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Interview with Iraqi Foreign Minister
Aired September 30, 2004 - 13:34 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: Vioxx is off the market, and it's not only arthritis sufferers who are feeling the pain, Wall Street also reacting to the news that Vioxx maker Merck has voluntarily pulled the drug from pharmacies worldwide on reports that the drug may cause heart and liver problems. Share of Merck have fallen sharply in today's trading. More on the market impact of the news coming up in the next hour of LIVE FROM.
A deadly day in Gaza, as a series of battles broke out between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers. The worst bloodshed happened in Jebaliya, Gaza, where an Israeli tank shell hit a crowded marketplace. Ten Palestinians were killed, 20 people were wounded, including women and children. In all, a total of 28 people have died in Gaza today.
Iraq's interim minister pays a call on his British count part, Tony Blair, during today's visit. Allawi once again insisted that elections will be held in his country in January. He also expressed his sympathies for the family of hostage Kenneth Bigley, and strongly denounced the broadcast of the most recent video, saying it is repugnant to use Bigley as a political pawn.
Even by Baghdad standards, today was a day unusual violence. Car bombs in the capital killed more than 40 people, most of them children. It's the same day U.S. officials concede the insurgents in Iraq are enjoying some success, causing many to cast deeper doubt on the country's near future.
Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, is in London today. He's attending a security conference. He joins us live.
Mr. Zebari, it's a pleasure to have you.
HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: It's my pleasure to be with you.
PHILLIPS: I have to you, it's video that disturbed a number of us in the newsroom, seeing these children, dozens of them, killed and attacked by the insurgents today. You've got to tell us and update us on the insurgents. And do you feel you're getting a handle on the terrorist activity in your country?
ZEBARI: Well, this is what you saw today, really, the true face of terrorism, and what we are facing in Iraq. To me this peril of international terrorism that is now operating in Iraq.
And really, these people who are committing these acts, some are named or called to be resistance, freedom fighters. They are not, indeed. And this is very disturbing images you have seen. We have seen also. And the Iraqi people have suffered enough at the hands of these people.
And the way forward for us, really, is to be committed, is to be vigilant, and to be -- to rise up to this challenge, which is a serious one, and to build our capacity and to apply Iraqi solution to these problems that these groups of criminal gangs, terrorists, or Saddamists, are trying to undermine Iraq, to undermine the political process, and the electoral process that we are intending to do.
PHILLIPS: So, sir, what is the Iraqi solution? We see U.S. troops, we talk with commanders on a regular basis, saying, hey, we're just trying to fight them off and keep people alive, and we're just trying to stay alive ourselves. But what are the Iraqis saying? What are you saying? What is the prime minister saying on how you're going to deal directly with these terrorists? Your prime minister has said, we're going to isolate them. How?
ZEBARI: Well, what we need actually is to build our own security and military intelligence capacity, and capacity, to be able to face up to these gangs, or these terrorists. Also, to improve our intelligence, for our forces, for our police, to be better equipped, better armed, and also to be better informed of the working, of understanding the working of these insurgents, to tighter border control. We are doing that with Syria. Right now, there's ongoing discussions in order to improve border security. And there is more receptivity from the Syrian side to cooperate with us.
Also, with other countries, with our neighboring countries, to close down this. Internally, we are opening the political process for all those who are not embracing violence to join the political process, and we have an election. So nobody will be left out. Everybody will be included, provided that they do not resort to violence and to arms.
PHILLIPS: We've seen the violence, we've seen the explosions, at the police stations. We see how those applying to be a part of the Iraqi police force are being targeted. I've even talked with those in the 101st Airborne, saying, my translator -- two of our translators have been beheaded in the past couple of weeks. I mean, there's so much violence going on. How are you encouraging Iraqis to become police officers, to be a part of new military, to fight for your country?
ZEBARI: Well, despite the many casualties, the police force have sustained over the last few months, really the level of recruitment has not dropped significantly. And still, many Iraqis are eager to serve their country, to serve in the police force, in the army, and so on. But it is a challenge. It is a major challenge for us.
And I believe if we succeed to build our military forces, security forces, and to be able to control the situation will change. We need to push this political process, this idea of election forward, without any hesitation, without any wavering, in fact, because that is the main challenge. We want a new Iraq, a different Iraq that would be different from the Iraq that those terrorists groups of Saddamists want, to be authoritarian, backward, and also to make Iraq a safe haven for, you know, all these extremist groups to extend their evil words beyond the Iraq border.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Zebari, I've got to ask you this quickly, please, before we have to let you go...
