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American Morning

Interview With Syrian Deputy Ambassador

Aired April 15, 2003 - 09:15   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: After ousting Iraq's regime, the Bush administration is taking verbal aim at Syria. The White House accuses Syria of developing chemical weapons and harboring leaders who fled Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have intelligence that indicates some Iraqi people have been allowed into Syria, in some cases, to stay, in some cases to transit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It's important for Syria to re-examine its role in the region. They are a state that sponsors terrorism. They have no reason to do that, to act like that, and certainly, they have no reason to harbor these Iraqi officials, that should not be able to find safe haven in Syria.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: In addition to the strong words, the White House is already talking about the possibility of economic sanctions. Imad Moustapha is the Syrian deputy ambassador to the U.S. He joins us now from Washington. Thank you very much for being with us, sir.

I want to start with the accusation that your country is harboring potential former leaders of Saddam Hussein's regime. This morning, former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Richard Murphy said he is convinced that Damascus has provided safe haven to Iraqi leaders, saying that the border is pretty porous between Syria and Iraq, and the borders with other adjoining countries is not the case.

IMAD MOUSTAPHA, DEPUTY SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Good morning, Paula. It's amazing. I really do not want to give credit to what I have been calling a campaign of misinformation and disinformation. By just refuting those nonstop daily-basis accusations, I'm really giving them some credibility.

What I want to tell you, is listen to what Syria stands for. We have not been supporting the Iraqi regime at all. We have always been supporting the Iraqi people. When Saddam Hussein invaded Iran, and we were against this invasion, while the United States provided tacit support. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, we -- our troops were with your troops liberating Kuwait, and as a principle, we opposed this invasion of Iraq. The case is Syria has opted for a strategic option. It is an option for peace, and all accusations, all accusations are false, they are untrue.

What we would really want to see is a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction. We have been challenging the American administration for years, Please come and check what Israel has compiled, has stockpiled for years and years. Chemical, biological, but most important of all, nuclear weapons. And what we want to see, and what we really are calling for is a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.

This is what Syria stands for, and this campaign of misinformation and disinformation has nothing to do with Syria. And I'm...

ZAHN: Hang on, sir, deputy ambassador, let's come back to this whole issue of your saying you don't want weapons of mass destruction anywhere in the region. Would you allow weapons inspectors to come into Syria and have unfettered access to all of the sites they want to get their hands on?

MOUSTAPHA: Let me be very clear about this. Syria has always been calling for the international community to rid the Middle East, to rid the Middle East from all weapons of mass destruction. Now, by asking this question, let me put it to you the other way, would you, would the international community fulfill its responsibilities and go and inspect what Israel has been stockpiling for years? We know -- we are very happy about this, we know that we don't have chemical weapons but everybody, even here in the United States, know very well that Israel has been stockpiling this, and by just changing, just shifting the platform and directing accusations against Syria, you are just trying to ignore the big elephant in the room, and trying to divert attention. This is unfair. We are not the country who is occupying other countries. We are not uprooting all the trees (ph), we are not demolishing houses, we are not killing the Palestinians, we have not been killing the Palestinians for 50 years, and depriving them from their basic rights. Please...

ZAHN: But sir, there are some very serious accusations that are made that we want to give you a chance to counter. "The Washington Report -- Post" is saying that according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, that the CIA has noted over the last decade that Syria has acquired -- acquired chemical technology from Russia and Eastern Europe, sought materials from China, and has frequently tested chemical warheads. Is that true?

MOUSTAPHA: Let -- let me put it very clearly to you. Twenty days ago, a sinister campaign against Syria started. Every -- every morning, there was -- there was a new accusation. And let me bet you on this, my salary for your salary tomorrow you will have new accusation, the day after tomorrow a third accusation. It's been like this. Please, please let the American people hear this clearly. It's a campaign of misinformation and disinformation. It's trying to divert attention from what is going on in Iraq to what might happen in Syria, but we are not worried. We believe that the American people are fair and they are reasonably informed, and they will know what is true and what is untrue.

ZAHN: You never answered my question. Are you saying what the "Washington Post" is reporting is absolutely false? That you haven't acquired any of this technology from Russia, Eastern Europe, and China?

MOUSTAPHA: Paula, it's very clear that I am saying that this is a campaign of disinformation and what is implied is very clear, of course, I'm categorically denying this, and I'm trying to say there is one country in the Middle East that is stockpiling those weapons and the country that is not is being now attacked. Is this fair? Please be careful about what is going on. This is not -- this is not an easy game. It's not something to play with. Please remember who is for peace and who is trying its best now -- it's best to pressurize American administration not to go into a peace initiative once Iraq's situation is over. Please remember, there is a hidden campaign here, and the agenda is very clear. There are certain individuals in the United States who would be very unhappy if Tony Blair can convince President Bush to push Israel for peace in the region.

