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U.S.-France Relationship Thawing But Still Icy
Aired September 23, 2003 - 14:29 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: French President Jacques Chirac wants to speed up the transfer of power in Iraq but President Bush says it's going to take time. Our Jim Bittermann in Paris with more on reaction to the speeches both leaders made to the United Nations today. Hello, Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles. Not a whole lot of reaction here in France nor are we really expecting much because five out of six Frenchmen say they basically agree with what French President Jacques Chirac had to say. That's according to a recent poll.
And if that's the case, then, I think most of the interest was directed at the way that French President Chirac took President Bush to task over his actions in Iraq. In his speech to the United Nations, President Chirac says the U.N. is the crucible for international order, that no one can act alone, there's no alternative to the United Nations and multilateralism is crucial.
And later, he made his most pointed remark about something he's been talking about for days here and that is his belief for the sovereignty in Iraq should be hand over as quickly as possible to the Iraqi people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUES CHIRAC, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): In Iraq, the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis, who must have sole responsibility for their destiny, is essential for stability and reconstruction.
It is up to the United Nations to lend its legitimacy to the process. It is also up to the United Nations to assist with the gradual transfer of administrative and economic responsibilities to Iraqi institutions, according to a realistic timetable and to help the Iraqis draft a constitution and to hold general elections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: Now the two leaders seemed firmly enough in their traditional toasts at the United Nations. But after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Chirac and bush, Chirac came out and told reporters that basically they still had their differences and they had agreed to disagree.
Now President Chirac has said previously he is not going to veto, that France will not veto any U.S. resolution that's brought before the Security Council. However, he said that the conditions probably are not being met in order to have France vote for such a resolution. So it looks like France will probably abstain when the U.S. does come around to bringing a resolution to the Security Council -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Jim Bittermann in Paris, thanks very much.
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 23, 2003 - 14:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: French President Jacques Chirac wants to speed up the transfer of power in Iraq but President Bush says it's going to take time. Our Jim Bittermann in Paris with more on reaction to the speeches both leaders made to the United Nations today. Hello, Jim.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles. Not a whole lot of reaction here in France nor are we really expecting much because five out of six Frenchmen say they basically agree with what French President Jacques Chirac had to say. That's according to a recent poll.
And if that's the case, then, I think most of the interest was directed at the way that French President Chirac took President Bush to task over his actions in Iraq. In his speech to the United Nations, President Chirac says the U.N. is the crucible for international order, that no one can act alone, there's no alternative to the United Nations and multilateralism is crucial.
And later, he made his most pointed remark about something he's been talking about for days here and that is his belief for the sovereignty in Iraq should be hand over as quickly as possible to the Iraqi people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACQUES CHIRAC, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): In Iraq, the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis, who must have sole responsibility for their destiny, is essential for stability and reconstruction.
It is up to the United Nations to lend its legitimacy to the process. It is also up to the United Nations to assist with the gradual transfer of administrative and economic responsibilities to Iraqi institutions, according to a realistic timetable and to help the Iraqis draft a constitution and to hold general elections.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN: Now the two leaders seemed firmly enough in their traditional toasts at the United Nations. But after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, Chirac and bush, Chirac came out and told reporters that basically they still had their differences and they had agreed to disagree.
Now President Chirac has said previously he is not going to veto, that France will not veto any U.S. resolution that's brought before the Security Council. However, he said that the conditions probably are not being met in order to have France vote for such a resolution. So it looks like France will probably abstain when the U.S. does come around to bringing a resolution to the Security Council -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Jim Bittermann in Paris, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
