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Reports of Iraq's Missile Reach Foreshadows U.N. Session

Aired February 13, 2003 - 10:02   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin at the United Nations and a developing story. U.S. and Russian officials say a missile in Baghdad's declared arsenal has a range beyond the allowable limits, a potential breach in the debate over military action. The allegations, which Iraq denies, could prove decisive in tomorrow's report by U.N. inspectors.
CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more.

Richard -- good morning.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

Of course, you mentioned the U.S. and Russia. They both may differ, though, on the interpretation of how serious a violation this is. We're talking about the Al Samoud 2 missile that, according to diplomats, Hans Blix is likely to say in this report Friday to the Security Council that the missile has exceeded the 93 mile allowable range under United Nations Security Council resolutions after the Gulf War.

Blix discussed the missile and other questions yesterday, you see here, in one of his commissioner's meetings, an advisory panel, where Blix can bounce off suggestions and thoughts. And then he talked about his trip to Baghdad, which concluded earlier in the week.

After the meeting, Blix hinted, come and watch his presentation tomorrow to the council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We have met with our advisory committee commission the whole afternoon, and that I reported to them on the business that Mr. ElBaradei and I paid to Baghdad and the results from that meeting. We have also had a report from our own staff on the experts meetings on missiles that have taken place in the last two days, and I have received very valuable advice, as I have always done. And for the rest, I can tell you that I'm going to speak on Friday, and I welcome you all to see that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: British Prime Minister Tony Blair calls the missile range test a serious violation. Allegedly, the missile was test fired more than 40 times; 13 times it exceeded the range of 93 miles. No one is saying this is the smoking gun, but it will figure critically inside the Blix report. The U.S. is likely to say that this missile test breach signifies that Iraq is continuing not to cooperate and does not intend to with the weapons inspectors.

Also today inside the United Nations headquarters, Secretary- General Kofi Annan meets with the Security Council to discuss the humanitarian situation that may arise out of any Iraq crisis -- Heidi.

COLLINS: What more can you tell us about that, Richard? Who's going to be involved in that meeting?

ROTH: Well, the meeting will have all of the Security Council members. The United Nations has been in intensive contingency planning for months. Wherever you walk on the island of Cyprus, there's a U.N. official who says they're working on humanitarian planning. There are expected to be perhaps 10 million refugees or people affected by any type of war, and the United Nations wants to be prepared. It doesn't want to seem like it's taking sides. It just wants to get people on the ground ready to handle any type of emergency.

COLLINS: All right, Richard Roth live at the United Nations -- 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 13, 2003 - 10:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Let's begin at the United Nations and a developing story. U.S. and Russian officials say a missile in Baghdad's declared arsenal has a range beyond the allowable limits, a potential breach in the debate over military action. The allegations, which Iraq denies, could prove decisive in tomorrow's report by U.N. inspectors.
CNN senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more.

Richard -- good morning.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.

Of course, you mentioned the U.S. and Russia. They both may differ, though, on the interpretation of how serious a violation this is. We're talking about the Al Samoud 2 missile that, according to diplomats, Hans Blix is likely to say in this report Friday to the Security Council that the missile has exceeded the 93 mile allowable range under United Nations Security Council resolutions after the Gulf War.

Blix discussed the missile and other questions yesterday, you see here, in one of his commissioner's meetings, an advisory panel, where Blix can bounce off suggestions and thoughts. And then he talked about his trip to Baghdad, which concluded earlier in the week.

After the meeting, Blix hinted, come and watch his presentation tomorrow to the council.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We have met with our advisory committee commission the whole afternoon, and that I reported to them on the business that Mr. ElBaradei and I paid to Baghdad and the results from that meeting. We have also had a report from our own staff on the experts meetings on missiles that have taken place in the last two days, and I have received very valuable advice, as I have always done. And for the rest, I can tell you that I'm going to speak on Friday, and I welcome you all to see that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: British Prime Minister Tony Blair calls the missile range test a serious violation. Allegedly, the missile was test fired more than 40 times; 13 times it exceeded the range of 93 miles. No one is saying this is the smoking gun, but it will figure critically inside the Blix report. The U.S. is likely to say that this missile test breach signifies that Iraq is continuing not to cooperate and does not intend to with the weapons inspectors.

Also today inside the United Nations headquarters, Secretary- General Kofi Annan meets with the Security Council to discuss the humanitarian situation that may arise out of any Iraq crisis -- Heidi.

COLLINS: What more can you tell us about that, Richard? Who's going to be involved in that meeting?

ROTH: Well, the meeting will have all of the Security Council members. The United Nations has been in intensive contingency planning for months. Wherever you walk on the island of Cyprus, there's a U.N. official who says they're working on humanitarian planning. There are expected to be perhaps 10 million refugees or people affected by any type of war, and the United Nations wants to be prepared. It doesn't want to seem like it's taking sides. It just wants to get people on the ground ready to handle any type of emergency.

COLLINS: All right, Richard Roth live at the United Nations -- 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.