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American Morning
White House Continues Pressure for New U.N. Resolution
Aired February 26, 2003 - 07:18 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: As President Bush pressures the U.N. Security Council to disarm Baghdad, top U.S. officials working behind the scenes are trying to line up votes for the new resolution regarding Iraq.
Richard Roth watching it all live at the U.N. with more on how the U.S. is trying to win that support.
Richard -- what do we know? Good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, a lot of the diplomacy is taking place at various United Nations missions not far from here at U.N. headquarters, and, of course, a lot of work is being done by the phone. The United States is going to be meeting with the so-called elected 10 nonpermanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Yesterday, those elected 10 met with the opponents of the United States resolution. Here you see France. Soon you will see Germany and Russia. There is Germany.
These countries do not favor a new resolution which gives Iraq no more time. It says that Baghdad has lost its final opportunity to comply with disarmament. They believe inspectors should be given more time.
So, these powerful countries -- there is China -- are fighting over these nonpermanent members who will have key votes, because the U.S. needs nine to get a resolution passed without any vetoes.
Here is Pakistan, one of the hotly pursued countries. And here is Syria, whose vote is definitely assumed to be an abstention or a negative vote; they don't have a veto.
The countries are also pursued, because they are in certain need of things. Angola is cash-strapped. Mexico would like more liberal immigration laws with the United States.
And here is Guinea. Some of these African countries deny seeking special favors or feeling the diplomatic heat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN BELINGA EBOUTOU, CAMEROONIAN AMB. TO U.N.: At this time, we have only one objective: obtaining the disarmament of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we are not under pressure from any side, let me tell you that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pressure! I'm not under pressure. Do I look pressed?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: So, these meetings are going to continue. The U.S. has maybe about a week-and-a-half left, it says, to these discussions before it's going to press for a vote here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, quickly, depending on what happens as a result of the Al Samoud issue that's going to come to a head at some point, and one would think over the weekend, how could this debate and argument change at the U.N.?
ROTH: If Iraq defies the inspectors and does not begin destroying the missiles, then more votes will lean toward the United States. If it does comply, France, Germany, Russia will say, Baghdad is doing more and more, let's give it more time.
HEMMER: It seems pretty clear-cut. We'll see. Richard Roth at the U.N.
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 26, 2003 - 07:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: As President Bush pressures the U.N. Security Council to disarm Baghdad, top U.S. officials working behind the scenes are trying to line up votes for the new resolution regarding Iraq.
Richard Roth watching it all live at the U.N. with more on how the U.S. is trying to win that support.
Richard -- what do we know? Good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Well, a lot of the diplomacy is taking place at various United Nations missions not far from here at U.N. headquarters, and, of course, a lot of work is being done by the phone. The United States is going to be meeting with the so-called elected 10 nonpermanent members of the U.N. Security Council.
Yesterday, those elected 10 met with the opponents of the United States resolution. Here you see France. Soon you will see Germany and Russia. There is Germany.
These countries do not favor a new resolution which gives Iraq no more time. It says that Baghdad has lost its final opportunity to comply with disarmament. They believe inspectors should be given more time.
So, these powerful countries -- there is China -- are fighting over these nonpermanent members who will have key votes, because the U.S. needs nine to get a resolution passed without any vetoes.
Here is Pakistan, one of the hotly pursued countries. And here is Syria, whose vote is definitely assumed to be an abstention or a negative vote; they don't have a veto.
The countries are also pursued, because they are in certain need of things. Angola is cash-strapped. Mexico would like more liberal immigration laws with the United States.
And here is Guinea. Some of these African countries deny seeking special favors or feeling the diplomatic heat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN BELINGA EBOUTOU, CAMEROONIAN AMB. TO U.N.: At this time, we have only one objective: obtaining the disarmament of Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But we are not under pressure from any side, let me tell you that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pressure! I'm not under pressure. Do I look pressed?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: So, these meetings are going to continue. The U.S. has maybe about a week-and-a-half left, it says, to these discussions before it's going to press for a vote here -- Bill.
HEMMER: Richard, quickly, depending on what happens as a result of the Al Samoud issue that's going to come to a head at some point, and one would think over the weekend, how could this debate and argument change at the U.N.?
ROTH: If Iraq defies the inspectors and does not begin destroying the missiles, then more votes will lean toward the United States. If it does comply, France, Germany, Russia will say, Baghdad is doing more and more, let's give it more time.
HEMMER: It seems pretty clear-cut. We'll see. Richard Roth at the U.N.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
