, so that it will comply with the implementation of the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
AMIN: At stake is Iraq's oil and who controls it. As it stands now, through the sanctions process, the U.N. controls Iraq's oil sales and how the money is spent. Iraq has the second largest oil reserves in the world. If sanctions are lifted, the de facto power in charge here is the United States.
The Saudi foreign minister was very explicit, saying the U.S. has no right to exploit Iraq's oil wealth, and too much flow of Iraqi oil will bring the price of oil down; with it the revenues of oil countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials say they want Iraqi oil fields to start pumping again, soonest, to pay for the reconstruction of Iraq, and there is a lot of rebuilding that needs to be done.
(on camera): Another sensitive issue, especially for the Europeans. They are worried. If the U.S. is in charge, U.S. companies will get the largest share in the contracts to reconstruct Iraq.
(voice-over): One of Iraq's prominent leaders from exile doesn't seem to have a problem with that.
AHMAD CHALABI, IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS: I do not think that the United Nations is either capable or has the credibility in Iraq to play a major role, and the moral imperative is on the side of the United States, and the Iraqi people now will accept a leadership role for the United States in this process.
AMIN: But Chalabi has close ties to the United States, and there are those in Iraq who don't want the U.S. to run their country, even on temporary basis. And they are trying to make their voices heard.
Rula Amin, CNN Baghdad.
(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
