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American Morning
U.N. Security Council Takes up New U.S. Resolution
Aired November 08, 2002 - 09:33 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: Decision day at the U.N. We're watching that quite closely. Thirty minutes away right now from the Security Council reconvening to take up this matter on a new U.S. resolution, sponsored by the U.S. essentially, regarding Iraq, its passage said to be "certain" by some. The only question now is how many countries may abstain from this. Richard Roth is tracking that from the U.N.
And, Richard, I used the word "almost certain." Is that essentially what you're hearing as well?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I would say so. President Bush has been telling the campaign trail around the United States for weeks it's time to see some hands in the air at the U.N. Security Council. Well, we're going to finally see that in about a half-hour or so. The vote will come first, then there will be the speeches. A flurry of action even late last night and now John Negroponte seen here, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian ambassador. No agreement or promise from Russia officially to commit to this resolution. But diplomats say it's going to either be a yes or abstention. Russia is not going to stand in the way of this resolution that gets weapons inspectors back into Iraq with a threat of serious consequences -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, take us down the time line now. If this resolution passes, there are strict guidelines in which Iraq must comply and if they don't comply based on inspections on the ground, they come back to the U.N. at that point, is that right?
ROTH: Yes, Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector returns back, says there are problems, the council meets, debates, discusses, the U.S. still reserves the right to strike on its own with allies if it chooses to do so.
HEMMER: And do you know just yet how we can define what constitutes a violation on the ground in Iraq?
ROTH: Well, Hans Blix says it's going to be significant. He's going to know it. He's under a lot of pressure. He knows his job. He says it's not up to him to determine war and peace, but it will be Hans Blix, a very experienced arms inspector.
HEMMER: So they have the final say, essentially, on the ground, the inspectors themselves?
ROTH: Yes, to come back to the council.
HEMMER: OK, thank you, Richard, we'll watch it. Richard Roth at the U.N. 25 minutes away from that meeting getting started there.
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 November 8, 2002 - 09:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Decision day at the U.N. We're watching that quite closely. Thirty minutes away right now from the Security Council reconvening to take up this matter on a new U.S. resolution, sponsored by the U.S. essentially, regarding Iraq, its passage said to be "certain" by some. The only question now is how many countries may abstain from this. Richard Roth is tracking that from the U.N.
And, Richard, I used the word "almost certain." Is that essentially what you're hearing as well?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I would say so. President Bush has been telling the campaign trail around the United States for weeks it's time to see some hands in the air at the U.N. Security Council. Well, we're going to finally see that in about a half-hour or so. The vote will come first, then there will be the speeches. A flurry of action even late last night and now John Negroponte seen here, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Sergei Lavrov, the Russian ambassador. No agreement or promise from Russia officially to commit to this resolution. But diplomats say it's going to either be a yes or abstention. Russia is not going to stand in the way of this resolution that gets weapons inspectors back into Iraq with a threat of serious consequences -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, take us down the time line now. If this resolution passes, there are strict guidelines in which Iraq must comply and if they don't comply based on inspections on the ground, they come back to the U.N. at that point, is that right?
ROTH: Yes, Hans Blix, chief weapons inspector returns back, says there are problems, the council meets, debates, discusses, the U.S. still reserves the right to strike on its own with allies if it chooses to do so.
HEMMER: And do you know just yet how we can define what constitutes a violation on the ground in Iraq?
ROTH: Well, Hans Blix says it's going to be significant. He's going to know it. He's under a lot of pressure. He knows his job. He says it's not up to him to determine war and peace, but it will be Hans Blix, a very experienced arms inspector.
HEMMER: So they have the final say, essentially, on the ground, the inspectors themselves?
ROTH: Yes, to come back to the council.
HEMMER: OK, thank you, Richard, we'll watch it. Richard Roth at the U.N. 25 minutes away from that meeting getting started there.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
