Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Chief Weapons Inspector To Brief U.N. Security Council Today

Aired January 09, 2003 - 07:03   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: At the U.N., chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reports to the Security Council on the progress, or lack of it, being made in Iraq.
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who is standing by in U.N. headquarters with a preview.

Good morning -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Not much new expected from the briefing by Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

One official telling us there are still gaps as the inspectors continue to review the 12,000 page declaration provided by Iraq late last year. The official says there are gaps in all fields, presumably meaning missiles, chemical, biological and nuclear.

This briefing is sort of a halfway pit stop toward the very important January 27 briefing by Mr. Blix and his inspectors to the Security Council. Dr. Blix expected to go to Baghdad January 19 and 20, along with Mr. ElBaradei, and diplomats expect him to have several questions for the Iraqis in an attempt to close the gap here on those gaps -- Paula.

ZAHN: Let's talk a little bit more about the fact that the U.S. is providing intelligence now. I guess they're saying that for the first time publicly, although I think you have reported that for weeks now. How significant of a development is that?

ROTH: Well, they're getting there. The U.S. says that they are providing now some significant intelligence information. Secretary of State Colin Powell telling "The Washington Post" this.

However, the U.N. weapons inspectors want a little bit more. But what the U.S. wants to see is, they want to have confidence that the inspectors will properly use their information. They really want to wait until all of the helicopters and as much technology is in place, so that the inspectors can strike quickly. A U.S. team met with Hans Blix here Tuesday night at the U.N. about this.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, you've got a busy day ahead. Thanks for the preview.

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




Today>


Aired January 9, 2003 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: At the U.N., chief weapons inspector Hans Blix reports to the Security Council on the progress, or lack of it, being made in Iraq.
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who is standing by in U.N. headquarters with a preview.

Good morning -- Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.

Not much new expected from the briefing by Hans Blix, the chief U.N. weapons inspector, and the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

One official telling us there are still gaps as the inspectors continue to review the 12,000 page declaration provided by Iraq late last year. The official says there are gaps in all fields, presumably meaning missiles, chemical, biological and nuclear.

This briefing is sort of a halfway pit stop toward the very important January 27 briefing by Mr. Blix and his inspectors to the Security Council. Dr. Blix expected to go to Baghdad January 19 and 20, along with Mr. ElBaradei, and diplomats expect him to have several questions for the Iraqis in an attempt to close the gap here on those gaps -- Paula.

ZAHN: Let's talk a little bit more about the fact that the U.S. is providing intelligence now. I guess they're saying that for the first time publicly, although I think you have reported that for weeks now. How significant of a development is that?

ROTH: Well, they're getting there. The U.S. says that they are providing now some significant intelligence information. Secretary of State Colin Powell telling "The Washington Post" this.

However, the U.N. weapons inspectors want a little bit more. But what the U.S. wants to see is, they want to have confidence that the inspectors will properly use their information. They really want to wait until all of the helicopters and as much technology is in place, so that the inspectors can strike quickly. A U.S. team met with Hans Blix here Tuesday night at the U.N. about this.

ZAHN: Richard Roth, you've got a busy day ahead. Thanks for the preview.

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




Today>