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American Morning
Crucial U.N. Report on Iraq to be Presented Today
Aired February 14, 2003 - 07:06 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: More now on our top story, the much- anticipated report on Iraq to the Security Council by top weapons inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei. The report is just hours from now.
Richard Roth is standing by at the U.N. with a preview.
Good morning -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
They are the two most famous weapons inspectors in the world, and they're going to go before the Security Council in about three hours.
First night reviews may determine whether it's war or peace of mind on Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice-over): Hans Blix can push aside the flag of the United Nations. The chief weapons inspector Friday will command world attention when he critiques Iraq's cooperation with inspectors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hope to see a briefing which gives us direction.
ROTH: But sources say the Blix report may not point in any direction. A diplomat said there will be something for everybody. The report is likely to note increased cooperation on U-2 surveillance flights and interviews with scientists, but little documentation on the whereabouts of VX nerve agent and anthrax. Blix is expected to say Iraq has violated U.N. resolutions by test-firing the Al Samoud 2 missile beyond an allowable 93-mile range.
The lead nuclear inspector will discuss concerns over aluminum tubing, which could be used for uranium enrichment, and importing of magnets for nuclear production. But Mohamed ElBaradei says Iraq has made an effort.
MOHAMED ELBARADEI, INTL. ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: I think we still have a chance, if we continue with our work. If Iraq provides some cooperation, we should still be able to avoid the war.
ROTH: Iraq says it has given everything it has to the inspectors.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: We did provide a lot, and we continue to cooperate with the inspectors.
ROTH: The White House hopes Security Council nations will learn from the inspectors' reports Baghdad will never cooperate.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The decision is this for the United Nations: When you say something, does it mean anything? You've got to decide.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Well, that's what U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to drive home the point on, trying to tell France and Germany, you've got to decide, the time is up for Saddam Hussein and Iraq. A lot of European countries and others disagree. They believe the inspectors are making progress, so that there's an alternative to war -- Paula.
ZAHN: Richard, you mentioned that Hans Blix is expected to talk about these Al Samoud 2 missiles. What are the chances that he will ask for their destruction today?
ROTH: Oh, it's likely that he could say that. In his last report, he said they may indeed have to be destroyed, and certainly weapons inspectors have destroyed a lot since 1991. But there are still several key areas they need accounting for while Iraq insists they just don't have the stuff.
ZAHN: We look forward to your insights throughout the morning, Richard. See you a little bit later on.
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 February 14, 2003 - 07:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: More now on our top story, the much- anticipated report on Iraq to the Security Council by top weapons inspectors, Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei. The report is just hours from now.
Richard Roth is standing by at the U.N. with a preview.
Good morning -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
They are the two most famous weapons inspectors in the world, and they're going to go before the Security Council in about three hours.
First night reviews may determine whether it's war or peace of mind on Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH (voice-over): Hans Blix can push aside the flag of the United Nations. The chief weapons inspector Friday will command world attention when he critiques Iraq's cooperation with inspectors.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hope to see a briefing which gives us direction.
ROTH: But sources say the Blix report may not point in any direction. A diplomat said there will be something for everybody. The report is likely to note increased cooperation on U-2 surveillance flights and interviews with scientists, but little documentation on the whereabouts of VX nerve agent and anthrax. Blix is expected to say Iraq has violated U.N. resolutions by test-firing the Al Samoud 2 missile beyond an allowable 93-mile range.
The lead nuclear inspector will discuss concerns over aluminum tubing, which could be used for uranium enrichment, and importing of magnets for nuclear production. But Mohamed ElBaradei says Iraq has made an effort.
MOHAMED ELBARADEI, INTL. ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY: I think we still have a chance, if we continue with our work. If Iraq provides some cooperation, we should still be able to avoid the war.
ROTH: Iraq says it has given everything it has to the inspectors.
MOHAMMED ALDOURI, IRAQI AMB. TO U.N.: We did provide a lot, and we continue to cooperate with the inspectors.
ROTH: The White House hopes Security Council nations will learn from the inspectors' reports Baghdad will never cooperate.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The decision is this for the United Nations: When you say something, does it mean anything? You've got to decide.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROTH: Well, that's what U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to drive home the point on, trying to tell France and Germany, you've got to decide, the time is up for Saddam Hussein and Iraq. A lot of European countries and others disagree. They believe the inspectors are making progress, so that there's an alternative to war -- Paula.
ZAHN: Richard, you mentioned that Hans Blix is expected to talk about these Al Samoud 2 missiles. What are the chances that he will ask for their destruction today?
ROTH: Oh, it's likely that he could say that. In his last report, he said they may indeed have to be destroyed, and certainly weapons inspectors have destroyed a lot since 1991. But there are still several key areas they need accounting for while Iraq insists they just don't have the stuff.
ZAHN: We look forward to your insights throughout the morning, Richard. See you a little bit later on.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
