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American Morning
Compromise Amendment to U.N. Resolution?
Aired March 06, 2003 - 07:04 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: More now on our top story, the intensifying diplomatic efforts surrounding the U.N. resolution that would authorize war against Iraq. Reports say Britain is working on a compromise on the U.S.-backed resolution that would actually give Iraq a little more time to comply with weapons inspections.
Let's catch up with Richard Roth, who joins us from the U.N. with more.
Good morning -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, it's a sure sign that the United States does not have the nine votes needed to pass its new resolution, its 18th it says, because there are reports that the United States and Britain are considering some sort of adoption of an amendment or some sort of change to the resolution.
Lobbying continuing here at the United Nations with the arrival today of Secretary of State Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. A U.S. official telling CNN Powell and Straw are noodling around with some ideas. A U.S. official saying Washington would not be allergic to some sort of deadline in this new proposal, one last chance for Iraq's president, Saddam Hussein.
The United States official said there are always still ideas -- quote -- "We not there yet."
Also arriving here at the United Nations on another busy day, a delegation of Arab foreign ministers coming here in a mission for peace. They're going to be meeting with Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Also, tomorrow Hans Blix briefs the Security Council with his latest report, an update following the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles by Baghdad. Blix is not going to come out and demand more time for inspectors, but he'd like it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: If we were to be given more months, I would welcome it. I said that last time I was here, I think, because I think that there were eight years of inspections, then that were four years of non-inspection. Now, we have had a couple of months of inspections. And it seems to me to be a rather short time just to close the door and say, this is it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Blix's report yesterday was rather positive in points for Iraq's cooperation. He said the destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missiles was real disarmament, but he said he couldn't account for all of Iraq's biological weapons -- Paula.
ZAHN: So, are we coming to expect a mixed report again tomorrow? Because there are a bunch of published reports that suggest he will come forward with a list of areas where the Iraqis need to improve.
ROTH: Well, Blix is expected to lay out so-called outstanding issues, perhaps 29 of them under various existing U.N. resolutions, and that is the inspectors following a path set out by diplomats years ago. Some in the U.S. don't really want that list to gain or curry favor, because it's the end game. That's the way Iraq gets sanctions lifted or suspended, and the U.S. may want to move before that 29 list item gets any currency here.
ZAHN: Richard Roth, 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.
Aired March 6, 2003 - 07:04 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 intensifying diplomatic efforts surrounding the U.N. resolution that would authorize war against Iraq. Reports say Britain is working on a compromise on the U.S.-backed resolution that would actually give Iraq a little more time to comply with weapons inspections.
Let's catch up with Richard Roth, who joins us from the U.N. with more.
Good morning -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
Well, it's a sure sign that the United States does not have the nine votes needed to pass its new resolution, its 18th it says, because there are reports that the United States and Britain are considering some sort of adoption of an amendment or some sort of change to the resolution.
Lobbying continuing here at the United Nations with the arrival today of Secretary of State Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. A U.S. official telling CNN Powell and Straw are noodling around with some ideas. A U.S. official saying Washington would not be allergic to some sort of deadline in this new proposal, one last chance for Iraq's president, Saddam Hussein.
The United States official said there are always still ideas -- quote -- "We not there yet."
Also arriving here at the United Nations on another busy day, a delegation of Arab foreign ministers coming here in a mission for peace. They're going to be meeting with Secretary General Kofi Annan.
Also, tomorrow Hans Blix briefs the Security Council with his latest report, an update following the destruction of those Al Samoud 2 missiles by Baghdad. Blix is not going to come out and demand more time for inspectors, but he'd like it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: If we were to be given more months, I would welcome it. I said that last time I was here, I think, because I think that there were eight years of inspections, then that were four years of non-inspection. Now, we have had a couple of months of inspections. And it seems to me to be a rather short time just to close the door and say, this is it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Blix's report yesterday was rather positive in points for Iraq's cooperation. He said the destruction of the Al Samoud 2 missiles was real disarmament, but he said he couldn't account for all of Iraq's biological weapons -- Paula.
ZAHN: So, are we coming to expect a mixed report again tomorrow? Because there are a bunch of published reports that suggest he will come forward with a list of areas where the Iraqis need to improve.
ROTH: Well, Blix is expected to lay out so-called outstanding issues, perhaps 29 of them under various existing U.N. resolutions, and that is the inspectors following a path set out by diplomats years ago. Some in the U.S. don't really want that list to gain or curry favor, because it's the end game. That's the way Iraq gets sanctions lifted or suspended, and the U.S. may want to move before that 29 list item gets any currency here.
ZAHN: Richard Roth, 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.
