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CNN Live Today
U.S. May Push Vote Back Slightly
Aired March 13, 2003 - 10:13 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So the diplomatic wrangling in the United Nations goes on, but will it really come down to another vote? We take you now to the United Nations and CNN Senior United Nations Correspondent Richard Roth -- so, Richard, how likely is it that a second resolution will be introduced?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, the resolution has already been introduced. The question is now whether it is, indeed, changed with these new benchmarks, even if they're not included proper in that resolution. It's a desperate, last-ditch effort by the British to gain more support for that resolution that you referred to, and also, it will be another test, a series of tests for the government of Iraq.
Today, a short time ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his first public comments since returning from the Hague, again, with another plea for the nations of the Security Council, who remain divided, to come together for a solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: Divisions which have appeared, some of it is normal in democratic, parliamentary processes, should not be long divisions that will prevent the council from tackling the major issues ahead. Regardless of how this issue is resolved, the council will have a role, and the U.N. will have a role to play in Iraq and beyond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The Security Council will resume discussions at 3:00 Eastern time. Last evening, the divisions that the secretary-general mentioned were very much in evidence, because France and Russia are still opposed to these benchmark proposals. But what was notable is that it appears the United States is now willing to let a few days go by to test the waters, whether there is backing from some countries for the benchmarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: If there's some traction, and if the council starts to coalesce around that approach, then an option available to us is a modest extension, a very, very, very brief extension indeed, of that deadline. But I don't want to get pinned down to a specific number of days.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROTH: In a statement in Paris today, the French government says that this benchmark series is still a pretext for war, and that is what concerns Russia also, a hidden trigger nestled in the diplomatic language.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I think it's still about war and peace, and I'm not convinced that this proposal takes care of our concerns. They would be started (ph), but we see automaticity still there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: You see more attempts at compromise. It is the United Kingdom that really needs this resolution. The U.S., sort of take it or leave it. British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw being quoted by reporters today, a short time ago in London, saying, If the only thing between us and a compromise is one of the benchmarks, saying that President Saddam Hussein has to go on national television to reveal his hidden weapons of mass destruction, then Britain would drop this proposal.
So we may see -- may see several more days of diplomatic maneuvering here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, to boil it down, no vote today, maybe next week. Who knows?
ROTH: Small chance still for tomorrow, but it may be towards next week.
COSTELLO: All right. Richard Roth. We are covering all angles of this story. We'll get back to 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 March 13, 2003 - 10:13 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: So the diplomatic wrangling in the United Nations goes on, but will it really come down to another vote? We take you now to the United Nations and CNN Senior United Nations Correspondent Richard Roth -- so, Richard, how likely is it that a second resolution will be introduced?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, the resolution has already been introduced. The question is now whether it is, indeed, changed with these new benchmarks, even if they're not included proper in that resolution. It's a desperate, last-ditch effort by the British to gain more support for that resolution that you referred to, and also, it will be another test, a series of tests for the government of Iraq.
Today, a short time ago, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his first public comments since returning from the Hague, again, with another plea for the nations of the Security Council, who remain divided, to come together for a solution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: Divisions which have appeared, some of it is normal in democratic, parliamentary processes, should not be long divisions that will prevent the council from tackling the major issues ahead. Regardless of how this issue is resolved, the council will have a role, and the U.N. will have a role to play in Iraq and beyond.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The Security Council will resume discussions at 3:00 Eastern time. Last evening, the divisions that the secretary-general mentioned were very much in evidence, because France and Russia are still opposed to these benchmark proposals. But what was notable is that it appears the United States is now willing to let a few days go by to test the waters, whether there is backing from some countries for the benchmarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: If there's some traction, and if the council starts to coalesce around that approach, then an option available to us is a modest extension, a very, very, very brief extension indeed, of that deadline. But I don't want to get pinned down to a specific number of days.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROTH: In a statement in Paris today, the French government says that this benchmark series is still a pretext for war, and that is what concerns Russia also, a hidden trigger nestled in the diplomatic language.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I think it's still about war and peace, and I'm not convinced that this proposal takes care of our concerns. They would be started (ph), but we see automaticity still there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: You see more attempts at compromise. It is the United Kingdom that really needs this resolution. The U.S., sort of take it or leave it. British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw being quoted by reporters today, a short time ago in London, saying, If the only thing between us and a compromise is one of the benchmarks, saying that President Saddam Hussein has to go on national television to reveal his hidden weapons of mass destruction, then Britain would drop this proposal.
So we may see -- may see several more days of diplomatic maneuvering here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: So, to boil it down, no vote today, maybe next week. Who knows?
ROTH: Small chance still for tomorrow, but it may be towards next week.
COSTELLO: All right. Richard Roth. We are covering all angles of this story. We'll get back to 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
