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How is Report to U.N. Being Received by Iraq, Rest of World?

Aired January 28, 2003 - 08:08   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: Paula, I want to get back to Baghdad right now. As you mentioned, the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, at the U.N. yesterday, a harsh report regarding Iraq, saying that Baghdad is not cooperating with the search teams.
How is that report to the U.N. now being received by Iraq and the rest of the world?

Two reports to talk about. We want to get you to Baghdad and Nic Robertson, and also Jim Bittermann reporting live in Paris for us.

Let's start with Nic in the Iraqi capital -- Nic, hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, reaction here, judged by Iraqi television, the channel run by the president's son last night running a commentary. The analysts on there saying that Blix's report was unprofessional, it was unfair and biased. So the initial reaction from here looks pretty negative. Nothing in the papers specifically about it, but one paper saying that Washington has lost its justification for war. Another paper saying that Washington's ally, Tony Blair, is gambling with lies.

But the deputy prime minister here still hinting that maybe there will be better cooperation with the inspectors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TARIQ AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: They're asking Iraq to provide more cooperation. OK. Let them say that, you see. We are doing that. And as I said, what were the items of difference between Iraq on the one side and the two gentlemen on the other side who represent the United Nations, Blix and Baradei? Two issues. The interviewing of the scientists and the use of the U2. Nothing else. All other aspects of cooperation have been met and we promise to be more forthcoming in the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: The other thing on Iraqi television last night, Bill, President Saddam Hussein a minute, an hour 20 on television with his top military commanders, giving them a morale boosting speech -- Bill.

HEMMER: Nic, thank you.

Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Quickly to Paris, where we know the French have that veto power on the U.N. Security Council, something that is not taken lightly on the streets of Paris.

To Paris and Jim Bittermann for more on this -- Jim, hello.

Good afternoon there.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.

In fact, the French president, Jacques Chirac, was meeting with the foreign minister of a country next door to where you are, Bill, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Saud al-Faisal. Afterwards, Prince Saud said that everything must be done to avoid "a calamity of immense proportions," as he put it. And the French president's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, said after that meeting that both men agreed that all solutions short of war had to be tried first, that war should only be a last resort.

Now, earlier today, Dominique de Villepin, who is the French foreign minister, was on television. He is shown here with the Egyptian foreign minister, with whom he was meeting. He was on French television saying that basically the French position has not changed, that the inspections should continue. There's no reason to change tactics, he said, while they continue to work.

He said that the U.S. must work together with the United Nations. He said that the U.S. arms buildup was useful because it kept the pressure on Iraq, but it should go no further.

And here's a quote he said. He said, "If the Americans decide to go further in a unilateral way, President Chirac has already said we would not be able to associate ourselves with such a move." He also said that if the Americans have any intelligence information which would be useful to the inspectors, they should share it in order to make those inspections more efficient -- Bill.

HEMMER: Interesting stuff.

Jim, thank you.

Jim Bittermann in Paris, Nic Robertson again in 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




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Aired January 28, 2003 - 08:08   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Paula, I want to get back to Baghdad right now. As you mentioned, the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, at the U.N. yesterday, a harsh report regarding Iraq, saying that Baghdad is not cooperating with the search teams.
How is that report to the U.N. now being received by Iraq and the rest of the world?

Two reports to talk about. We want to get you to Baghdad and Nic Robertson, and also Jim Bittermann reporting live in Paris for us.

Let's start with Nic in the Iraqi capital -- Nic, hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

Well, reaction here, judged by Iraqi television, the channel run by the president's son last night running a commentary. The analysts on there saying that Blix's report was unprofessional, it was unfair and biased. So the initial reaction from here looks pretty negative. Nothing in the papers specifically about it, but one paper saying that Washington has lost its justification for war. Another paper saying that Washington's ally, Tony Blair, is gambling with lies.

But the deputy prime minister here still hinting that maybe there will be better cooperation with the inspectors.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TARIQ AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: They're asking Iraq to provide more cooperation. OK. Let them say that, you see. We are doing that. And as I said, what were the items of difference between Iraq on the one side and the two gentlemen on the other side who represent the United Nations, Blix and Baradei? Two issues. The interviewing of the scientists and the use of the U2. Nothing else. All other aspects of cooperation have been met and we promise to be more forthcoming in the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: The other thing on Iraqi television last night, Bill, President Saddam Hussein a minute, an hour 20 on television with his top military commanders, giving them a morale boosting speech -- Bill.

HEMMER: Nic, thank you.

Nic Robertson in Baghdad. Quickly to Paris, where we know the French have that veto power on the U.N. Security Council, something that is not taken lightly on the streets of Paris.

To Paris and Jim Bittermann for more on this -- Jim, hello.

Good afternoon there.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Bill.

In fact, the French president, Jacques Chirac, was meeting with the foreign minister of a country next door to where you are, Bill, the foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, Saud al-Faisal. Afterwards, Prince Saud said that everything must be done to avoid "a calamity of immense proportions," as he put it. And the French president's spokeswoman, Catherine Colonna, said after that meeting that both men agreed that all solutions short of war had to be tried first, that war should only be a last resort.

Now, earlier today, Dominique de Villepin, who is the French foreign minister, was on television. He is shown here with the Egyptian foreign minister, with whom he was meeting. He was on French television saying that basically the French position has not changed, that the inspections should continue. There's no reason to change tactics, he said, while they continue to work.

He said that the U.S. must work together with the United Nations. He said that the U.S. arms buildup was useful because it kept the pressure on Iraq, but it should go no further.

And here's a quote he said. He said, "If the Americans decide to go further in a unilateral way, President Chirac has already said we would not be able to associate ourselves with such a move." He also said that if the Americans have any intelligence information which would be useful to the inspectors, they should share it in order to make those inspections more efficient -- Bill.

HEMMER: Interesting stuff.

Jim, thank you.

Jim Bittermann in Paris, Nic Robertson again in 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




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