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American Morning
Chief U.N. Weapons Inspectors Due at Security Council
Aired January 09, 2003 - 08:01 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: Back to the issue of Iraq, the chief U.N. weapons inspectors are due at the Security Council in just over an hour. Hans Blix is also expected to travel to Baghdad around January 19th.
Let's check in with Rym Brahimi, who's standing by in Baghdad this morning for an update -- good morning, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, there is going to be a lot of things to discuss when U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix comes over to Baghdad. He was invited by the Iraqis but he probably has some questions, as he's indicated in the past, and the Iraqis also have some clarifications to ask of him.
Now, there has been, as you know, Paula, a sort of ongoing campaign, not only through the Iraqi media, but also Iraqi officials have been working very hard to try and convince the world that they have no weapons of mass destruction.
Now, speaking to a peace delegation earlier this morning, General Amer As Sa'di, who's the scientific adviser to President Saddam Hussein, said that there were no gaps in that famous weapons declaration that Iraq submitted last month. He said anyone who thought there were gaps may not have been fully acquainted, were his words, with that declaration.
He also said, referring to Britain and the United States, that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair were putting a lot of pressure on the inspectors.
Here's how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMER AS SA'DI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: They should give UNMOVIC and the IAEA the time they need to implement their mandate according to Security Council Resolution 1441 without pressure and without interference.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, General Amer As Sa'di also said he expected Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix to say he might need more time to give a further full assessment of that declaration. Meanwhile, he also voiced concern at those questions that are being asked people on the sites that are visited by U.N. weapons inspectors, saying that in many cases when visiting military bases, the question asked at a time when Iraq is being threatened of war, well, he says there is a problem with that -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rym Brahimi, thanks so much for that update from Baghdad.
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 January 9, 2003 - 08:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the issue of Iraq, the chief U.N. weapons inspectors are due at the Security Council in just over an hour. Hans Blix is also expected to travel to Baghdad around January 19th.
Let's check in with Rym Brahimi, who's standing by in Baghdad this morning for an update -- good morning, Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, there is going to be a lot of things to discuss when U.N. chief weapons inspector Hans Blix comes over to Baghdad. He was invited by the Iraqis but he probably has some questions, as he's indicated in the past, and the Iraqis also have some clarifications to ask of him.
Now, there has been, as you know, Paula, a sort of ongoing campaign, not only through the Iraqi media, but also Iraqi officials have been working very hard to try and convince the world that they have no weapons of mass destruction.
Now, speaking to a peace delegation earlier this morning, General Amer As Sa'di, who's the scientific adviser to President Saddam Hussein, said that there were no gaps in that famous weapons declaration that Iraq submitted last month. He said anyone who thought there were gaps may not have been fully acquainted, were his words, with that declaration.
He also said, referring to Britain and the United States, that President Bush and Prime Minister Blair were putting a lot of pressure on the inspectors.
Here's how he put it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMER AS SA'DI, IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: They should give UNMOVIC and the IAEA the time they need to implement their mandate according to Security Council Resolution 1441 without pressure and without interference.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, General Amer As Sa'di also said he expected Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix to say he might need more time to give a further full assessment of that declaration. Meanwhile, he also voiced concern at those questions that are being asked people on the sites that are visited by U.N. weapons inspectors, saying that in many cases when visiting military bases, the question asked at a time when Iraq is being threatened of war, well, he says there is a problem with that -- Paula.
ZAHN: Rym Brahimi, thanks so much for that update from Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
