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CNN Live Saturday
European Leaders Meet To Discuss U.N. Resolution On Iraq
Aired September 20, 2003 - 16:07 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: Well turning now to post war Iraq, European leaders are meeting in Berlin trying to find common ground ahead of next week's U.N. meeting on Iraq's future. Our Chris Burns is there and he joins me now live. Chris, how is that meeting going? Is there any work accomplished there?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol that was a two hour meeting today here at the chancellery and a two hour meeting there's not a whole lot you can do within two hours.
This was their first meeting since the war. These are countries very, very deeply divided, France, Germany, and Britain, over that Iraqi War, France and Germany, of course, vehemently opposed to it. Now there appears to be, however, after this meeting a narrowing of differences and that in advance of some crucial meetings at the U.N. next week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS (voice-over): The initial body language set the tone. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder gives a hearty bear hug to French President Jacques Chirac, his closest antiwar ally.
For British Prime Minister Tony Blair a warm handshake indicative of at least thawing relations with U.S. President Bush's closest ally in crushing Saddam Hussein. Words too of conciliation and compromise as Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush seek a new U.N. resolution to attract more international troops to help stabilize Iraq.
The French and German leaders appeared to soften their positions ahead of their meetings at the U.N. next week with President Bush after calling for a central U.N. role and an Iraqi government in a month.
GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): The point for us is to concede a significant role to the United Nations and to be able to enter a period of transition as quickly as possible and so that we can transfer power as quickly as possible to Iraq authorities.
PRES. JACQUES CHIRAC, FRANCE: I think that basically we don't have a difference of opinion but as far as the means and the timetable there we don't entirely agree yet.
BURNS: Mr. Blair sought to put positive spin on the meeting and the prospects of a U.N. resolution aimed at stabilizing the country with the world's second largest oil reserves. TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We all want to see and know there must be a key role for the United Nations. Now, as I say, the detail of that obviously we leave to our people who are negotiating the resolution in New York.
BURNS: Though they have yet to pledge any boots on the ground, Germany and France have also promised to train Iraqi police and troops, help rebuild the country's infrastructure, and provide humanitarian aid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS: Even without a united stand the gestures and indications are there that Europe's big three are seeking common ground and a common interest to try to keep Iraq from spinning out of control - Carol.
LIN: All right, Chris, what can we expect from Bush and Schroeder's meeting next week?
BURNS: Well, there are indications from Schroeder himself, he's launched a public relations offensive through the "Wall Street Journal," through the "New York Times" writing in op ed pieces and in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" that he would like to bury the hatchet.
He would like to put the war behind him and look forward with President Bush. He has been offering conciliatory gestures in the last couple of days offering to help train Iraqi troops and police, try to help rebuild Iraq.
These are initiatives that Gerhard Schroeder would like to push ahead with even if he doesn't send troops right away. He said he would like to cooperate and try to forgive and forget over that war right now - Carol.
LIN: We'll see what happens. Thank you very much, Chris Burns reporting live from Berlin.
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 September 20, 2003 - 16:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Well turning now to post war Iraq, European leaders are meeting in Berlin trying to find common ground ahead of next week's U.N. meeting on Iraq's future. Our Chris Burns is there and he joins me now live. Chris, how is that meeting going? Is there any work accomplished there?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol that was a two hour meeting today here at the chancellery and a two hour meeting there's not a whole lot you can do within two hours.
This was their first meeting since the war. These are countries very, very deeply divided, France, Germany, and Britain, over that Iraqi War, France and Germany, of course, vehemently opposed to it. Now there appears to be, however, after this meeting a narrowing of differences and that in advance of some crucial meetings at the U.N. next week.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS (voice-over): The initial body language set the tone. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder gives a hearty bear hug to French President Jacques Chirac, his closest antiwar ally.
For British Prime Minister Tony Blair a warm handshake indicative of at least thawing relations with U.S. President Bush's closest ally in crushing Saddam Hussein. Words too of conciliation and compromise as Mr. Blair and Mr. Bush seek a new U.N. resolution to attract more international troops to help stabilize Iraq.
The French and German leaders appeared to soften their positions ahead of their meetings at the U.N. next week with President Bush after calling for a central U.N. role and an Iraqi government in a month.
GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): The point for us is to concede a significant role to the United Nations and to be able to enter a period of transition as quickly as possible and so that we can transfer power as quickly as possible to Iraq authorities.
PRES. JACQUES CHIRAC, FRANCE: I think that basically we don't have a difference of opinion but as far as the means and the timetable there we don't entirely agree yet.
BURNS: Mr. Blair sought to put positive spin on the meeting and the prospects of a U.N. resolution aimed at stabilizing the country with the world's second largest oil reserves. TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We all want to see and know there must be a key role for the United Nations. Now, as I say, the detail of that obviously we leave to our people who are negotiating the resolution in New York.
BURNS: Though they have yet to pledge any boots on the ground, Germany and France have also promised to train Iraqi police and troops, help rebuild the country's infrastructure, and provide humanitarian aid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BURNS: Even without a united stand the gestures and indications are there that Europe's big three are seeking common ground and a common interest to try to keep Iraq from spinning out of control - Carol.
LIN: All right, Chris, what can we expect from Bush and Schroeder's meeting next week?
BURNS: Well, there are indications from Schroeder himself, he's launched a public relations offensive through the "Wall Street Journal," through the "New York Times" writing in op ed pieces and in an interview with the "Wall Street Journal" that he would like to bury the hatchet.
He would like to put the war behind him and look forward with President Bush. He has been offering conciliatory gestures in the last couple of days offering to help train Iraqi troops and police, try to help rebuild Iraq.
These are initiatives that Gerhard Schroeder would like to push ahead with even if he doesn't send troops right away. He said he would like to cooperate and try to forgive and forget over that war right now - Carol.
LIN: We'll see what happens. Thank you very much, Chris Burns reporting live from Berlin.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
