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CNN Saturday Morning News

Powell Visits Philippines

Aired August 03, 2002 - 09:02   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: We have more now on Powell's visit to the Philippines that she just told you about.

While in Manila, he had some very blunt words about Iraq's offer to resume U.N. talks on weapons inspection.

Let's go to Maria Ressa, who's joining us by telephone from Manila. Maria, what do you for us?

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, essentially, Powell did address Iraq shortly before he met with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. He talked early in the morning about Iraq's offer Thursday of inspections, and more talks. He said that this is not a step forward, more like two steps back.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have seen the Iraqis try to fiddle with the inspection regime before. There have been several direct conversations between the Iraqis and Kofi Annan, and they understand what is required.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RESSA: Bush administration has long stated the goal is not just inspections but disarmament, and that the U.S. is waiting for Saddam Hussein to live up to the agreement he signed in 1991. Iraq says it's complied with U.N.'s weapons requirement -- Catherine.

CALLAWAY: Maria, just looking at the comments from Powell, he looked physically moved by this offer, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), I guess we should say upset, concerned, frustrated with being in this situation again.

RESSA: Absolutely. He just basically said that this offer really is Iraq's moving the goal posts. He said that -- it wasn't as much of a dismissal, but he said that he wanted to make sure Iraq stuck to what it agreed to in 1991, and that is disarmament.

CALLAWAY: Well, tell us more about Powell's visit there. What -- tell us more about what he was doing there and who he met with.

RESSA: Well, this is really the last stop of a very grueling eight-nation tour that lasted about a week for Powell. U.S.- Philippine relations, (UNINTELLIGIBLE), one of the biggest success stories in the Bush administration's campaign against global terrorism.

He was here in Manila to basically talk about how the two nations' cooperation is, in his words, "the bulwark of freedom and stability in the Asia Pacific region."

As you said, about 1,000 U.S. troops, including 160 special forces, ended a six-month training exercise in the southern Philippines this week. About 100 troops will stay on until a new round of exercises are slated to begin in October.

Filipino officials say they expect U.S. troops to stay in the Philippines until at least mid-2003.

CALLAWAY: Certainly there has to be satisfaction in the fact that Powell announced the $55 million in aid to help fight the terrorism.

RESSA: Well, that was actually part -- that was announced a little bit earlier than this trip. He didn't announce new money. The Philippines since September 11 has actually gotten more than $150 million in aid from the United States. That shows you the priority that the U.S. has put on it, and also what kind of a role the Philippines has played in that.

Now, one of the reasons, also, that Colin Powell is here in Southeast Asia is that al Qaeda, according to intelligence officials, have set up a network work here as early as 1988, and despite the fact that more than 100 suspected terrorists have been arrested here since September 11, intelligence officials say al Qaeda's infrastructure remains largely intact.

Keeping al Qaeda out of the region is a main U.S. priority.

CALLAWAY: All right, Maria, thank you for the update. Maria Ressa joining us from Manila this morning.

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