And today in the Congress, a petition in the Congress today is being signed by congressmen asking President Bush not to pressurize Israel on a peace initiative once this situation in Iraq is over. And we can imagine in Syria what sort of campaign is being directed. They really...

ZAHN: Sir, I need to move us on to one last question, and that is the issue of charges that Syria is harboring former members of Iraqi leadership regime. The "New York Times" saying that, according to an American intelligence official, weapons scientists have sought refuge in Syria over the last couple of weeks. Do you deny that as well?

MOUSTAPHA: It is also just another false accusation. We deny this, and we ask the American people and the American administration to please be wise. This does not serve the long-term interest of the United States. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to portray the United States as one country in the world that would like to attack one small country after another? Is this the way you are trying to portray the United States? I am sure the American people do not accept this. They are fair and they know what's going on here is unfair and unjustified. Go back to wisdom please, and go back to the basics, and look who is making all those problems and troubles in the Middle East.

ZAHN: Sir, I'm not characterizing anything. I'm just asking some pretty straightforward questions. And the last one is the issue -- we just had the editor of the "London Sunday Telegraph" on who said it is his belief that Western intelligence is looking into the reports that the country of France is also involved, perhaps, in helping process some of these records in Syria to make it easier for people to get out of the country who shouldn't be.

MOUSTAPHA: Absolutely untrue. It's just a -- a campaign. If you go here in Washington to the American Enterprise Institute, I have been going there a lot, I was attending their meetings, I was hearing their speeches and reading their literature. They were saying such things for years and years. And they were saying let Iraq be the gateway to Syria, and then we have things to do also in Lebanon, and occupied Palestinian territories, in Egypt, even in Saudi Arabia about the Wahabi regime there.

Please, this is a campaign and it should be exposed. Everybody should know that it's just about -- it is not about whether these accusations are true or not. What they want to do is -- we keep on repeating them day in, day out, every day, every day, and some people will eventually end up believing them.

ZAHN: Sir, we have got to leave it there.

MOUSTAPHA: Everything -- everything is untrue.

ZAHN: Unfortunately, we have got to move on. Imad Moustapha, the Syrian deputy ambassador to the United States. Thanks so much for your time.

MOUSTAPHA: Thank you very 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 April 15, 2003 - 09:15   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: After ousting Iraq's regime, the Bush administration is taking verbal aim at Syria. The White House accuses Syria of developing chemical weapons and harboring leaders who fled Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We have intelligence that indicates some Iraqi people have been allowed into Syria, in some cases, to stay, in some cases to transit.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It's important for Syria to re-examine its role in the region. They are a state that sponsors terrorism. They have no reason to do that, to act like that, and certainly, they have no reason to harbor these Iraqi officials, that should not be able to find safe haven in Syria.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: In addition to the strong words, the White House is already talking about the possibility of economic sanctions. Imad Moustapha is the Syrian deputy ambassador to the U.S. He joins us now from Washington. Thank you very much for being with us, sir.

I want to start with the accusation that your country is harboring potential former leaders of Saddam Hussein's regime. This morning, former U.S. ambassador to Syria, Richard Murphy said he is convinced that Damascus has provided safe haven to Iraqi leaders, saying that the border is pretty porous between Syria and Iraq, and the borders with other adjoining countries is not the case.

IMAD MOUSTAPHA, DEPUTY SYRIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Good morning, Paula. It's amazing. I really do not want to give credit to what I have been calling a campaign of misinformation and disinformation. By just refuting those nonstop daily-basis accusations, I'm really giving them some credibility.

What I want to tell you, is listen to what Syria stands for. We have not been supporting the Iraqi regime at all. We have always been supporting the Iraqi people. When Saddam Hussein invaded Iran, and we were against this invasion, while the United States provided tacit support. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, we -- our troops were with your troops liberating Kuwait, and as a principle, we opposed this invasion of Iraq. The case is Syria has opted for a strategic option. It is an option for peace, and all accusations, all accusations are false, they are untrue.

What we would really want to see is a Middle East free of all weapons of mass destruction. We have been challenging the American administration for years, Please come and check what Israel has compiled, has stockpiled for years and years. Chemical, biological, but most important of all, nuclear weapons. And what we want to see, and what we really are calling for is a region free of all weapons of mass destruction.

This is what Syria stands for, and this campaign of misinformation and disinformation has nothing to do with Syria. And I'm...

ZAHN: Hang on, sir, deputy ambassador, let's come back to this whole issue of your saying you don't want weapons of mass destruction anywhere in the region. Would you allow weapons inspectors to come into Syria and have unfettered access to all of the sites they want to get their hands on?

