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Showdown Iraq: Diplomacy In Action at United Nations

Aired October 17, 2002 - 12:10   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: At the United Nations' headquarters, the speech-making continues; U.S. envoys working behind the scenes to try to get a resolution spelling out some sort of ultimatum for Iraqi disarmament.
Our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is joining us now live.

Richard -- what's the latest on the effort to get such a resolution?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: All right, well, the United States is softening its language in the proposed resolution. It had to do this in order to win the support of the other permanent members of the Security Council, specifically France and Russia.

The United States secretary of state, Colin Powell, did meet with the French defense minister yesterday; this as debate in the Security Council continues.

Right now, the Saudi Arabian ambassador is speaking. All of the countries are opposed to a threat of force on Iraq. They think Baghdad should be given more time to prove it can disarm.

Regarding the resolution, Wolf, the U.S. State Department officials in effect saying that even after one resolution is passed, with telling Iraq what it has to do, that before there's a second resolution, well, we'll get back to you.

Back to you -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Richard Roth reporting live from the United Nations -- thanks for that report.

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 October 17, 2002 - 12:10   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: At the United Nations' headquarters, the speech-making continues; U.S. envoys working behind the scenes to try to get a resolution spelling out some sort of ultimatum for Iraqi disarmament.
Our senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth, is joining us now live.

Richard -- what's the latest on the effort to get such a resolution?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: All right, well, the United States is softening its language in the proposed resolution. It had to do this in order to win the support of the other permanent members of the Security Council, specifically France and Russia.

The United States secretary of state, Colin Powell, did meet with the French defense minister yesterday; this as debate in the Security Council continues.

Right now, the Saudi Arabian ambassador is speaking. All of the countries are opposed to a threat of force on Iraq. They think Baghdad should be given more time to prove it can disarm.

Regarding the resolution, Wolf, the U.S. State Department officials in effect saying that even after one resolution is passed, with telling Iraq what it has to do, that before there's a second resolution, well, we'll get back to you.

Back to you -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Richard Roth reporting live from the United Nations -- thanks for that report.

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