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CNN Live Event/Special
Iraq to Study Resolution, Decide
Aired November 08, 2002 - 12:07 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And we know what might happen if Iraq doesn't comply with the resolution, but did you know that the United Nations could reward Iraq if it does?
Let's get the view from directly inside Iraq now, our CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf. She's joining us now live.
Hello -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Wolf.
Well that definitely is the carrot, as you mentioned, the prospect of trade sanctions that have crippled this economy and been in place for over a decade being lifted if all goes well. That's a very big if though. As U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said after the vote, the road ahead will be difficult and dangerous. And people here particularly believe that there's a lot of danger.
Now the countdown begins now, Iraq has seven days to accept this resolution. The Iraqi envoy to the U.N. was saying that they will have to study it first but that they believe this is the United States imposing its will on the U.N., same sentiment echoed by Iraq's Trade Minister who spoke just shortly before final discussions for the vote ahead. He said this resolution did nothing for Iraq.
Now that doesn't mean they're not going to accept it. In fact, they probably will. It's been made very, very clear. If they needed any more proof, they got it with that unanimous vote that they really do have to accept this, but they won't do it without objections -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane Arraf, thanks very much for that.
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 November 8, 2002 - 12:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And we know what might happen if Iraq doesn't comply with the resolution, but did you know that the United Nations could reward Iraq if it does?
Let's get the view from directly inside Iraq now, our CNN Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf. She's joining us now live.
Hello -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hi, Wolf.
Well that definitely is the carrot, as you mentioned, the prospect of trade sanctions that have crippled this economy and been in place for over a decade being lifted if all goes well. That's a very big if though. As U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said after the vote, the road ahead will be difficult and dangerous. And people here particularly believe that there's a lot of danger.
Now the countdown begins now, Iraq has seven days to accept this resolution. The Iraqi envoy to the U.N. was saying that they will have to study it first but that they believe this is the United States imposing its will on the U.N., same sentiment echoed by Iraq's Trade Minister who spoke just shortly before final discussions for the vote ahead. He said this resolution did nothing for Iraq.
Now that doesn't mean they're not going to accept it. In fact, they probably will. It's been made very, very clear. If they needed any more proof, they got it with that unanimous vote that they really do have to accept this, but they won't do it without objections -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jane Arraf, thanks very much for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
