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U.S., Britain Making Diplomatic Push

Aired February 20, 2003 - 13:04   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: The White House says this is no bluff. The U.S. and Britain making a diplomatic push. How much time does Iraq have left?
CNN's Richard Roth standing by at the U.N. with more -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, the second resolution proposed by the United States and Britain is still going to come to the United Nations Security Council, but White House spokesman Ari Fleischer and Secretary of State Powell indicating it's next week, maybe the middle of next week.

Secretary Powell today in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: There are always tough issue before the Council. All I ask of each of these nations is to weigh the facts, weigh the evidence, read resolution 1441 again, and come to a considered judgment when it's time to vote.

I that believe we should put trust in these countries, whether they are big or small. They all have sovereign rights to decide. We present our case. We don't threaten. We don't suggest that blackmail is in order. We present our case, and hopefully, the power of our argument will persuade them to vote with us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Though some of the countries on the Security Council. Hans Blix is the chief weapons inspector. Powell is counting on the inspectors to gather more information on Iraq. And if they reach opposition from the Iraqi authorities, the U.S. is going to use that as a bid to get support from the Council, if they can say Iraq is not cooperating. France, Russia, China say the weapons inspectors should be given more time to do the job, even if it means taking into account those Al Samoud missiles that the U.S. and soon the weapons inspectors want destroyed by Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMB. TO U.N.: We are fully confident that inspectors are professionals, and they should handle this issue and, I understand they are doing this, and if there are proscribed missiles which have to be destroyed on the resolutions of the Council, they will be destroyed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The missiles in possession now by Iraq have been test- fired at more than the allowable 93 mile an hour range. The United States says this could be one point to say that Iraq is in material breach. Iraq says it continues to cooperate with the weapons inspectors. and other nations, we've talked to, Kyra, today, who sit on the Security Council, are eagerly awaiting on the text of that U.S./U.K. resolution.

Right now, the U.S. has maybe four at best, five if someone breaks down and says so, votes out of the nine needed, without any vetoes from the permanent members of the Council -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, live from 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 20, 2003 - 13:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The White House says this is no bluff. The U.S. and Britain making a diplomatic push. How much time does Iraq have left?
CNN's Richard Roth standing by at the U.N. with more -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, the second resolution proposed by the United States and Britain is still going to come to the United Nations Security Council, but White House spokesman Ari Fleischer and Secretary of State Powell indicating it's next week, maybe the middle of next week.

Secretary Powell today in Washington.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECY. OF STATE: There are always tough issue before the Council. All I ask of each of these nations is to weigh the facts, weigh the evidence, read resolution 1441 again, and come to a considered judgment when it's time to vote.

I that believe we should put trust in these countries, whether they are big or small. They all have sovereign rights to decide. We present our case. We don't threaten. We don't suggest that blackmail is in order. We present our case, and hopefully, the power of our argument will persuade them to vote with us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: Though some of the countries on the Security Council. Hans Blix is the chief weapons inspector. Powell is counting on the inspectors to gather more information on Iraq. And if they reach opposition from the Iraqi authorities, the U.S. is going to use that as a bid to get support from the Council, if they can say Iraq is not cooperating. France, Russia, China say the weapons inspectors should be given more time to do the job, even if it means taking into account those Al Samoud missiles that the U.S. and soon the weapons inspectors want destroyed by Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMB. TO U.N.: We are fully confident that inspectors are professionals, and they should handle this issue and, I understand they are doing this, and if there are proscribed missiles which have to be destroyed on the resolutions of the Council, they will be destroyed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: The missiles in possession now by Iraq have been test- fired at more than the allowable 93 mile an hour range. The United States says this could be one point to say that Iraq is in material breach. Iraq says it continues to cooperate with the weapons inspectors. and other nations, we've talked to, Kyra, today, who sit on the Security Council, are eagerly awaiting on the text of that U.S./U.K. resolution.

Right now, the U.S. has maybe four at best, five if someone breaks down and says so, votes out of the nine needed, without any vetoes from the permanent members of the Council -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, live from 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