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American Morning
White House Says Iraq Already Violating U.N. Disarmament Resolution
Aired November 19, 2002 - 08:00 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: Meanwhile, while the U.N. weapons inspectors began day two on the ground, the White House says Iraq is already violating the U.N. disarmament resolution. It cites hostile action against U.S. and British planes on four of the five days since the signing of the resolution as a potential material breach.
Nic Robertson joins us now live from Baghdad -- Nic, how do you think Iraqi officials are likely to react after this new tough talk from Washington.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, there are already indications from the foreign ministry that they're not happy about it, trying to counter those claims by saying that this talk coming from Washington is only an indication that the United States intends to use Resolution 1441 to perpetrate aggression on Iraq. It says these kind of claims are counter to the U.N. charter, are against international law.
Indeed, the foreign ministry official goes on to say that essentially this calls into question the whole strength of the United Nations and call, they call on the United Nations to end these accusations of, breaches of Resolution 1441.
At the same time, the inspection teams are hoping even to meet with the foreign minister, Naji Sabri. Hans Blix did have a meeting last night with Iraq's top scientific adviser to President Saddam Hussein. That meeting, we are told by U.N. officials, was successful. It was good. Although Iraq does have some problems, it's -- with the fact that it has to declare its weapons of mass destruction by December the 8th.
The U.N. inspectors feel that there is a level of cooperation there, that they, both parties see eye to eye at this stage. So there's nothing yet, no trigger in these talks that would indicate to them that things are going to fail at this very early stage -- Paula.
ZAHN: So how do the Iraqis defend firing at U.S. and British planes?
ROBERTSON: They have said that these planes shouldn't be there. They say that the planes are not flying in support of any U.N. resolution. They say that this is something that has been enforced by the United States and Britain illegally. They say that this, the no fly zones do not, at this stage, have the support of China and Russia. They point to the French, as well, saying the French agree with that position. They point to the fact that the French no longer fly the same way that they used to in those no fly zones as supporting their case.
Basically, the Iraqis are saying look, this is not something that's called for in a U.N. resolution and therefore it's OK for us to do this, to protect our national integrity, to protect our sovereignty -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Resolution>
Aired November 19, 2002 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile, while the U.N. weapons inspectors began day two on the ground, the White House says Iraq is already violating the U.N. disarmament resolution. It cites hostile action against U.S. and British planes on four of the five days since the signing of the resolution as a potential material breach.
Nic Robertson joins us now live from Baghdad -- Nic, how do you think Iraqi officials are likely to react after this new tough talk from Washington.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Paula, there are already indications from the foreign ministry that they're not happy about it, trying to counter those claims by saying that this talk coming from Washington is only an indication that the United States intends to use Resolution 1441 to perpetrate aggression on Iraq. It says these kind of claims are counter to the U.N. charter, are against international law.
Indeed, the foreign ministry official goes on to say that essentially this calls into question the whole strength of the United Nations and call, they call on the United Nations to end these accusations of, breaches of Resolution 1441.
At the same time, the inspection teams are hoping even to meet with the foreign minister, Naji Sabri. Hans Blix did have a meeting last night with Iraq's top scientific adviser to President Saddam Hussein. That meeting, we are told by U.N. officials, was successful. It was good. Although Iraq does have some problems, it's -- with the fact that it has to declare its weapons of mass destruction by December the 8th.
The U.N. inspectors feel that there is a level of cooperation there, that they, both parties see eye to eye at this stage. So there's nothing yet, no trigger in these talks that would indicate to them that things are going to fail at this very early stage -- Paula.
ZAHN: So how do the Iraqis defend firing at U.S. and British planes?
ROBERTSON: They have said that these planes shouldn't be there. They say that the planes are not flying in support of any U.N. resolution. They say that this is something that has been enforced by the United States and Britain illegally. They say that this, the no fly zones do not, at this stage, have the support of China and Russia. They point to the French, as well, saying the French agree with that position. They point to the fact that the French no longer fly the same way that they used to in those no fly zones as supporting their case.
Basically, the Iraqis are saying look, this is not something that's called for in a U.N. resolution and therefore it's OK for us to do this, to protect our national integrity, to protect our sovereignty -- Paula.
ZAHN: Nic Robertson, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Resolution>