ZEBARI: Please.
PHILLIPS: ... and that is we're dealing with our own political process. We have an election coming up very soon. We have our first presidential debate tonight. President George Bush or John Kerry, who do you think should be the next president of the United States? Who can help you with foreign policy and security?
ZEBARI: Kyra, we haven't seen the debate yet. We will watch it very anxiously. And then, accordingly, we will make up our mind. But really, whoever will support the Iraqi people, whoever will support the Iraqi government efforts to build a new, prosperous, Democratic, free Iraq, we will support that. We are not taking side in this. We care about the continued American support to this effort, and we are grateful for that.
PHILLIPS: Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, live from London today. Sir, thank you for your time.
ZEBARI: You're welcome.
GRIFFIN: If you're counting it down, we're about seven hours and about 19 minutes until the presidential candidate step up to the mic for tonight's first debate.
CNN's Frank Buckley with the Kerry campaign in Miami with more on how the Democratic challenger is prepping for this crucial campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're told John Kerry spent the morning relaxing here at his hotel suite, talking to staffers and to family members. No more mock debates. We're told he engaged in four full mock debates leading up to tonight's real thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Senator John Kerry.
BUCKLEY (voice-over): Senator John Kerry arrived in Florida, the burden on him, to convince voters they need to change presidents.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want you to know we're going to get an opportunity to debate with the president about the direction of our country. I'm looking forward to that debate.
BUCKLEY: Kerry's strategists say the senator has to show he can be a strong leader and that he offers a better choice than President Bush. Aides say mock debates in Wisconsin help to hone his arguments and to keep his answers focused. KERRY: ... to be able to share with Americans the truth -- not the soundbites, not the advertisements, but the truth.
BUCKLEY: Kerry also reportedly read this advice on how to debate George Bush in "The New York Times," written by Al Gore, who advised Kerry, "Be prepared for the toughest debate of your career."
Gore, someone who know, better than anyone, that debate press is not debate performance.
AL GORE, FMR. VICE PRESIDENT: It's quite interesting. It just makes me sort of -- want to sigh.
BUCKLEY: Kerry will no doubt avoid the Gore sigh. His advisors say he will press the case against President Bush and his management of the war in Iraq.
KERRY: I can be a stronger commander-in-chief who solves the problem of Iraq and gets our troops home.
BUCKLEY (on camera): There's much at stake for John Kerry tonight. It's a second chance to make a first impression, as one strategist put it. Yes, he's been running for a president for a year- and-a-half. Yes, he made a lot of news during the Democratic National Convention.
But historically, many undecided voters make their decision during the past month or even the last few days of an election season. And also, historically, the first presidential debate of the series of debates is the one that's most watched by voters. So, much at stake for John Kerry tonight.
Frank Buckley, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: CNN is, of course, live in Miami as the candidates square off. Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Wolf Blitzer, and CNN's entire election team kick off our primetime coverage tonight, 7:00 Eastern.
If you've been waiting to order your personalized postage stamp, you may have waited too long. That's ahead in business news.
And cuddle for some pillow talk. It's the LIVE FROM bonus story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nearly everything we do leaves behind some kind of waste. Whether household, industrial, or commercial, all is potentially hazardous. But Laetitia Delmau and the research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are trying to do their part to clean up the environment with a technology called solvent extraction.
Laetitia's best known for creating an economical process for cleaning up radioactive waste at the Savannah River site. But her hope is the technology can be used in broader applications.
LAETITIA DELMAU, RESEARCH STAFF MEMBER: We are interested in targeting some of the current issues, such as removing pollutants from groundwater or streams, metal, refinery from ore, and also for nuclear waste reduction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This work recently earned Laetitia a top spot on "Technology Review's" 2004 list of top 100 young innovators in technology and business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just shows you how idiotic fans are, they're booing the message. As if to say we...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: A rare sign of support in baseball in Montreal last night. This was support to see the team leave. More than 31,000 showing up at Olympic Stadium for what was the last Major League Baseball game to be played by the Montreal Expos.
Just hours before, it was made official that the money-losing team was going to go to Washington, D.C. The Expos had trouble all season long getting a mere 5,000 fans to show up at the ballpark. Last night's huge crowd showed up to boo, throw things on the field, and the Expos complied, losing their last home game to the Florida Marlins 9-1.
