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American Morning
Interview with Syrian Ambassador to United Nations
Aired October 17, 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The biggest surprise for the Bush administration in the U.N. vote for the Iraq resolution may have been the support of Syria. Syria is the only Arab member of the Security Council. And joining us this morning from the United Nations is Syria's ambassador to the U.N.
Good morning. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.
FAYSSAL MEKDAD, SYRIA'S AMB. TO THE U.N.: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Ambassador, you voted for the resolution, even though you said that it did not meet your expectations. So why vote for it?
MEKDAD: It was not Syria that said that the resolution did not meet its expectations only. I mean, many other members of the council have said the same thing.
This resolution, I mean, we wanted it to be, I mean, a further step for the restoration of the sovereignty and independence of Iraq. There are a lot of elements that go in this direction. I think that -- I mean, we tried and succeeded to improve the original text, which has been under discussion for the last one month and a half. We have achieved many successes in this respect. We wanted to achieve more.
Unfortunately, I mean, we could not do that. That's why you have heard yesterday to the vote explanations that showed that, I mean, there was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but I mean, unfortunately, we could not go that far.
O'BRIEN: A specific date of transfer is not part of this resolution. When do you think that day should be? When do you think should that happen?
MEKDAD: Frankly speaking, I mean, we wanted that question to be, I mean, solved. Not only that, I mean, a specific date for the transfer of power. We insisted that the role of the multinational force should be a different role. It should be independent and under the United Nations role. We wanted the role of the neighboring states to be defined in better terms where the cooperation should not be only in one security field, but in all fields, economy, cultural, and political and so on and so forth. So we wanted those aspects, in fact, and we did not succeed. That's why some states who wanted to even give more assistance in terms of economy and others have said they, according to this resolution, they would not be in a position to give such assistance.
O'BRIEN: What will Syria give? Will Syria give troops? Will Syria give money? What are you willing to put on the table?
MEKDAD: You know, I mean, we don't have money to give, and we don't have troops to, I mean, to assist, because in Iraq that's under occupation, I mean, it's impossible for Syria and any other Arab country to give troops. This is very dangerous, and this is very critical.
What we are looking for is more cooperation with all parties involved where we can bring as soon as possible the, I mean, the end of occupation.
These sad stories which we have listened to the beginning of this news, I mean, should come to an end. We want, I mean, everybody to live in peace, to establish peace in that big region in the Middle East between -- I mean, in Iraq, and Palestine and everywhere.
O'BRIEN: U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed a bill which calls for sanctions against Damascus, and that's because basically based on the fact that the White House says that Syria is sponsoring terrorism. What's your reaction to this?
MEKDAD: Syria has never supported terrorism. Syria wants peace in the region. We have Palestinians who have fled their country some 56 years ago. More than 400,000 Palestinians are living there. What can we do with these people who want to talk only about their right to go back to their homes?
So, frankly speaking, we are shocked that the Congress has discussed things this way. We want good and excellent relations with the United States.
What is not helping in this direction is the way Israel and its lobby in the United States are playing this against that do not help a just and comprehensive peace in the region. We want excellent relations with the United States. Such laws do not help the image of the United States.
O'BRIEN: I'm going to have to interrupt you there. Fayssal Mekdad, we're out of time, and Thank you for joining us with your insight. Appreciate it.
MEKDAD: Thank you.
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 October 17, 2003 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The biggest surprise for the Bush administration in the U.N. vote for the Iraq resolution may have been the support of Syria. Syria is the only Arab member of the Security Council. And joining us this morning from the United Nations is Syria's ambassador to the U.N.
Good morning. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.
FAYSSAL MEKDAD, SYRIA'S AMB. TO THE U.N.: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Ambassador, you voted for the resolution, even though you said that it did not meet your expectations. So why vote for it?
MEKDAD: It was not Syria that said that the resolution did not meet its expectations only. I mean, many other members of the council have said the same thing.
This resolution, I mean, we wanted it to be, I mean, a further step for the restoration of the sovereignty and independence of Iraq. There are a lot of elements that go in this direction. I think that -- I mean, we tried and succeeded to improve the original text, which has been under discussion for the last one month and a half. We have achieved many successes in this respect. We wanted to achieve more.
Unfortunately, I mean, we could not do that. That's why you have heard yesterday to the vote explanations that showed that, I mean, there was a (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but I mean, unfortunately, we could not go that far.
O'BRIEN: A specific date of transfer is not part of this resolution. When do you think that day should be? When do you think should that happen?
MEKDAD: Frankly speaking, I mean, we wanted that question to be, I mean, solved. Not only that, I mean, a specific date for the transfer of power. We insisted that the role of the multinational force should be a different role. It should be independent and under the United Nations role. We wanted the role of the neighboring states to be defined in better terms where the cooperation should not be only in one security field, but in all fields, economy, cultural, and political and so on and so forth. So we wanted those aspects, in fact, and we did not succeed. That's why some states who wanted to even give more assistance in terms of economy and others have said they, according to this resolution, they would not be in a position to give such assistance.
O'BRIEN: What will Syria give? Will Syria give troops? Will Syria give money? What are you willing to put on the table?
MEKDAD: You know, I mean, we don't have money to give, and we don't have troops to, I mean, to assist, because in Iraq that's under occupation, I mean, it's impossible for Syria and any other Arab country to give troops. This is very dangerous, and this is very critical.
What we are looking for is more cooperation with all parties involved where we can bring as soon as possible the, I mean, the end of occupation.
These sad stories which we have listened to the beginning of this news, I mean, should come to an end. We want, I mean, everybody to live in peace, to establish peace in that big region in the Middle East between -- I mean, in Iraq, and Palestine and everywhere.
O'BRIEN: U.S. Congress on Wednesday passed a bill which calls for sanctions against Damascus, and that's because basically based on the fact that the White House says that Syria is sponsoring terrorism. What's your reaction to this?
MEKDAD: Syria has never supported terrorism. Syria wants peace in the region. We have Palestinians who have fled their country some 56 years ago. More than 400,000 Palestinians are living there. What can we do with these people who want to talk only about their right to go back to their homes?
So, frankly speaking, we are shocked that the Congress has discussed things this way. We want good and excellent relations with the United States.
What is not helping in this direction is the way Israel and its lobby in the United States are playing this against that do not help a just and comprehensive peace in the region. We want excellent relations with the United States. Such laws do not help the image of the United States.
O'BRIEN: I'm going to have to interrupt you there. Fayssal Mekdad, we're out of time, and Thank you for joining us with your insight. Appreciate it.
MEKDAD: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
