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Interview with Yemen Foreign Minister
Aired December 11, 2002 - 14:14 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: I'm now being told we have official reaction now from Yemen, the Yemen foreign minister, Abu-Bakr al-Qerbi is joining us From Yemen on the phone.
Sir, can you hear me okay?
ABU-BAKAR AL-QERBI, YEMEN FOREIGN MINISTER: Yes, I can,.
PHILLIPS: Well, we appreciate your time, and first of all, I guess I want to ask you right off the bat, why you have purchased these SCUD missiles.
AL-QERBI: Well, this is a very old contract, and I think you are aware that, not Yemen, but almost all countries in the region purchase such missiles for defensive reasons. The concern is that they may be used for offensive means, but if you look at the history of Yemen, if you look at Yemen previous problems with its neighbors, we resolved all these through peaceful means, through negotiation, through going to arbitration. Yemen has no intention of using force to resolve conflict.
I think the United States understands that and appreciates that, and this is how Yemen builds its reputation with the rest of the world. So I think Yemen, as a sovereign country, has also to consider its security and to ensure that it can prevent and protect its territory.
PHILLIPS: Sir, do you feel threatened in any way?
AL-QERBI: Well, I think nowadays, every country can consider itself to be threatened. There are world problems, there are conflicts in many parts of the world, and Yemen has to be careful and aware of all these.
PHILLIPS: Now, first, Yemen denied having anything to do with this, and now, you're saying, indeed, you were planning on purchasing these SCUD missiles. Why was this shipment done in a manner consistent with smuggling, and why did you deny at first that you were a part of this deal?
AL-QERBI: I'm surprised you say we denied it. We never denied it.
PHILLIPS: You did...
AL-QERBI: No, we haven't denied it. We released a statement today, after meeting with the ambassador of the United States, that these missiles are destined for Yemen, that they were ordered several years ago, and that we were expecting them. The way they're shipped is not the responsibility of the Yemen; it's the responsibility of North Korea, and you should ask them why she shipped them in that manner.
PHILLIPS: There were no flags identifying this vessel. These missiles were under a number of cement bags. That doesn't seem unusual to you?
AL-QERBI: Well, we've heard all that, but this is not Yemen's problem.
PHILLIPS: Do you plan on selling these SCUD missiles to any other country?
AL-QERBI: Yemen does not trade in weapons.
PHILLIPS: So you are saying that these SCUD missiles will not get into the hands of other countries, i.e. Iraq, factions of Al Qaeda?
AL-QERBI: Definitely, they will not get to any other hands. They are for the Yemeni forces, and Yemen is as careful about it and knows the fright (ph) of it as anybody else.
PHILLIPS: Yemen is obviously a poor nation. These are very expensive SCUD missiles, anywhere from a million to four million on the black market. Why spend money on SCUD missiles, sir?
AL-QERBI: Well, this is because Yemen is -- has to defend itself, and it is our right to protect our country.
PHILLIPS: Yemen Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Al-Qerbi, sir, thank you for your time.
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 December 11, 2002 - 14:14 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm now being told we have official reaction now from Yemen, the Yemen foreign minister, Abu-Bakr al-Qerbi is joining us From Yemen on the phone.
Sir, can you hear me okay?
ABU-BAKAR AL-QERBI, YEMEN FOREIGN MINISTER: Yes, I can,.
PHILLIPS: Well, we appreciate your time, and first of all, I guess I want to ask you right off the bat, why you have purchased these SCUD missiles.
AL-QERBI: Well, this is a very old contract, and I think you are aware that, not Yemen, but almost all countries in the region purchase such missiles for defensive reasons. The concern is that they may be used for offensive means, but if you look at the history of Yemen, if you look at Yemen previous problems with its neighbors, we resolved all these through peaceful means, through negotiation, through going to arbitration. Yemen has no intention of using force to resolve conflict.
I think the United States understands that and appreciates that, and this is how Yemen builds its reputation with the rest of the world. So I think Yemen, as a sovereign country, has also to consider its security and to ensure that it can prevent and protect its territory.
PHILLIPS: Sir, do you feel threatened in any way?
AL-QERBI: Well, I think nowadays, every country can consider itself to be threatened. There are world problems, there are conflicts in many parts of the world, and Yemen has to be careful and aware of all these.
PHILLIPS: Now, first, Yemen denied having anything to do with this, and now, you're saying, indeed, you were planning on purchasing these SCUD missiles. Why was this shipment done in a manner consistent with smuggling, and why did you deny at first that you were a part of this deal?
AL-QERBI: I'm surprised you say we denied it. We never denied it.
PHILLIPS: You did...
AL-QERBI: No, we haven't denied it. We released a statement today, after meeting with the ambassador of the United States, that these missiles are destined for Yemen, that they were ordered several years ago, and that we were expecting them. The way they're shipped is not the responsibility of the Yemen; it's the responsibility of North Korea, and you should ask them why she shipped them in that manner.
PHILLIPS: There were no flags identifying this vessel. These missiles were under a number of cement bags. That doesn't seem unusual to you?
AL-QERBI: Well, we've heard all that, but this is not Yemen's problem.
PHILLIPS: Do you plan on selling these SCUD missiles to any other country?
AL-QERBI: Yemen does not trade in weapons.
PHILLIPS: So you are saying that these SCUD missiles will not get into the hands of other countries, i.e. Iraq, factions of Al Qaeda?
AL-QERBI: Definitely, they will not get to any other hands. They are for the Yemeni forces, and Yemen is as careful about it and knows the fright (ph) of it as anybody else.
PHILLIPS: Yemen is obviously a poor nation. These are very expensive SCUD missiles, anywhere from a million to four million on the black market. Why spend money on SCUD missiles, sir?
AL-QERBI: Well, this is because Yemen is -- has to defend itself, and it is our right to protect our country.
PHILLIPS: Yemen Foreign Minister Abu-Bakr Al-Qerbi, sir, thank you for your time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
