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CNN Saturday Morning News
U.N. Security Council Resolution Passed Unanimously
Aired November 09, 2002 - 07:02 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour, after weeks of tough negotiations, the U.N. Security Council has passed a resolution on disarming Iraq. Baghdad says it's studying the resolution and will respond in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the countdown to compliance is on.
CNN's senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): A big score for the Americans, a unanimous 15 to nothing vote by the Security Council sends international weapons inspectors into Iraq and demands Saddam Hussein disarm more than 11 years after the end of the Gulf War.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: We have a new ball game now, and Iraq has to comply.
ROTH: And now the clock is ticking. The Security Council demands that Iraq must comply with the resolution within seven days. Baghdad must declare all weapons of mass destruction by December 8. Iraq denies possessing any. And full inspections will begin no later than two days before Christmas.
Despite the return of the inspectors, the U.S. said it reserves the right to strike Iraq.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: This resolution does not constrain any member state from acting to defend itself against the threat posed by Iraq...
ROTH: For inspectors of the U.N. and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the next big step is a trip to Baghdad.
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We are chartering a plane, and we are going to fly in from Cypress to Baghdad.
ROTH: Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix will lead a nuts- and-bolts team there on November 18, setting up a headquarters for larger teams of weapons probers.
The Security Council will now place a lot of responsibility on what Blix and his inspectors find. The U.S. agrees to another council meeting before attacking Iraq. JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: But it is going to be a fact of life, a reality, that if the question of a breach arises, the Security Council will wish to hear a report on that from the inspectors. It's inevitable.
ROTH (on camera): The United Nations must wait again now for a response from Iraq to this resolution indicating whether Baghdad plans to cooperate or not. Asked about what might happen if such a letter does not come with an acceptance, the French ambassador said, "Let's hope for the best and not consider any dark scenarios."
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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 9, 2002 - 07:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: First up this hour, after weeks of tough negotiations, the U.N. Security Council has passed a resolution on disarming Iraq. Baghdad says it's studying the resolution and will respond in the next few days.
Meanwhile, the countdown to compliance is on.
CNN's senior United Nations correspondent, Richard Roth, has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): A big score for the Americans, a unanimous 15 to nothing vote by the Security Council sends international weapons inspectors into Iraq and demands Saddam Hussein disarm more than 11 years after the end of the Gulf War.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: We have a new ball game now, and Iraq has to comply.
ROTH: And now the clock is ticking. The Security Council demands that Iraq must comply with the resolution within seven days. Baghdad must declare all weapons of mass destruction by December 8. Iraq denies possessing any. And full inspections will begin no later than two days before Christmas.
Despite the return of the inspectors, the U.S. said it reserves the right to strike Iraq.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: This resolution does not constrain any member state from acting to defend itself against the threat posed by Iraq...
ROTH: For inspectors of the U.N. and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the next big step is a trip to Baghdad.
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We are chartering a plane, and we are going to fly in from Cypress to Baghdad.
ROTH: Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix will lead a nuts- and-bolts team there on November 18, setting up a headquarters for larger teams of weapons probers.
The Security Council will now place a lot of responsibility on what Blix and his inspectors find. The U.S. agrees to another council meeting before attacking Iraq. JEREMY GREENSTOCK, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: But it is going to be a fact of life, a reality, that if the question of a breach arises, the Security Council will wish to hear a report on that from the inspectors. It's inevitable.
ROTH (on camera): The United Nations must wait again now for a response from Iraq to this resolution indicating whether Baghdad plans to cooperate or not. Asked about what might happen if such a letter does not come with an acceptance, the French ambassador said, "Let's hope for the best and not consider any dark scenarios."
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
