Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Deposed Afghani President Rabbani Is Trying to Set Up New Government

Aired November 20, 2001 - 06:14   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.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Afghanistan's deposed President Rabbani has returned and is trying to work on setting up a new government. Our Christiane Amanpour is in Kabul, and she had an interview with President Rabbani -- Christiane.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Donna, we talked to President Rabbani earlier this morning. On the war front, he said that we should know later today whether the delegation of Northern Alliance -- a three-man delegation that's gone into Konduz in the north to seek the surrender of the Taliban, whether that's been successful. He said we should know that later today.

And on the political front, he indicated a political settlement, or at least the start of trying to reach a political settlement, may be one step closer. Having been blamed for holding out on holding a meeting outside Afghanistan, he now tells us that he is willing to have an initial meeting in Europe somewhere.

We began by asking him, since we had interviewed him in the presidential palace, whether he was here to share power or to hang onto it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR (on camera): Mr. President, many Afghans and many people around the world were very concerned when you and your forces entered Kabul. Can you assure the world that you are not here to seize power and to keep control?

BURHANUDDIN RABBANI, FORMER AFGHAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Yes. I have already assured you, and I will assure you again, that we came to Kabul to bring peace and ensure security and pave the way to invite Afghan groups to come here and start the peace process.

AMANPOUR: Are you prepared to genuinely share power, and have a broad-based alliance here, as envisioned by the United Nations?

RABBANI: We have already accepted the U.N. plan. Of course, I have some suggestions for completing this plan, which I will discuss with the U.N. special envoy after the leadership meeting.

AMANPOUR: What are those proposals you have? RABBANI: First, I believe that our country must have peace. For this, the decision-making process for peace should be held in Afghanistan. Of course, if it's not possible for some Afghans to come into Afghanistan, we can find another solution. Our first consultations can be somewhere else, but I insist that we must take all of the decisions on finalizing the peace process inside Afghanistan.

AMANPOUR: What do you mean by that? Are you prepared to hold a meeting outside Afghanistan to discuss peace?

RABBANI: We can have the first gathering in a foreign country, in Europe, but this gathering will be mostly symbolic, that's all.

AMANPOUR: Are you aware of how much the people of Afghanistan -- the people of Kabul, don't want the old leaders back in charge again? They're afraid that if you do come back, you'll give them more war instead of peace.

RABBANI: I don't believe that is accurate, and of course, some who think like that have a very bitter experience from war. But I believe that they understand that today, the Northern Alliance has defeated the terrible Taliban. Anyway, the decision of the people has always been respected by us and still is.

AMANPOUR: If there is a decision to choose a different leader than yourself, are you prepared to step down from power?

RABBANI: As I have said before, yes, why not?

AMANPOUR: Are you glad America has done what it has done here in the last two months?

RABBANI: We agree with the international struggle against terrorism. Of course, we always said that when they attacked the terrorist bases, the people of Afghanistan must not be attacked, and I think that the war is almost over.

From now on, what we ask from America and the international community is that instead of sending in their militaries, the world should send in their peace forces, their forces for reconstruction, to rebuild this ruined country. People are tired of war now. We don't want to hear the sound of artillery anymore. People should hear the sound of workers with shovels and hammers, rebuilding their country.

AMANPOUR: Mr. President, thank you for joining us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Now, there has been an enormous amount of pressure and political activity on the Northern Alliance and on other faction leaders, both by the U.N. special envoy and by the U.S. special envoy to the Northern Alliance. And we understand that in a couple of hours, the U.N. special envoy will have a statement here in Kabul. Perhaps we will learn, then, where this initial political meeting will take place, and when it will take place -- Donna. KELLEY: And after that initial meeting, though, Christiane, I saw where Rabbani was saying that that could be out of the county, but then he wanted the other ones to come back to Afghanistan. Will that be a sticking point?

AMANPOUR: Well, let's wait and see about that. I'm not entirely clear on that, because I don't know what was envisioned in the original plan. It may be. And the reason why the U.N. wanted it out of the country was so that it was in a neutral site. Because, of course, the Northern Alliance is here, de facto in charge, and the U.N. felt that that would be, you know, an unfair advantage with the other factional leaders who don't have a presence in Kabul at the moment.

So they definitely wanted to get it under way outside the country, but the U.N. saying that it is pleased with the meetings it's had, and as I say, there may be some more breakthroughs that we'll hear later this afternoon from the U.N. special envoy.

KELLEY: In Kabul, our Christiane Amanpour -- thanks as usual, and we'll see you soon.

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