MOUSTAPHA: Let me be very clear about this. Syria has always been calling for the international community to rid the Middle East, to rid the Middle East from all weapons of mass destruction. Now, by asking this question, let me put it to you the other way, would you, would the international community fulfill its responsibilities and go and inspect what Israel has been stockpiling for years? We know -- we are very happy about this, we know that we don't have chemical weapons but everybody, even here in the United States, know very well that Israel has been stockpiling this, and by just changing, just shifting the platform and directing accusations against Syria, you are just trying to ignore the big elephant in the room, and trying to divert attention. This is unfair. We are not the country who is occupying other countries. We are not uprooting all the trees (ph), we are not demolishing houses, we are not killing the Palestinians, we have not been killing the Palestinians for 50 years, and depriving them from their basic rights. Please...

ZAHN: But sir, there are some very serious accusations that are made that we want to give you a chance to counter. "The Washington Report -- Post" is saying that according to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, that the CIA has noted over the last decade that Syria has acquired -- acquired chemical technology from Russia and Eastern Europe, sought materials from China, and has frequently tested chemical warheads. Is that true?

MOUSTAPHA: Let -- let me put it very clearly to you. Twenty days ago, a sinister campaign against Syria started. Every -- every morning, there was -- there was a new accusation. And let me bet you on this, my salary for your salary tomorrow you will have new accusation, the day after tomorrow a third accusation. It's been like this. Please, please let the American people hear this clearly. It's a campaign of misinformation and disinformation. It's trying to divert attention from what is going on in Iraq to what might happen in Syria, but we are not worried. We believe that the American people are fair and they are reasonably informed, and they will know what is true and what is untrue.

ZAHN: You never answered my question. Are you saying what the "Washington Post" is reporting is absolutely false? That you haven't acquired any of this technology from Russia, Eastern Europe, and China?

MOUSTAPHA: Paula, it's very clear that I am saying that this is a campaign of disinformation and what is implied is very clear, of course, I'm categorically denying this, and I'm trying to say there is one country in the Middle East that is stockpiling those weapons and the country that is not is being now attacked. Is this fair? Please be careful about what is going on. This is not -- this is not an easy game. It's not something to play with. Please remember who is for peace and who is trying its best now -- it's best to pressurize American administration not to go into a peace initiative once Iraq's situation is over. Please remember, there is a hidden campaign here, and the agenda is very clear. There are certain individuals in the United States who would be very unhappy if Tony Blair can convince President Bush to push Israel for peace in the region.

And today in the Congress, a petition in the Congress today is being signed by congressmen asking President Bush not to pressurize Israel on a peace initiative once this situation in Iraq is over. And we can imagine in Syria what sort of campaign is being directed. They really...

ZAHN: Sir, I need to move us on to one last question, and that is the issue of charges that Syria is harboring former members of Iraqi leadership regime. The "New York Times" saying that, according to an American intelligence official, weapons scientists have sought refuge in Syria over the last couple of weeks. Do you deny that as well?

MOUSTAPHA: It is also just another false accusation. We deny this, and we ask the American people and the American administration to please be wise. This does not serve the long-term interest of the United States. What are you trying to do? Are you trying to portray the United States as one country in the world that would like to attack one small country after another? Is this the way you are trying to portray the United States? I am sure the American people do not accept this. They are fair and they know what's going on here is unfair and unjustified. Go back to wisdom please, and go back to the basics, and look who is making all those problems and troubles in the Middle East.

ZAHN: Sir, I'm not characterizing anything. I'm just asking some pretty straightforward questions. And the last one is the issue -- we just had the editor of the "London Sunday Telegraph" on who said it is his belief that Western intelligence is looking into the reports that the country of France is also involved, perhaps, in helping process some of these records in Syria to make it easier for people to get out of the country who shouldn't be.

MOUSTAPHA: Absolutely untrue. It's just a -- a campaign. If you go here in Washington to the American Enterprise Institute, I have been going there a lot, I was attending their meetings, I was hearing their speeches and reading their literature. They were saying such things for years and years. And they were saying let Iraq be the gateway to Syria, and then we have things to do also in Lebanon, and occupied Palestinian territories, in Egypt, even in Saudi Arabia about the Wahabi regime there.

Please, this is a campaign and it should be exposed. Everybody should know that it's just about -- it is not about whether these accusations are true or not. What they want to do is -- we keep on repeating them day in, day out, every day, every day, and some people will eventually end up believing them.

ZAHN: Sir, we have got to leave it there.

MOUSTAPHA: Everything -- everything is untrue.

ZAHN: Unfortunately, we have got to move on. Imad Moustapha, the Syrian deputy ambassador to the United States. Thanks so much for your time.

MOUSTAPHA: Thank you very 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