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American Morning

U.S. Diplomats Continue Efforts to Resolve Spy Plane Standoff

Aired April 09, 2001 - 11:05   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.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Back to our continuing top story throughout the last week or so. Diplomats continuing their efforts to resolve the spy plane standoff between the U.S. and China.

Let's get the very latest now on what's become something of a word game between the two nations. Joining us from the White House, CNN's Eileen O'Connor -- Good morning, Eileen.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.

Well, the president this morning said he was pleased that he was told that the condition of the crew is excellent and that they are being held in very good conditions.

He said that -- he told his Cabinet this morning in a meeting at the White House here that he spoke with General Sealock by phone after he had met with all 24 of the -- the crew of the EP-3, that surveillance plane that is downed -- was downed over the South China Seas, and he says that he is encouraged by their condition.

But he also echoed the sentiment and the temperature that is a bit hotter by his national security team that it's time to get this standoff over with. And they had talked over the weekend about the fact that they had put forward blueprint for the Chinese, a road map, if you will, on how to resolve this crisis, and the president said it's now time for China to take it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're working behind the scenes. We've got every diplomatic channel open. We're in discussions with the Chinese. It is now time for our troops to come home so that our relationship does not become damaged.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now President -- the president, as you know, has also responded to that letter from the wife of the missing pilot in which she accused the United States of being cowardly for not apologizing for the incident. The United States insists that there are no apologies going to be forthcoming. They will not tell us what exactly the president's letter says, but they do say that it was a humanitarian gesture, and as the Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, they are sorry for the loss of life. That, again, a little step forward on the issuance of regrets, the word "sorry" being used for the first time. But the National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says they believe they have nothing to apologize for and there will be no further apologies -- Leon.

HARRIS: All right. Thanks much. Eileen O'Connor reporting live this morning from the White House.

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