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Bush's Russia Trip Hears Warning
Aired November 22, 2002 - 13:14 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An 18th century palace outside of St. Petersburg was the scene of today's meeting between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They talked about Iraq, demanding that Baghdad disarm. But Mr. Putin also warned the U.S. should not go at it alone.
Bureau chief Jill Dougherty now brings us more from Moscow -- Jill.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Kyra, it was a very short trip, literally just 2 1/2 hours on the ground, but it was an important one. Mr. Bush was able to sit down directly across the table from Vladimir Putin and discuss subject number one, which of course is Iraq. President Putin urging George Bush not to go it alone, not to take unilateral military action against Iraq. He said, as he put it, We should stay within the framework of the United Nations.
President Bush believes that if Iraq does not come clean on any weapons of mass destruction that it might have, or if it interferes with inspections, U.N. weapons inspectors, then the United States does take the right to use military action against Iraq.
President Bush, however, did win a strong joint printed statement that was issued on Iraq, saying, "We call upon Iraq in strict compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 to cooperate fully and unconditionally in its disarmament obligations, or face serious consequences."
President Bush also noted the arrest of a top al Qaeda leader. Here is what he said.
(TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES)
I guess we don't have that sound.
But he used it as an indication that the War on Terrorism actually is succeeding.
So that was the short trip here in Russia. Off from St. Petersburg to a number member of NATO, and that is Lithuania, where Mr. Bush is right now -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jill, taking into account this latest stance from Vladimir Putin on a potential war against Iraq, Russia truly does have a lot of economic interest in Iraq -- right. DOUGHERTY: It does. Number one, it still has about $8 million, maybe about $10 billion, in old Soviet debt. That was debt that Iraq owes for weapons it was provided by the old Soviet Union. And then getting to modern days, there are a lot of Russian oil companies that potentially have very lucrative oil contracts with the Iraqis, but they can't realize and they can't bring them to fruition unless those sanctions are lifted. So there are strong economic issues here for Russia, and one thing they did win from George Bush, in an interview on TV last night, he said that those interests will be honored perfect -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jill Dougherty, thanks so much.
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 22, 2002 - 13:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: An 18th century palace outside of St. Petersburg was the scene of today's meeting between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin. They talked about Iraq, demanding that Baghdad disarm. But Mr. Putin also warned the U.S. should not go at it alone.
Bureau chief Jill Dougherty now brings us more from Moscow -- Jill.
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Kyra, it was a very short trip, literally just 2 1/2 hours on the ground, but it was an important one. Mr. Bush was able to sit down directly across the table from Vladimir Putin and discuss subject number one, which of course is Iraq. President Putin urging George Bush not to go it alone, not to take unilateral military action against Iraq. He said, as he put it, We should stay within the framework of the United Nations.
President Bush believes that if Iraq does not come clean on any weapons of mass destruction that it might have, or if it interferes with inspections, U.N. weapons inspectors, then the United States does take the right to use military action against Iraq.
President Bush, however, did win a strong joint printed statement that was issued on Iraq, saying, "We call upon Iraq in strict compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 to cooperate fully and unconditionally in its disarmament obligations, or face serious consequences."
President Bush also noted the arrest of a top al Qaeda leader. Here is what he said.
(TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES)
I guess we don't have that sound.
But he used it as an indication that the War on Terrorism actually is succeeding.
So that was the short trip here in Russia. Off from St. Petersburg to a number member of NATO, and that is Lithuania, where Mr. Bush is right now -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jill, taking into account this latest stance from Vladimir Putin on a potential war against Iraq, Russia truly does have a lot of economic interest in Iraq -- right. DOUGHERTY: It does. Number one, it still has about $8 million, maybe about $10 billion, in old Soviet debt. That was debt that Iraq owes for weapons it was provided by the old Soviet Union. And then getting to modern days, there are a lot of Russian oil companies that potentially have very lucrative oil contracts with the Iraqis, but they can't realize and they can't bring them to fruition unless those sanctions are lifted. So there are strong economic issues here for Russia, and one thing they did win from George Bush, in an interview on TV last night, he said that those interests will be honored perfect -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Jill Dougherty, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
