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U.S., Britain Will Introduce New Resolution on Iraq to Security Council
Aired February 24, 2003 - 09:04 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: The U.S. and Britain will introduce a new resolution on Iraq to the U.N. Security Council today, we're told. But several permanent Security Council members remain opposed at this point to a new resolution that could pave the way to military action.
Just this morning, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder confirmed a statement from French President Jacques Chirac, saying there is no need for a second resolution. None of this should come as a surprise to Richard Roth, who basically lives at the U.N. these days.
Good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The resolution is on final approach. It's expected in a few hours to be presented to members of the U.N. Security Council, by its main backers, the United States and Britain. But it may be the nonpermanent members of the Security Council will that hold a big fate on its future. Here, Friday, the British hosted the so-called "elected 10." There is Angola. These countries, small countries -- in Angola's case, shattered countries, are going to determine possibly the fate of this resolution.
The U.S. needs nine votes without any vetoes. and it doesn't have it right now. It has maybe four in favor.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today in Brussels said the U.S. and U.K. want a vote on this resolution in about two weeks after Hans Blix next report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECY.: Because we want an international consensus. And we want the cooperation -- we want the cooperation of Iraq, fully and completely, to comply in substance, as well as process. We'll be allowing a good period of up to two weeks, maybe a little more, before we ask for a decision. It is still not too late for there to be complete and substantive compliance by Iraq. But they're not going to achieve that by playing games, or by trying to split the international unity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: We've heard this kind of talk before, but for the Security Council permanent members, still a big deadlock. France, China and Russia have verbally said they're opposed to a second resolution. They say, no need for it. They think the inspectors are doing a good enough job and that Iraq is starting to cooperate. A big test on that cooperation comes this weekend, when the chief inspector Hans Blix has asked Iraq and told them, start destroying those Al-Samoud II missiles, a lot of missile engine parts, things like that, because they have been test-fired beyond an allowed 93-mile range. That's what is going to happen this weekend, and we'll see what happens -- Paula.
ZAHN: So once again, when it comes to the timeframe we're talking about here, it's your understanding that nothing major actionwise on this resolution will happen after Hans Blix makes his report to the U.N.
ROTH: It appears there's no chance for any vote before March 10th, and then there will still be several more days if you're planning what's coming up.
ZAHN: Got you. Richard Roth, reporting live from the United Nations, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Security Council>
Aired February 24, 2003 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. and Britain will introduce a new resolution on Iraq to the U.N. Security Council today, we're told. But several permanent Security Council members remain opposed at this point to a new resolution that could pave the way to military action.
Just this morning, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder confirmed a statement from French President Jacques Chirac, saying there is no need for a second resolution. None of this should come as a surprise to Richard Roth, who basically lives at the U.N. these days.
Good morning, Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
The resolution is on final approach. It's expected in a few hours to be presented to members of the U.N. Security Council, by its main backers, the United States and Britain. But it may be the nonpermanent members of the Security Council will that hold a big fate on its future. Here, Friday, the British hosted the so-called "elected 10." There is Angola. These countries, small countries -- in Angola's case, shattered countries, are going to determine possibly the fate of this resolution.
The U.S. needs nine votes without any vetoes. and it doesn't have it right now. It has maybe four in favor.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today in Brussels said the U.S. and U.K. want a vote on this resolution in about two weeks after Hans Blix next report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECY.: Because we want an international consensus. And we want the cooperation -- we want the cooperation of Iraq, fully and completely, to comply in substance, as well as process. We'll be allowing a good period of up to two weeks, maybe a little more, before we ask for a decision. It is still not too late for there to be complete and substantive compliance by Iraq. But they're not going to achieve that by playing games, or by trying to split the international unity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: We've heard this kind of talk before, but for the Security Council permanent members, still a big deadlock. France, China and Russia have verbally said they're opposed to a second resolution. They say, no need for it. They think the inspectors are doing a good enough job and that Iraq is starting to cooperate. A big test on that cooperation comes this weekend, when the chief inspector Hans Blix has asked Iraq and told them, start destroying those Al-Samoud II missiles, a lot of missile engine parts, things like that, because they have been test-fired beyond an allowed 93-mile range. That's what is going to happen this weekend, and we'll see what happens -- Paula.
ZAHN: So once again, when it comes to the timeframe we're talking about here, it's your understanding that nothing major actionwise on this resolution will happen after Hans Blix makes his report to the U.N.
ROTH: It appears there's no chance for any vote before March 10th, and then there will still be several more days if you're planning what's coming up.
ZAHN: Got you. Richard Roth, reporting live from the United Nations, thanks so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Security Council>
