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CNN Saturday Morning News
No Real Response Yet from Iraqis
Aired November 09, 2002 - 07:05 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: Iraq's state-run news agency says the country's leadership is studying the resolution.
For more reaction from the Iraqi capital, let's check in now with CNN's Rym Brahimi. She joins us now from Baghdad -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Renay, well, there hasn't been an official yes or no in terms of will Iraq accept that resolution for now. What there has been is an official statement issued by the state-run Iraqi news agency saying that despite the fact that the resolution is, quote, "unjust and bad," the Iraqi leadership is studying it calmly and will decide in a few days -- will respond -- will indicate, maybe, in a few days what it has to say about that.
So this is all we have on the official side. As you know, Renay, the foreign minister of Iraq is in Cairo for a meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League. He met with Egyptian officials this morning. And he seemed to indicate, though, that Iraq will accept the resolution.
Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJI SABRI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER (voice of translator): America's aggressive goal in using Security Council as a cover in its aggression on Iraq was thwarted by the international community because the international community doesn't share the evil administration in Washington's absolute appetite for aggression, killing, and destruction. The international community rejected this logic and this intractable desire in this vicious administration for war, killing, and destruction in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, that's interesting (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because this is what some countries, some permanent members of the Security Council, have been trying to convince Iraq of, that a resolution is better than no resolution, because it would ward off the threat of a U.S. attack. And it seems that the foreign minister, and maybe some other officials, have come round to that idea.
Another indication that Iraq is probably on its way to accepting that resolution, the semiofficial newspaper "Babbin (ph)," which is owned by the president's eldest son, Uday Saddam Hussein, was saying this morning in the newspaper in an editorial that the leadership in Iraq is very clever, and it's too clever to provide the U.S. with an opportunity to strike Iraq.
So this is what we've had. There's been no other mention in the newspapers, apart from this official news agency wire. But so far, just little indications that Iraq will accept, but nothing official so far. They have seven days to accept, Renay, as you know, so we'll probably hear something in the next few days -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right, Rym Brahimi, joining us from Baghdad. Thank you very much for that report.
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 - 07:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq's state-run news agency says the country's leadership is studying the resolution.
For more reaction from the Iraqi capital, let's check in now with CNN's Rym Brahimi. She joins us now from Baghdad -- Rym.
RYM BRAHIMI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Renay, well, there hasn't been an official yes or no in terms of will Iraq accept that resolution for now. What there has been is an official statement issued by the state-run Iraqi news agency saying that despite the fact that the resolution is, quote, "unjust and bad," the Iraqi leadership is studying it calmly and will decide in a few days -- will respond -- will indicate, maybe, in a few days what it has to say about that.
So this is all we have on the official side. As you know, Renay, the foreign minister of Iraq is in Cairo for a meeting of foreign ministers at the Arab League. He met with Egyptian officials this morning. And he seemed to indicate, though, that Iraq will accept the resolution.
Let's listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJI SABRI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER (voice of translator): America's aggressive goal in using Security Council as a cover in its aggression on Iraq was thwarted by the international community because the international community doesn't share the evil administration in Washington's absolute appetite for aggression, killing, and destruction. The international community rejected this logic and this intractable desire in this vicious administration for war, killing, and destruction in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRAHIMI: Now, that's interesting (UNINTELLIGIBLE) because this is what some countries, some permanent members of the Security Council, have been trying to convince Iraq of, that a resolution is better than no resolution, because it would ward off the threat of a U.S. attack. And it seems that the foreign minister, and maybe some other officials, have come round to that idea.
Another indication that Iraq is probably on its way to accepting that resolution, the semiofficial newspaper "Babbin (ph)," which is owned by the president's eldest son, Uday Saddam Hussein, was saying this morning in the newspaper in an editorial that the leadership in Iraq is very clever, and it's too clever to provide the U.S. with an opportunity to strike Iraq.
So this is what we've had. There's been no other mention in the newspapers, apart from this official news agency wire. But so far, just little indications that Iraq will accept, but nothing official so far. They have seven days to accept, Renay, as you know, so we'll probably hear something in the next few days -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: All right, Rym Brahimi, joining us from Baghdad. Thank you very much for that report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
