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CNN Live At Daybreak
America's New War: Saudis Drop Taliban
Aired September 25, 2001 - 07:27 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: It's time to get more on Saudi Arabia cutting its ties to the Taliban. The United Arab Emirates did that just a couple days ago. Now, only Pakistan has diplomatic relations with the Taliban. All this comes as a delegation from the European Union tries to gather support from five Muslim dominated nations for this war on terrorism.
The EU group began its itinerary in Islamabad, Pakistan. Our own Christiane Amanpour is there with the latest on all this -- Christiane.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The European Union delegation has come to Pakistan, is going on to Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria. It's an extraordinary attempt to rally the Islamic world and the Arab states to this coalition.
With me right now is the chief of the European Union's foreign affairs. Tell us what is the point precisely of this trip through the Muslim world.
JAVIER SOLANA, EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: Well, the point is double.
In the first place, to continue constructive cooperation with the United States and broaden coalition. And the second to send a very clear message to all these countries that this battle against terrorism has nothing to do with the battle against Islam or against Arab countries. This is very, very important that they understand this properly. And these are the two most important messages.
Cooperation, yes. Cooperation in particular in share of intelligence, share of information and also something very, very important to stop the fax of resources, the fax of money that continues to flow to these organizations.
AMANPOUR: Well, that precisely is what appears to be the first front in this battle against terrorism, the stop funding terrorism. What are you saying specifically to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, etc.?
SOLANA: Well, it depends on the country. There are countries that do have sources of financing and others that are so poor they don't have any. But to all of them we say that this is an absolutely basic purpose. And when we were in Washington not long ago we were discussing these aspects. We are going to work together to put in place measures in order to stop the financing of the organizations.
AMANPOUR: And in terms of the EU's support for the United States in this mission that it has now defined as a global effort against terrorism, can you tell us exactly the EU's position on supporting the U.S., militarily or otherwise?
SOLANA: Total solidarity with the United States. We think that the U.N. security council resolution is legitimate -- gives legitimacy to the United States to respond. The members of the European Union are ready to contribute according to their capabilities. And second, we are contributing also with the United States to the construction of a coalition of long and medium term to really fight against terrorism quite seriously.
AMANPOUR: And finally, briefly, what financial support and what help are you giving Pakistan as it stands in what you call the very difficult decision with the U.S.?
SOLANA: To Pakistan, we are going to put forward a program of humanitarian aid and also we are going to recuperate some of the content that we had before, some of the deals that we had before, and that they will start in the moment of the coup.
AMANPOUR: Mr. Solana, thank you. I know you're running to catch a plane to Iran. Thank you very much, indeed.
So, the European Union delegation has come here. It got a strong message of support from Pakistan and all the activity that has been directed now towards Pakistan in terms of yesterday's signing between the United States and Pakistan on financial support and rescheduling of debt are all designed right now to shore up this government and to give a vote of confidence in this government, which has made what all the other countries are calling a very difficult decision at this particular time to stand with the United States in this global coalition against terrorism -- back to you in Atlanta.
ZAHN: Actually, back to me in New York.
Thank you, Christiane.
Mr. Solana is a man with a huge mission. I've never seen a guest have to scurry away from an interview like that. Everybody wants to interview him this morning.
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