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American Morning

America's New War: U.N. Speaks All This Week on Terrorism

Aired October 01, 2001 - 10:18   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The U.N. will begin a week long study now on terrorism.

And CNN's Richard Roth, let's go back to the U.N. and pick up from there. Richard, this was a speech that came from the heart from a man who has lived this for 20 days now.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's kind of amazing. Of course, Mayor Giuliani probably over his eight years in office would have loved the chance to address the world. He probably would have preferred other options and reasons for getting a chance to speak before the general assembly, but he did get it. And he used his time to his advantage.

Heavily political, heavily with messages, a pathos in effect setting the ground work for further U.S. building of a coalition here in terrorism, saying, don't worry about retaliation or revenge, this is not about that. He also in effect lecturing the countries and ambassadors by saying, you can't be neutral on this issue. These are words that you do not hear often, certainly from an American speaking inside of the general assembly to all of the countries of the world.

He said it's not the time for further study or vague directives. Giuliani, of course, has hated what the you U.N. has done in certain areas, the racism conference, the Middle East, things like that. So it was part ambassador Giuliani, part former prosecutor Giuliani.

Secretary General Kofi Annan introducing Giuliani, even noted that, Mr. Mayor, you are not the only mayor of New York that who's been frustrated by some of the things that have been said or done in this building. Who would have ever thought you would hear talk about the Yankees and the Mets inside the general assembly. It was all there.

Mayor Giuliani saying to the ambassadors and the delegates, come to all of the thousands of funerals if you don't believe what I am saying, at the damage that's been done to freedom and democracy.

Bill?

HEMMER: Richard, throughout this meeting this week, what's likely at the end of this week? Is there a statement planned, is there a report, or what guidance do we have on that? ROTH: You are just going to see more of the shoring up of the support of the campaign against terrorism. Mostly rhetoric this week. The security council resolution is on the book, that the mayor noted, a counter-terrorism resolution, the toughest to date, pulling together all of the general assembly acts on terrorism.

But there will be speeches, it will be interesting to hear what certain countries in that part of the world say. There will be hints, but no major action at this time expected at the end of this week.

HEMMER: All right, Richard. Richard Roth, it begins again today at this time. Richard, thanks to you.

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