Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
U.S. Seeks Larger Iraq Role For U.N.
Aired September 05, 2003 - 13:47 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: All right, our Richard Roth now, an exclusive interview he had with Kofi Annan. Of course, a lot of issues being discussed within the U.N. right now.
And, Richard, I think for full disclosure here, we must explain the tux. You can do that before or after we talk about your exclusive interview.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I didn't get the casual Friday memo. The tuxedo is for the 10th anniversary of the CNN program "Diplomatic License," which deals mainly with U.N. issue. Our guest 10 years ago, today, almost, was a then lowly U.N. official known as Kofi Annan. Ten years later, Mr. Annan has returned for an exclusive interview with me. And in this interview, considering the crisis in Iraq, his first one-on-one TV interview since the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, Annan indicated he was hopeful about a proposed new resolution for more of a U.N. role in Iraq, and he also indicated he's ready to take more of a role.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: I think it is possible to get a compromised resolution. I have suggested to the P-5 foreign ministers that they meet with me for us to explore a common ground and the way forward, and I hope that meeting will take place in the not too distant future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Annan, who opposed the war in Iraq, was asked by me whether he now thinks he has been proven right. He says he's going to leave that to the historians and the political scientists. He thinks the most important thing is to move forward and focus on helping the Iraqi people -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You mentioned more of a role. Tell me specifically what exactly the U.N. wants from the resolution, and how do you define more of a role?
ROTH: Well, the U.N. will take its marching orders from the Security Council, 15 nations. But Annan thinks there's too much of a focus on the military side. He believes in internationalizing the situation. He think it's only going to help the people of Iraq, and perhaps quell the volatile security situation. But he thinks in the areas such as the economy, the political direction of the country, human rights, electoral assistance, this is where the U.N. has proven to do well, despite its bad image in certain other places, from critics who may not be too familiar with the organization, and he thinks this is where the Iraqi people can benefit from, and if they see progress in these areas, there may be more calm ahead -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, looking quite dapper in his tux. You can catch his full exclusive interview with Kofi Annan over the weekend.
Thanks, Richard.
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 September 5, 2003 - 13:47 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, our Richard Roth now, an exclusive interview he had with Kofi Annan. Of course, a lot of issues being discussed within the U.N. right now.
And, Richard, I think for full disclosure here, we must explain the tux. You can do that before or after we talk about your exclusive interview.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I didn't get the casual Friday memo. The tuxedo is for the 10th anniversary of the CNN program "Diplomatic License," which deals mainly with U.N. issue. Our guest 10 years ago, today, almost, was a then lowly U.N. official known as Kofi Annan. Ten years later, Mr. Annan has returned for an exclusive interview with me. And in this interview, considering the crisis in Iraq, his first one-on-one TV interview since the bombing of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, Annan indicated he was hopeful about a proposed new resolution for more of a U.N. role in Iraq, and he also indicated he's ready to take more of a role.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: I think it is possible to get a compromised resolution. I have suggested to the P-5 foreign ministers that they meet with me for us to explore a common ground and the way forward, and I hope that meeting will take place in the not too distant future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Annan, who opposed the war in Iraq, was asked by me whether he now thinks he has been proven right. He says he's going to leave that to the historians and the political scientists. He thinks the most important thing is to move forward and focus on helping the Iraqi people -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: You mentioned more of a role. Tell me specifically what exactly the U.N. wants from the resolution, and how do you define more of a role?
ROTH: Well, the U.N. will take its marching orders from the Security Council, 15 nations. But Annan thinks there's too much of a focus on the military side. He believes in internationalizing the situation. He think it's only going to help the people of Iraq, and perhaps quell the volatile security situation. But he thinks in the areas such as the economy, the political direction of the country, human rights, electoral assistance, this is where the U.N. has proven to do well, despite its bad image in certain other places, from critics who may not be too familiar with the organization, and he thinks this is where the Iraqi people can benefit from, and if they see progress in these areas, there may be more calm ahead -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Richard Roth, looking quite dapper in his tux. You can catch his full exclusive interview with Kofi Annan over the weekend.
Thanks, Richard.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
