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White House Pleased with Results of Security Council Vote

Aired November 08, 2002 - 13:02   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In the end, everybody went along. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously this morning to approve the U.S. resolution to disarm Saddam Hussein.
The negotiations to win over France and Russia were arduous, they were intense, and the latest this morning, there was speculation that Syria might be a hold out, but it was not, and the final vote on the Iraq resolution was 15-0.

Joining us to shed further light on the vote, CNN's Frank Buckley at the White House, Richard Roth at the United Nations, and let's hear from Richard first at the United Nations how this all came down -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, in the final hours, Syria gave in, before that it was Russia, and on Thursday, it was France. U.S. pressure, negotiating, tweaking in the resolution, convinced the full Security Council to support this resolution.

Quite a change from other Iraq resolutions in the past, even just a few years ago where France, Russia and China abstained. The council wanting to show the government of President Saddam Hussein tough unity, that Iraq has to disarm and that it must accept the weapons inspectors.

Nevertheless, despite compromise language about a future Security Council meeting, the United States made it clear Washington reserves the right to attack on its own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The resolution makes clear that any Iraqi failure to comply is unacceptable, and that Iraq must be disarmed, and one way or another, Mr. President, Iraq will be disarmed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: As for Russia, well, Russia did go along because the ambassador told me the United States and Britain made sure in this resolution that there was no so-called automaticity, the hidden trigger that would open the door to an immediate attack before a Security Council meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (through translator): Implementation of this resolution will require good will on the part of all of those involved in the process of seeking an Iraqi settlement. Their willingness to concentrate on moving forward with the declared common goals, not yielding to the temptation of unilateral interpretation of the provisions of this resolution and preserving the consensus and unity of all members of the Security Council.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Russia's U.N. ambassador was overheard telling the Iraqi ambassador to the U.N. that there is no automatic trigger in this resolution, but Iraq has to have heard the U.S. ambassador and others in Washington indicate that Washington still believes it has a free hand if it decides to do so, if Iraq disrupts the inspectors.

The inspectors will return to Baghdad, if there is cooperation, November 18 -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Richard Roth at the United Nations, thanks very much. The battle comes to an end there, but the real fighting could begin for the White House. We are talking on the ground.

Frank Buckley joins us. The reaction of the president? Obviously, he was pleased -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was. Administration officials pleased here, Marty, about this diplomatic victory. The outcome, the exact outcome unclear until the very last minute, we are told.

A senior administration official telling us that as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte was heading into the Security Council chamber, he made a cell phone call to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to say, Finally, we have the 15th vote. Syria is going to be voting yes.

So, they didn't know until the very last moment. Secretary Powell appeared in the Rose Garden with President Bush immediately after the vote. The president calling this resolution a final test for the Iraqi government to disclose and destroy weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Bush said Iraq must cooperate unconditionally, or face -- quote -- "the severest consequences."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The outcome of the current crisis is already determined. The full disarmament of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq will occur. The only question for the Iraqi regime is to decide how. The United States prefers that Iraq meet its obligations voluntarily. Yet, we're prepared for the alternative.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: A senior administration official tells us that military action would only come after inspectors reported back to the Security Council about alleged breaches. If that occurs, then the Security Council would engage in some sort of debate, but this administration official telling us that that would not prohibit the president from acting -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Frank Buckley reporting live from, obviously, a satisfied White House -- thanks.

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 November 8, 2002 - 13:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In the end, everybody went along. The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously this morning to approve the U.S. resolution to disarm Saddam Hussein.
The negotiations to win over France and Russia were arduous, they were intense, and the latest this morning, there was speculation that Syria might be a hold out, but it was not, and the final vote on the Iraq resolution was 15-0.

Joining us to shed further light on the vote, CNN's Frank Buckley at the White House, Richard Roth at the United Nations, and let's hear from Richard first at the United Nations how this all came down -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, in the final hours, Syria gave in, before that it was Russia, and on Thursday, it was France. U.S. pressure, negotiating, tweaking in the resolution, convinced the full Security Council to support this resolution.

Quite a change from other Iraq resolutions in the past, even just a few years ago where France, Russia and China abstained. The council wanting to show the government of President Saddam Hussein tough unity, that Iraq has to disarm and that it must accept the weapons inspectors.

Nevertheless, despite compromise language about a future Security Council meeting, the United States made it clear Washington reserves the right to attack on its own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: The resolution makes clear that any Iraqi failure to comply is unacceptable, and that Iraq must be disarmed, and one way or another, Mr. President, Iraq will be disarmed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: As for Russia, well, Russia did go along because the ambassador told me the United States and Britain made sure in this resolution that there was no so-called automaticity, the hidden trigger that would open the door to an immediate attack before a Security Council meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (through translator): Implementation of this resolution will require good will on the part of all of those involved in the process of seeking an Iraqi settlement. Their willingness to concentrate on moving forward with the declared common goals, not yielding to the temptation of unilateral interpretation of the provisions of this resolution and preserving the consensus and unity of all members of the Security Council.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Russia's U.N. ambassador was overheard telling the Iraqi ambassador to the U.N. that there is no automatic trigger in this resolution, but Iraq has to have heard the U.S. ambassador and others in Washington indicate that Washington still believes it has a free hand if it decides to do so, if Iraq disrupts the inspectors.

The inspectors will return to Baghdad, if there is cooperation, November 18 -- Martin.

SAVIDGE: Richard Roth at the United Nations, thanks very much. The battle comes to an end there, but the real fighting could begin for the White House. We are talking on the ground.

Frank Buckley joins us. The reaction of the president? Obviously, he was pleased -- Frank.

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He was. Administration officials pleased here, Marty, about this diplomatic victory. The outcome, the exact outcome unclear until the very last minute, we are told.

A senior administration official telling us that as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Negroponte was heading into the Security Council chamber, he made a cell phone call to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to say, Finally, we have the 15th vote. Syria is going to be voting yes.

So, they didn't know until the very last moment. Secretary Powell appeared in the Rose Garden with President Bush immediately after the vote. The president calling this resolution a final test for the Iraqi government to disclose and destroy weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Bush said Iraq must cooperate unconditionally, or face -- quote -- "the severest consequences."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The outcome of the current crisis is already determined. The full disarmament of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq will occur. The only question for the Iraqi regime is to decide how. The United States prefers that Iraq meet its obligations voluntarily. Yet, we're prepared for the alternative.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: A senior administration official tells us that military action would only come after inspectors reported back to the Security Council about alleged breaches. If that occurs, then the Security Council would engage in some sort of debate, but this administration official telling us that that would not prohibit the president from acting -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Frank Buckley reporting live from, obviously, a satisfied White House -- thanks.

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