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Interview With Jose Maria Aznar

Aired May 08, 2003 - 15:01   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.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, combined with a warm welcome for Spain's prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, the White House is using these events to offer a strong and public thank you to those who backed the U.S. war effort.
A little earlier, I spoke with Prime Minister Aznar, and I started by asking how he thinks U.S. relations with Europe were affected by the diplomatic disagreements preceding the war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSE MARIA AZNAR, PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN (through translator): Once they (AUDIO GAP) are together, things work better, things are -- there's more freedom, there's more balance, and whenever there is -- we're apart, there's greater uncertainties.

WOODRUFF: How important is it to have the U.N. involved in administering post-war Iraq, and are you satisfied with the large role that the United States is playing? In fact, the United States is controlling the administration of Iraq for the foreseeable future.

AZNAR (through translator): Well, I believe that the U.N. should play an important role, it has -- it has to develop an important role, and that role will have to be defined in terms of institution building, material reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and general reconstruction of the country. But it definitely has to be an important role that's complementary to that of the administration and the interim government. There has to be facility (ph) there, and I hope that they do have a role. In fact, they're already there, and they have to continue their (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

WOODRUFF: Back at home in your country, you faced withering criticism for your position supporting the United States, the Bush administration, in this war. You even had political opponents saying you were worse than the dictator, Franco.

How damaging has it been for your political party -- I understand you've said you are not running for reelection, but how damaging for your political party, this support, despite the vast majority of the people in your country opposing the war?

AZNAR (through translator): In Spain, we have elections, local elections on the 25th of this month, and in March 2004, there will be general elections, and I'm sure we're going to win both.

We have done what we've had to do with full conviction. I think that for the world's peace and security, it's good for international legality to be abided by.

I think there's no alternative in the world to a solid relationship, a solid, stable relationship between the United States and Europe, and I don't think it's a fun game to weaken the foundations of that relationship and our security.

WOODRUFF: Last question. President Bush, his administration have welcomed you, they've welcomed the leaders of other countries that have been with them in the war in Iraq, but they are not welcoming the leaders of countries that opposed the war in Iraq.

President Bush said, for example, Mr. Chirac would not be invited to the Texas ranch anytime soon. Do you think it's a good idea for the United States to be so personal, so specific, to be -- in a way to use retribution when there has been disagreement like this?

AZNAR (through translator): I think we're all going to be working intelligently in these new opportunities for the world. President Bush is a personal friend in addition to being a political ally.

I'm convinced that President Bush is as interested as I am in having the greatest possible number of countries contributing most valuably to the reconstruction of the area, each of us with our own responsibilities.

I don't think arrogance is the best companion, and I'm sure we don't want arrogance by our side.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Spain's prime minister, Jose Aznar. We talked with him earlier today.

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 May 8, 2003 - 15:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Well, combined with a warm welcome for Spain's prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, the White House is using these events to offer a strong and public thank you to those who backed the U.S. war effort.
A little earlier, I spoke with Prime Minister Aznar, and I started by asking how he thinks U.S. relations with Europe were affected by the diplomatic disagreements preceding the war in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSE MARIA AZNAR, PRIME MINISTER OF SPAIN (through translator): Once they (AUDIO GAP) are together, things work better, things are -- there's more freedom, there's more balance, and whenever there is -- we're apart, there's greater uncertainties.

WOODRUFF: How important is it to have the U.N. involved in administering post-war Iraq, and are you satisfied with the large role that the United States is playing? In fact, the United States is controlling the administration of Iraq for the foreseeable future.

AZNAR (through translator): Well, I believe that the U.N. should play an important role, it has -- it has to develop an important role, and that role will have to be defined in terms of institution building, material reconstruction, humanitarian assistance, and general reconstruction of the country. But it definitely has to be an important role that's complementary to that of the administration and the interim government. There has to be facility (ph) there, and I hope that they do have a role. In fact, they're already there, and they have to continue their (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

WOODRUFF: Back at home in your country, you faced withering criticism for your position supporting the United States, the Bush administration, in this war. You even had political opponents saying you were worse than the dictator, Franco.

How damaging has it been for your political party -- I understand you've said you are not running for reelection, but how damaging for your political party, this support, despite the vast majority of the people in your country opposing the war?

AZNAR (through translator): In Spain, we have elections, local elections on the 25th of this month, and in March 2004, there will be general elections, and I'm sure we're going to win both.

We have done what we've had to do with full conviction. I think that for the world's peace and security, it's good for international legality to be abided by.

I think there's no alternative in the world to a solid relationship, a solid, stable relationship between the United States and Europe, and I don't think it's a fun game to weaken the foundations of that relationship and our security.

WOODRUFF: Last question. President Bush, his administration have welcomed you, they've welcomed the leaders of other countries that have been with them in the war in Iraq, but they are not welcoming the leaders of countries that opposed the war in Iraq.

President Bush said, for example, Mr. Chirac would not be invited to the Texas ranch anytime soon. Do you think it's a good idea for the United States to be so personal, so specific, to be -- in a way to use retribution when there has been disagreement like this?

AZNAR (through translator): I think we're all going to be working intelligently in these new opportunities for the world. President Bush is a personal friend in addition to being a political ally.

I'm convinced that President Bush is as interested as I am in having the greatest possible number of countries contributing most valuably to the reconstruction of the area, each of us with our own responsibilities.

I don't think arrogance is the best companion, and I'm sure we don't want arrogance by our side.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: Spain's prime minister, Jose Aznar. We talked with him earlier today.

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