PHILLIPS: Other newsacross America, baseball also leads our trip across America this hour. Cleveland Indians' pitcher Kyle Denney spent the night in a Kansas City hospital after being shot in the leg when somebody fired into the team bus. It's not a serious injury. Nobody else was hurt. Police have no suspects.
Turn off the TV, eat better, move around more -- familiar advice, right, for the weight loss set? But this time it's aimed at kids. Scientists at the Institute of Medicine are urging an all-fronts assault against what they call the epidemic of childhood obesity. The report issued today indicts schools, foodmakers, and, yes, families for failing to promote a healthy lifestyle early in life.
Just how dangerous is that H-bomb stuck in the mud off the Georgia coast? Well, a federal team intends to find out when it starts looking for the device today. The 7,200-pound Mark 15 hydrogen bomb was dropped in the water near Savannah 46 years ago. It happened when an Air Force training flight was taking place and it went bad. No word on what they plan to do once they find it.
GRIFFIN: Well, it won't take out the trash for you.
PHILLIPS: But it can keep you warm at night. The pillow boyfriend, coming up. RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, put the pillow boyfriend on a stamp. You're going to have to act fast, though, if you want a personalized stamp. That story's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, knowing that you have high expectations for the LIVE FROM bonus story, we present the boyfriend pillow. Yes, for about $80, you, too, can no longer sleep without a masculine arm around you all night long. The boyfriend pillow doesn't snore, doesn't watch television, doesn't interrupt, doesn't get on your nerves. He'll even kill spiders if you throw him hard enough. Available for you now, only in Japan. We understand the company is working on a similarly comforting model for the solo slumbering gentleman.
GRIFFIN: A wife pillow.
PHILLIPS: You don't need a wife pillow. You've got a great wife.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)
GRIFFIN: Also coming up the candidates sharpening their message for viewers and voters, but what is the impact of style on what they say versus substance. We'll get at the potentially crucial issue there. And CNN live in Miami as the candidates square off. Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Wolf Blitzer, CNN's election team, kicking off our primetime coverage tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
LIVE FROM's hour of power begins after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 30, 2004 - 13:34 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Vioxx is off the market, and it's not only arthritis sufferers who are feeling the pain, Wall Street also reacting to the news that Vioxx maker Merck has voluntarily pulled the drug from pharmacies worldwide on reports that the drug may cause heart and liver problems. Share of Merck have fallen sharply in today's trading. More on the market impact of the news coming up in the next hour of LIVE FROM.
A deadly day in Gaza, as a series of battles broke out between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers. The worst bloodshed happened in Jebaliya, Gaza, where an Israeli tank shell hit a crowded marketplace. Ten Palestinians were killed, 20 people were wounded, including women and children. In all, a total of 28 people have died in Gaza today.
Iraq's interim minister pays a call on his British count part, Tony Blair, during today's visit. Allawi once again insisted that elections will be held in his country in January. He also expressed his sympathies for the family of hostage Kenneth Bigley, and strongly denounced the broadcast of the most recent video, saying it is repugnant to use Bigley as a political pawn.
Even by Baghdad standards, today was a day unusual violence. Car bombs in the capital killed more than 40 people, most of them children. It's the same day U.S. officials concede the insurgents in Iraq are enjoying some success, causing many to cast deeper doubt on the country's near future.
Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, is in London today. He's attending a security conference. He joins us live.
Mr. Zebari, it's a pleasure to have you.
HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: It's my pleasure to be with you.
PHILLIPS: I have to you, it's video that disturbed a number of us in the newsroom, seeing these children, dozens of them, killed and attacked by the insurgents today. You've got to tell us and update us on the insurgents. And do you feel you're getting a handle on the terrorist activity in your country?
ZEBARI: Well, this is what you saw today, really, the true face of terrorism, and what we are facing in Iraq. To me this peril of international terrorism that is now operating in Iraq.
And really, these people who are committing these acts, some are named or called to be resistance, freedom fighters. They are not, indeed. And this is very disturbing images you have seen. We have seen also. And the Iraqi people have suffered enough at the hands of these people.
And the way forward for us, really, is to be committed, is to be vigilant, and to be -- to rise up to this challenge, which is a serious one, and to build our capacity and to apply Iraqi solution to these problems that these groups of criminal gangs, terrorists, or Saddamists, are trying to undermine Iraq, to undermine the political process, and the electoral process that we are intending to do.
