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CNN Live Event/Special

U.S. Ambassador to U.N. John Negroponte Speaks

Aired January 10, 2003 - 13:29   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We take you to the U.N., where the Security Council had been meeting talking Iraq and North Korea. Let's listen to John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

NEGROPONTE: ... nuclear weapons and a serious challenge to the international nonproliferation regime.

We reject North Korea's claims that actions by the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency justify its actions. North Korea has been in violation of the nonproliferation treaty for many years. Today's announcement is another step in its confrontational approach to the international community and flies in the face of persistent calls on North Korea to comply with its obligations.

We call on the -- on North Korea to reverse this and other recent steps. We seek a peaceful resolution to our differences with the DPRK. The president and the secretary of state have indicated repeatedly that the United States has no hostile intent.

We will intensify our consultations and cooperation with friends and allies in considering next steps in our diplomatic effort to resolve this situation.

Thank you.

QUESTION: On another subject, sir?

NEGROPONTE: On another subject, yes.

QUESTION: What is the U.S. view right now of this proposed January 20th ministerial meeting with CTC? Will Secretary of State Powell come? And what do you think is the -- goal that can be accomplished?

NEGROPONTE: Well, I'm not going to get into the question of announcing the secretary's own schedule, but planning is going forward for the holding of such a meeting. And that was one of the subjects that was discussed in our consultations today. You might want to ask the president of the council who will be speaking in a moment...

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) why is it important to do this? What would be (OFF-MIKE)

NEGROPONTE: Well, this is a French initiative. And perhaps I'll let the president of the council talk to it. QUESTION: Ambassador, Secretary Powell yesterday, in his interview with Tom Brokaw, said that he was considering making a case possibly before the Security Council. Do you have any -- you said elaborate...

NEGROPONTE: Making a case.

QUESTION: ... making a case possibly before (OFF-MIKE) in the absence of the smoking gun. Is there any point...

NEGROPONTE: Well, I don't want to try and anticipate how this issue is going to unfold. You followed the meeting yesterday. We have another meeting planned for the 27th. I think we're going to take this issue as it develops.

But as I said yesterday, we view this as an extremely important and urgent situation. And we think that it behooves Iraq to cooperate fully and proactively with the inspection regime if it wants to deal with the deep concerns that we and others have about the fact that it has not been fully cooperative up to this time.

Last question?

QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, are you concerned that the United States is the only country of the 15 council members that has referred to a new material breach...

NEGROPONTE: No, I'm not concerned about that. I think we have an extremely good case. But I would also point out that a number of the member states yesterday -- in fact, I think 12 out of the 15 -- also picked up on this point about Iraq, while it may be cooperating in a legalistic or in a formalistic sense, has not been proactively cooperating. And that, of course, was also pointed out by both Dr. Blix and Dr. ElBaradei.

Thanks. I really got to go. Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Once again, the ambassador just driving home the point, he still doesn't feel Iraq is completely complying with what it is supposed to do with regard to weapons inspections.

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 January 10, 2003 - 13:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We take you to the U.N., where the Security Council had been meeting talking Iraq and North Korea. Let's listen to John Negroponte, U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

NEGROPONTE: ... nuclear weapons and a serious challenge to the international nonproliferation regime.

We reject North Korea's claims that actions by the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency justify its actions. North Korea has been in violation of the nonproliferation treaty for many years. Today's announcement is another step in its confrontational approach to the international community and flies in the face of persistent calls on North Korea to comply with its obligations.

We call on the -- on North Korea to reverse this and other recent steps. We seek a peaceful resolution to our differences with the DPRK. The president and the secretary of state have indicated repeatedly that the United States has no hostile intent.

We will intensify our consultations and cooperation with friends and allies in considering next steps in our diplomatic effort to resolve this situation.

Thank you.

QUESTION: On another subject, sir?

NEGROPONTE: On another subject, yes.

QUESTION: What is the U.S. view right now of this proposed January 20th ministerial meeting with CTC? Will Secretary of State Powell come? And what do you think is the -- goal that can be accomplished?

NEGROPONTE: Well, I'm not going to get into the question of announcing the secretary's own schedule, but planning is going forward for the holding of such a meeting. And that was one of the subjects that was discussed in our consultations today. You might want to ask the president of the council who will be speaking in a moment...

QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) why is it important to do this? What would be (OFF-MIKE)

NEGROPONTE: Well, this is a French initiative. And perhaps I'll let the president of the council talk to it. QUESTION: Ambassador, Secretary Powell yesterday, in his interview with Tom Brokaw, said that he was considering making a case possibly before the Security Council. Do you have any -- you said elaborate...

NEGROPONTE: Making a case.

QUESTION: ... making a case possibly before (OFF-MIKE) in the absence of the smoking gun. Is there any point...

NEGROPONTE: Well, I don't want to try and anticipate how this issue is going to unfold. You followed the meeting yesterday. We have another meeting planned for the 27th. I think we're going to take this issue as it develops.

But as I said yesterday, we view this as an extremely important and urgent situation. And we think that it behooves Iraq to cooperate fully and proactively with the inspection regime if it wants to deal with the deep concerns that we and others have about the fact that it has not been fully cooperative up to this time.

Last question?

QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, are you concerned that the United States is the only country of the 15 council members that has referred to a new material breach...

NEGROPONTE: No, I'm not concerned about that. I think we have an extremely good case. But I would also point out that a number of the member states yesterday -- in fact, I think 12 out of the 15 -- also picked up on this point about Iraq, while it may be cooperating in a legalistic or in a formalistic sense, has not been proactively cooperating. And that, of course, was also pointed out by both Dr. Blix and Dr. ElBaradei.

Thanks. I really got to go. Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Once again, the ambassador just driving home the point, he still doesn't feel Iraq is completely complying with what it is supposed to do with regard to weapons inspections.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com