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American Morning
U.S., Britain Working to Sway Votes
Aired March 11, 2003 - 09:32 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 on our top story now: the diplomatic push to find a consensus at the U.N. Both the U.S. and Britain are working to sway votes their way on Iraq, and a vote on a new resolution, now delayed, could come later this week.
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who is standing by at the U.N. with all the latest facts -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. It was discussed last night in the U.N. Security Council meeting, the British expressing interest in examining so-called benchmarks, tests for the Iraqi government to achieve in the area of disarmament.
It would also possibly include a later deadline than March 17, which is in the proposed U.K./U.S./Spain resolution. In France, President Chirac is being cheered by his countrymen for once again insisting non. France plans to veto any resolution as it currently stands. But to the British prime minister, this sends a wrong message to the Iraqi leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: My concern is that if countries talk about using a veto in all sets of circumstances, the message that sends to Saddam is, you are off the hook. And I think that would be very unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Also last night, chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix was grilled by the U.S. and some others about his drone discovery which he chose not to highlight in his latest oral presentation in the Security Council. Blix, we're told, said he would never withhold information from the Security Council, and many of the ambassadors had access to his written reports anyway.
At the Security Council today, speeches from dozens of countries around the world, once again expressing their view, most of them against any war to the full world in the chamber -- Paula.
ZAHN: Any more speculation about how the compromises may work out at the U.N.?
ROTH: Well, we may be in for days or maybe weeks, you never know. But right now, the U.S. and U.K. do not have the votes, the nine required for passage of the resolution as it currently stands. Everything changes, everybody's votes change, possibly, if this compromise giving Iraq more time and specific tests to achieve and disarm, and if that's passed.
ZAHN: And could a resolution or a whatever the compromise language that's worked out be veto-proof by France?
ROTH: That's an interesting question. France is very vehement that it doesn't -- you don't even need a second resolution, but they in Friday's comments -- didn't get as much attention. The French foreign minister said maybe there is a way to accelerate this process. So it may be too soon to talk about the veto.
And Paula, I think we have to remember, if everybody abstains and the resolution and the voting process doesn't even get to nine votes in favor, the vetoes are technically not cast. So it is somewhat easy to say they are going to veto right now. It is still effective, but it may never get to that point.
ZAHN: Interesting point. Thanks, Richard. We'll be checking in with you tomorrow morning again.
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 11, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: More on our top story now: the diplomatic push to find a consensus at the U.N. Both the U.S. and Britain are working to sway votes their way on Iraq, and a vote on a new resolution, now delayed, could come later this week.
Let's turn to Richard Roth, who is standing by at the U.N. with all the latest facts -- good morning.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. It was discussed last night in the U.N. Security Council meeting, the British expressing interest in examining so-called benchmarks, tests for the Iraqi government to achieve in the area of disarmament.
It would also possibly include a later deadline than March 17, which is in the proposed U.K./U.S./Spain resolution. In France, President Chirac is being cheered by his countrymen for once again insisting non. France plans to veto any resolution as it currently stands. But to the British prime minister, this sends a wrong message to the Iraqi leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: My concern is that if countries talk about using a veto in all sets of circumstances, the message that sends to Saddam is, you are off the hook. And I think that would be very unfortunate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: Also last night, chief weapons inspectors Hans Blix was grilled by the U.S. and some others about his drone discovery which he chose not to highlight in his latest oral presentation in the Security Council. Blix, we're told, said he would never withhold information from the Security Council, and many of the ambassadors had access to his written reports anyway.
At the Security Council today, speeches from dozens of countries around the world, once again expressing their view, most of them against any war to the full world in the chamber -- Paula.
ZAHN: Any more speculation about how the compromises may work out at the U.N.?
ROTH: Well, we may be in for days or maybe weeks, you never know. But right now, the U.S. and U.K. do not have the votes, the nine required for passage of the resolution as it currently stands. Everything changes, everybody's votes change, possibly, if this compromise giving Iraq more time and specific tests to achieve and disarm, and if that's passed.
ZAHN: And could a resolution or a whatever the compromise language that's worked out be veto-proof by France?
ROTH: That's an interesting question. France is very vehement that it doesn't -- you don't even need a second resolution, but they in Friday's comments -- didn't get as much attention. The French foreign minister said maybe there is a way to accelerate this process. So it may be too soon to talk about the veto.
And Paula, I think we have to remember, if everybody abstains and the resolution and the voting process doesn't even get to nine votes in favor, the vetoes are technically not cast. So it is somewhat easy to say they are going to veto right now. It is still effective, but it may never get to that point.
ZAHN: Interesting point. Thanks, Richard. We'll be checking in with you tomorrow morning again.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