PHILLIPS: So, sir, what is the Iraqi solution? We see U.S. troops, we talk with commanders on a regular basis, saying, hey, we're just trying to fight them off and keep people alive, and we're just trying to stay alive ourselves. But what are the Iraqis saying? What are you saying? What is the prime minister saying on how you're going to deal directly with these terrorists? Your prime minister has said, we're going to isolate them. How?
ZEBARI: Well, what we need actually is to build our own security and military intelligence capacity, and capacity, to be able to face up to these gangs, or these terrorists. Also, to improve our intelligence, for our forces, for our police, to be better equipped, better armed, and also to be better informed of the working, of understanding the working of these insurgents, to tighter border control. We are doing that with Syria. Right now, there's ongoing discussions in order to improve border security. And there is more receptivity from the Syrian side to cooperate with us.
Also, with other countries, with our neighboring countries, to close down this. Internally, we are opening the political process for all those who are not embracing violence to join the political process, and we have an election. So nobody will be left out. Everybody will be included, provided that they do not resort to violence and to arms.
PHILLIPS: We've seen the violence, we've seen the explosions, at the police stations. We see how those applying to be a part of the Iraqi police force are being targeted. I've even talked with those in the 101st Airborne, saying, my translator -- two of our translators have been beheaded in the past couple of weeks. I mean, there's so much violence going on. How are you encouraging Iraqis to become police officers, to be a part of new military, to fight for your country?
ZEBARI: Well, despite the many casualties, the police force have sustained over the last few months, really the level of recruitment has not dropped significantly. And still, many Iraqis are eager to serve their country, to serve in the police force, in the army, and so on. But it is a challenge. It is a major challenge for us.
And I believe if we succeed to build our military forces, security forces, and to be able to control the situation will change. We need to push this political process, this idea of election forward, without any hesitation, without any wavering, in fact, because that is the main challenge. We want a new Iraq, a different Iraq that would be different from the Iraq that those terrorists groups of Saddamists want, to be authoritarian, backward, and also to make Iraq a safe haven for, you know, all these extremist groups to extend their evil words beyond the Iraq border.
PHILLIPS: Mr. Zebari, I've got to ask you this quickly, please, before we have to let you go...
ZEBARI: Please.
PHILLIPS: ... and that is we're dealing with our own political process. We have an election coming up very soon. We have our first presidential debate tonight. President George Bush or John Kerry, who do you think should be the next president of the United States? Who can help you with foreign policy and security?
ZEBARI: Kyra, we haven't seen the debate yet. We will watch it very anxiously. And then, accordingly, we will make up our mind. But really, whoever will support the Iraqi people, whoever will support the Iraqi government efforts to build a new, prosperous, Democratic, free Iraq, we will support that. We are not taking side in this. We care about the continued American support to this effort, and we are grateful for that.
PHILLIPS: Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, live from London today. Sir, thank you for your time.
ZEBARI: You're welcome.
GRIFFIN: If you're counting it down, we're about seven hours and about 19 minutes until the presidential candidate step up to the mic for tonight's first debate.
CNN's Frank Buckley with the Kerry campaign in Miami with more on how the Democratic challenger is prepping for this crucial campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're told John Kerry spent the morning relaxing here at his hotel suite, talking to staffers and to family members. No more mock debates. We're told he engaged in four full mock debates leading up to tonight's real thing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Senator John Kerry.
BUCKLEY (voice-over): Senator John Kerry arrived in Florida, the burden on him, to convince voters they need to change presidents.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want you to know we're going to get an opportunity to debate with the president about the direction of our country. I'm looking forward to that debate.
BUCKLEY: Kerry's strategists say the senator has to show he can be a strong leader and that he offers a better choice than President Bush. Aides say mock debates in Wisconsin help to hone his arguments and to keep his answers focused. KERRY: ... to be able to share with Americans the truth -- not the soundbites, not the advertisements, but the truth.
BUCKLEY: Kerry also reportedly read this advice on how to debate George Bush in "The New York Times," written by Al Gore, who advised Kerry, "Be prepared for the toughest debate of your career."
Gore, someone who know, better than anyone, that debate press is not debate performance.
AL GORE, FMR. VICE PRESIDENT: It's quite interesting. It just makes me sort of -- want to sigh.
