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American Morning
Bush on Way to Europe to Attend NATO Summit
Aired November 19, 2002 - 09:30 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: President Bush on his way to Europe to attend the NATO summit. He set out on his five-day trip, planning to meet with NATO leaders and shore up the support for the prospect of war against Iraq. Awaiting the president in Prague is our own Chris Burns, who joins us now live from the Czech capital.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Paula.
Well, security and terrorism being an issue for the very summit itself, even before it begins. An explosive device was found on train tracks here in Prague, shutting down trains for several hours for commuters here. That being reported by local media and Reuters. A bit of a scare as security is extremely tight in this city. More than 12,000 police are being deployed for this, more than 2,000 troops, including also helicopters, U.S. F-16s are going to be over the skies of the Czech Republic, as President Bush and over 40 other heads of state are here for the next couple of days.
This being held in the Congress building where the former communist party used to meet. Breznev (ph) used to come here, and so forth. This is where the Warsaw Pact also used to meet. And this is also the 19 NATO nations are going to invite seven former Warsaw pact nations into the fold in the next couple of days.
But the main issue is, of course, Iraq, and will President Bush be able to get support from at least some of the 19 NATO members. We heard words from Vlaslow Havel (ph), the Czech president, telegraphing his support if push came to shove -- Paula.
ZAHN: And what in the end does anybody think the resolution will be when the president tries to get this consensus?
BURNS: Well, what is expected, observers believe there will be some kind of a political statement supporting the U.N. resolution, However, not going as far as supporting an armed attack yet. There is a bit of a wait-and-see approach by a number of countries, including Germany, which has vowed not to take part in any kind of a U.S.-led war against Iraq. But there are other countries like Britain and other countries who are willing to provide at least some forces. So it might not be a complete NATO operation, but there could be individual countries offering their help on the sidelines here during the NATO summit -- Paula.
ZAHN: Chris Burns, thanks so much. 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
Aired November 19, 2002 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush on his way to Europe to attend the NATO summit. He set out on his five-day trip, planning to meet with NATO leaders and shore up the support for the prospect of war against Iraq. Awaiting the president in Prague is our own Chris Burns, who joins us now live from the Czech capital.
Good morning, Chris.
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Paula.
Well, security and terrorism being an issue for the very summit itself, even before it begins. An explosive device was found on train tracks here in Prague, shutting down trains for several hours for commuters here. That being reported by local media and Reuters. A bit of a scare as security is extremely tight in this city. More than 12,000 police are being deployed for this, more than 2,000 troops, including also helicopters, U.S. F-16s are going to be over the skies of the Czech Republic, as President Bush and over 40 other heads of state are here for the next couple of days.
This being held in the Congress building where the former communist party used to meet. Breznev (ph) used to come here, and so forth. This is where the Warsaw Pact also used to meet. And this is also the 19 NATO nations are going to invite seven former Warsaw pact nations into the fold in the next couple of days.
But the main issue is, of course, Iraq, and will President Bush be able to get support from at least some of the 19 NATO members. We heard words from Vlaslow Havel (ph), the Czech president, telegraphing his support if push came to shove -- Paula.
ZAHN: And what in the end does anybody think the resolution will be when the president tries to get this consensus?
BURNS: Well, what is expected, observers believe there will be some kind of a political statement supporting the U.N. resolution, However, not going as far as supporting an armed attack yet. There is a bit of a wait-and-see approach by a number of countries, including Germany, which has vowed not to take part in any kind of a U.S.-led war against Iraq. But there are other countries like Britain and other countries who are willing to provide at least some forces. So it might not be a complete NATO operation, but there could be individual countries offering their help on the sidelines here during the NATO summit -- Paula.
ZAHN: Chris Burns, thanks so much. 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
