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U.N.'s Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix Due at White House

Aired October 30, 2002 - 09:08   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.


PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back on to the issue of the debate at the U.N. With a vote at the United Nations on Iraq just days away, the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is due at the White House to meet with members of the Bush administration, including Vice President Dick Cheney and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Kelly Wallace is standing by live to give us a preview.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Hans Blix arrived here at the White House just about a half hour ago, joining him Muhammad Al-Baradei. He is The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Two men, as you said, first to meet with Vice President Cheney, and we understand President Bush is expected to drop by that session, and then to meet with Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser.

Now, White House officials invited the men here to get really a status report on their talks with the Iraqis, but also to get a sense of the state of play at the United Nations over a tough new resolution dealing with Iraq. White House officials were very pleased earlier this week when Hans Blix said that any resolution needs to get a message to Saddam Hussein that if he does not cooperate, there will be reaction from the United Nations Security Council.

Now, White House officials continuing to work with other international allies to get this tough new U.N. resolution. We know this has been an uphill battle for the administration. The main problem, trying to work out differences with the French.

And, Paula, it appears, it appears, a possible compromise to get the French and the U.S. to see eye to eye would be that the U.S. would go to the U.N. Security Council before pursuing any military action, to consult with U.N. allies, but it would not be required to get U.N. support. It account act alone against Saddam Hussein if it chose to. Again, negotiations to continue at the United Nations -- Paula.

ZAHN: So what's the deal about the talk about a possible U.S. veto in the Security Council? Is that all but not going to happen now?

WALLACE: Well, no. That is, again, sort of a strategic move. You heard Secretary of State Colin Powell say yesterday there is some progress, but U.S. officials also hinting that the U.S. Would not be afraid to veto the French proposal if that is the one that is presented at the U.N. Security Council.

As it stands now, the French still pushing to resolution. One, calling for Saddam Hussein to disarm, and then another resolution down the road, if Saddam Hussein does not cooperate, that would possibly call for the use of force. So the U.S. putting out there the possibility it could veto the French proposal. Right now, it appears a strategic move to put maximum pressure the French. The goal, really, Paula, U.S. officials want support from as many allies as possible. That's what they're working on behind the scenes.

ZAHN: Kelly Wallace, thanks much. We appreciate the update.

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




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Aired October 30, 2002 - 09:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Now back on to the issue of the debate at the U.N. With a vote at the United Nations on Iraq just days away, the U.N.'s chief weapons inspector Hans Blix is due at the White House to meet with members of the Bush administration, including Vice President Dick Cheney and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice.
Kelly Wallace is standing by live to give us a preview.

Good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Hans Blix arrived here at the White House just about a half hour ago, joining him Muhammad Al-Baradei. He is The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Two men, as you said, first to meet with Vice President Cheney, and we understand President Bush is expected to drop by that session, and then to meet with Condoleezza Rice, the president's national security adviser.

Now, White House officials invited the men here to get really a status report on their talks with the Iraqis, but also to get a sense of the state of play at the United Nations over a tough new resolution dealing with Iraq. White House officials were very pleased earlier this week when Hans Blix said that any resolution needs to get a message to Saddam Hussein that if he does not cooperate, there will be reaction from the United Nations Security Council.

Now, White House officials continuing to work with other international allies to get this tough new U.N. resolution. We know this has been an uphill battle for the administration. The main problem, trying to work out differences with the French.

And, Paula, it appears, it appears, a possible compromise to get the French and the U.S. to see eye to eye would be that the U.S. would go to the U.N. Security Council before pursuing any military action, to consult with U.N. allies, but it would not be required to get U.N. support. It account act alone against Saddam Hussein if it chose to. Again, negotiations to continue at the United Nations -- Paula.

ZAHN: So what's the deal about the talk about a possible U.S. veto in the Security Council? Is that all but not going to happen now?

WALLACE: Well, no. That is, again, sort of a strategic move. You heard Secretary of State Colin Powell say yesterday there is some progress, but U.S. officials also hinting that the U.S. Would not be afraid to veto the French proposal if that is the one that is presented at the U.N. Security Council.

As it stands now, the French still pushing to resolution. One, calling for Saddam Hussein to disarm, and then another resolution down the road, if Saddam Hussein does not cooperate, that would possibly call for the use of force. So the U.S. putting out there the possibility it could veto the French proposal. Right now, it appears a strategic move to put maximum pressure the French. The goal, really, Paula, U.S. officials want support from as many allies as possible. That's what they're working on behind the scenes.

ZAHN: Kelly Wallace, thanks much. We appreciate the update.

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




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