Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Security Council Opens Chamber for Nonmember Debate
Aired February 18, 2003 - 13:35 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: Moving on to the U.S. position on Iraq, it's expected to take a beating today at the U.N. The Security Council opens its chamber to nonmember states for a public debate.
CNN's senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth live there now with a preview -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're up to 70 speakers, 70 countries for now listed to address the United Nations Security Council on their thoughts on this Iraq crisis. A predominant majority will probably say that the inspectors on the ground in Iraq should be given more time.
Inside the Security Council last Friday, a very intense session. Secretary of State Powell squaring off, not directly, with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. Other countries also siding with the French. Delegates who were not sitting on the council applauding the French and Russian remarks. You'll probably hear their views aired over the next four hours or so.
The session likely to spill into tomorrow.
The U.S. pushing perhaps for a second resolution, even though President Bush says he doesn't need one. Well, France and Russia are kind of joining him, saying they don't want one anyway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR, U.N.: We don't believe there is a need for any resolution to be discussed at this moment. We believe that inspections continue successfully, that Iraqi cooperation is improving, as we all demanded, and that 1441 gives inspectors whatever powers they need to increase the numbers of inspectors on the ground, need to increase the numbers of security guards, be it to use whatever techniques they would like to use.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The French and Chinese diplomats telling CNN they haven't been contacted yet about a resolution.
A lot may hinge on the man on the left, Dr. Hans Blix here, one of the few people to get to the U.N. headquarters yesterday, despite the big snowfall. But some diplomats siding with the U.S. think Iraq is giving the U.N. a snow job. Well, basically Blix may be told by Council member to give them more of an ultimatum, a litmus test on key issues such as, destruction of the al Samoud II missile. That has been tested unlawfully past the 93-mile range allowed.
Iraq says when you add guidance and fuel; well that missile doesn't travel that long. So busy time still at the U.N. But that resolution may be a week at least in coming here or even being discussed formally -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, live from the U.N. Thank you.
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 February 18, 2003 - 13:35 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on to the U.S. position on Iraq, it's expected to take a beating today at the U.N. The Security Council opens its chamber to nonmember states for a public debate.
CNN's senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth live there now with a preview -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're up to 70 speakers, 70 countries for now listed to address the United Nations Security Council on their thoughts on this Iraq crisis. A predominant majority will probably say that the inspectors on the ground in Iraq should be given more time.
Inside the Security Council last Friday, a very intense session. Secretary of State Powell squaring off, not directly, with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. Other countries also siding with the French. Delegates who were not sitting on the council applauding the French and Russian remarks. You'll probably hear their views aired over the next four hours or so.
The session likely to spill into tomorrow.
The U.S. pushing perhaps for a second resolution, even though President Bush says he doesn't need one. Well, France and Russia are kind of joining him, saying they don't want one anyway.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEI LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR, U.N.: We don't believe there is a need for any resolution to be discussed at this moment. We believe that inspections continue successfully, that Iraqi cooperation is improving, as we all demanded, and that 1441 gives inspectors whatever powers they need to increase the numbers of inspectors on the ground, need to increase the numbers of security guards, be it to use whatever techniques they would like to use.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The French and Chinese diplomats telling CNN they haven't been contacted yet about a resolution.
A lot may hinge on the man on the left, Dr. Hans Blix here, one of the few people to get to the U.N. headquarters yesterday, despite the big snowfall. But some diplomats siding with the U.S. think Iraq is giving the U.N. a snow job. Well, basically Blix may be told by Council member to give them more of an ultimatum, a litmus test on key issues such as, destruction of the al Samoud II missile. That has been tested unlawfully past the 93-mile range allowed.
Iraq says when you add guidance and fuel; well that missile doesn't travel that long. So busy time still at the U.N. But that resolution may be a week at least in coming here or even being discussed formally -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, live from the U.N. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
