Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Diplomatic Discussions Continue on China Situation

Aired April 10, 2001 - 11:12   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: U.S. diplomats this morning held a fifth meeting in China with the 24 crewmembers of the downed U.S. reconnaissance plane.

Meantime, the delicate diplomatic discussions continue in Washington, Beijing, and elsewhere. We get the latest on that now from CNN's Kelly Wallace at the White House. She's live at the White House -- Hi, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, here are some of the latest developments from here at the White House. President Bush spoke this morning with Brigadier General Neal Sealock. The general briefing Mr. Bush about his latest meeting, his fifth meeting, with the crew. The general reporting that the crewmembers are in, quote, "superb condition" and that they are receiving e-mails from friends and family. This photograph taken from the second meeting with that crew.

Also, on a lighter note, the meeting apparently included some sporting news, some discussion about Troy Aikman's apparent retirement from football and Michael Jordan's possible return to basketball.

Meantime, the White House says that President Bush appreciates the offer of the Reverend Jesse Jackson to step in to try to secure the release of the 24 crewmembers but says that Mr. Bush is going to continue to focus on diplomacy already underway.

The Reverend Jackson, the civil-rights leader, telephoned Dr. Condoleezza Rice, the president's national-security adviser, and left message for her Friday offering his services. In an interview with CNN, he cited the success he has had securing the release of Americans around the world, in Iraq, Syria, and two years ago in Yugoslavia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH FOUNDER: There comes a times when governments hit an impasse that maybe citizen or religious diplomacy can bridge that gap. We must somehow bring our soldiers back home and not allow them to be trophies in a growing, deepening crisis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And we do understand that Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken this morning with the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Again, the message the administration is putting forward is that it appreciates the efforts of the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and other private citizens who have offered to step in, but, right now, the White House is focusing on diplomatic channels.

Meantime, the work continues between the two countries on the crafting of a letter which could bring an end to the standoff. One administration official saying that the discussion is centering on specific words, and one former U.S. diplomat says the key is finding the right language that both sides can live with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES RUBIN, FORMER STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: Ultimately, this is going to be resolved probably by translators where the United States and China can agree on language that in the English language appears to be what I said earlier, regret that a life has been lost, but in the Chinese language allows for a little more movement towards accepting responsibility.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And so the administration is saying that the diplomacy is continuing. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer telling reporters a short time ago there is a delicate balancing act between taking the sufficient time to get the crews -- crewmembers released, at the same time not taking too much time, which would result in damage, a damaged relationship between the two countries.

But, at the same time, Kyra, the White House has another delicate balancing act trying to keep criticism from Congress and other lawmakers to a minimum, trying to keep the rhetoric low so that it doesn't impact the private diplomacy underway -- Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Kelly Wallace live from the White House. Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com