BUCKLEY: Kerry will no doubt avoid the Gore sigh. His advisors say he will press the case against President Bush and his management of the war in Iraq.
KERRY: I can be a stronger commander-in-chief who solves the problem of Iraq and gets our troops home.
BUCKLEY (on camera): There's much at stake for John Kerry tonight. It's a second chance to make a first impression, as one strategist put it. Yes, he's been running for a president for a year- and-a-half. Yes, he made a lot of news during the Democratic National Convention.
But historically, many undecided voters make their decision during the past month or even the last few days of an election season. And also, historically, the first presidential debate of the series of debates is the one that's most watched by voters. So, much at stake for John Kerry tonight.
Frank Buckley, CNN, Miami.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: CNN is, of course, live in Miami as the candidates square off. Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Wolf Blitzer, and CNN's entire election team kick off our primetime coverage tonight, 7:00 Eastern.
If you've been waiting to order your personalized postage stamp, you may have waited too long. That's ahead in business news.
And cuddle for some pillow talk. It's the LIVE FROM bonus story next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nearly everything we do leaves behind some kind of waste. Whether household, industrial, or commercial, all is potentially hazardous. But Laetitia Delmau and the research team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are trying to do their part to clean up the environment with a technology called solvent extraction.
Laetitia's best known for creating an economical process for cleaning up radioactive waste at the Savannah River site. But her hope is the technology can be used in broader applications.
LAETITIA DELMAU, RESEARCH STAFF MEMBER: We are interested in targeting some of the current issues, such as removing pollutants from groundwater or streams, metal, refinery from ore, and also for nuclear waste reduction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This work recently earned Laetitia a top spot on "Technology Review's" 2004 list of top 100 young innovators in technology and business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just shows you how idiotic fans are, they're booing the message. As if to say we...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRIFFIN: A rare sign of support in baseball in Montreal last night. This was support to see the team leave. More than 31,000 showing up at Olympic Stadium for what was the last Major League Baseball game to be played by the Montreal Expos.
Just hours before, it was made official that the money-losing team was going to go to Washington, D.C. The Expos had trouble all season long getting a mere 5,000 fans to show up at the ballpark. Last night's huge crowd showed up to boo, throw things on the field, and the Expos complied, losing their last home game to the Florida Marlins 9-1.
PHILLIPS: Other newsacross America, baseball also leads our trip across America this hour. Cleveland Indians' pitcher Kyle Denney spent the night in a Kansas City hospital after being shot in the leg when somebody fired into the team bus. It's not a serious injury. Nobody else was hurt. Police have no suspects.
Turn off the TV, eat better, move around more -- familiar advice, right, for the weight loss set? But this time it's aimed at kids. Scientists at the Institute of Medicine are urging an all-fronts assault against what they call the epidemic of childhood obesity. The report issued today indicts schools, foodmakers, and, yes, families for failing to promote a healthy lifestyle early in life.
Just how dangerous is that H-bomb stuck in the mud off the Georgia coast? Well, a federal team intends to find out when it starts looking for the device today. The 7,200-pound Mark 15 hydrogen bomb was dropped in the water near Savannah 46 years ago. It happened when an Air Force training flight was taking place and it went bad. No word on what they plan to do once they find it.
GRIFFIN: Well, it won't take out the trash for you.
PHILLIPS: But it can keep you warm at night. The pillow boyfriend, coming up. RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN SR. BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, put the pillow boyfriend on a stamp. You're going to have to act fast, though, if you want a personalized stamp. That story's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, knowing that you have high expectations for the LIVE FROM bonus story, we present the boyfriend pillow. Yes, for about $80, you, too, can no longer sleep without a masculine arm around you all night long. The boyfriend pillow doesn't snore, doesn't watch television, doesn't interrupt, doesn't get on your nerves. He'll even kill spiders if you throw him hard enough. Available for you now, only in Japan. We understand the company is working on a similarly comforting model for the solo slumbering gentleman.
GRIFFIN: A wife pillow.
PHILLIPS: You don't need a wife pillow. You've got a great wife.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)
GRIFFIN: Also coming up the candidates sharpening their message for viewers and voters, but what is the impact of style on what they say versus substance. We'll get at the potentially crucial issue there. And CNN live in Miami as the candidates square off. Anderson Cooper, Paula Zahn, Wolf Blitzer, CNN's election team, kicking off our primetime coverage tonight at 7:00 Eastern.
LIVE FROM's hour of power begins after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
