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CNN Saturday Morning News
Blix Repeats Iraq Hasn't Given Sufficient Cooperation
Aired January 18, 2003 - 08:48 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN. Hans Blix on his way to Baghdad along with Mohammed ElBaradei, the U.N. weapons inspector, chief weapons inspector, talking to reporters in Nicosia, telling them a lot of things that we have heard in the past, but nevertheless underscoring his belief that Iraq has not given sufficient or genuine cooperation in the search for weapons of mass destruction.
Let's listen in to a brief excerpt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We want to impress upon them the seriousness of the situation. There has been prompt access. There have been access everywhere. That is fine. But there, on substance, there has not been sufficient cooperation. They need to have a sincere and genuine cooperation.
QUESTION: How much more time are you likely to need?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Sincere and genuine cooperation is what Mr. Blix is asking for.
Joining us on the line from Nicosia, our Richard Roth, who covers the United Nations and is traveling with Dr. Blix -- Richard, anything, any other tidbits that came out of that meeting with reporters?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not really, but for Hans Blix, he's trying to get the message out to Baghdad that they have to cooperate, and this could be another "last chance opportunity." He goes there tomorrow for about a day and a half with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency and they want more than what's called passive cooperation. They want a proactive approach from the Iraqi authorities. They want more than just doors being opened. They want documents and evidence.
It was troubling the other day when empty chemical warhead shells were found. While they may have been dated and more than 10 years old, the fact that they're still around and not declared by the Iraqis is troubling to the White House and can't make the inspectors feel too comfortable -- Miles. O'BRIEN: Well, Richard, just quickly, because the other day Dr. Blix was quoted as saying that it really doesn't amount to much, these 11 casings. The administration saying it was very serious and troubling. Is Dr. Blix changing his tune a little bit?
ROTH: Not really. On the plane here from London we asked him about that and he is still not ready to say it's a significant finding. He keeps saying and pointing out that they were empty. But they're an omission and at this point, though, the inspectors would rather see important items, fresh items, things that are not empty. And that is what would make Blix rush to the Security Council.
We asked him would he have gone to the Security Council on an emergency basis should he have been in New York on this finding and he said no.
O'BRIEN: Interesting.
All right, well, let's leave it at that for now.
Richard Roth, who is in, traveling with Dr. Blix, as I should say, to Iraq.
We'll check in with him later.
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 18, 2003 - 08:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: This just in to CNN. Hans Blix on his way to Baghdad along with Mohammed ElBaradei, the U.N. weapons inspector, chief weapons inspector, talking to reporters in Nicosia, telling them a lot of things that we have heard in the past, but nevertheless underscoring his belief that Iraq has not given sufficient or genuine cooperation in the search for weapons of mass destruction.
Let's listen in to a brief excerpt.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HANS BLIX, CHIEF U.N. WEAPONS INSPECTOR: We want to impress upon them the seriousness of the situation. There has been prompt access. There have been access everywhere. That is fine. But there, on substance, there has not been sufficient cooperation. They need to have a sincere and genuine cooperation.
QUESTION: How much more time are you likely to need?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Sincere and genuine cooperation is what Mr. Blix is asking for.
Joining us on the line from Nicosia, our Richard Roth, who covers the United Nations and is traveling with Dr. Blix -- Richard, anything, any other tidbits that came out of that meeting with reporters?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not really, but for Hans Blix, he's trying to get the message out to Baghdad that they have to cooperate, and this could be another "last chance opportunity." He goes there tomorrow for about a day and a half with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency and they want more than what's called passive cooperation. They want a proactive approach from the Iraqi authorities. They want more than just doors being opened. They want documents and evidence.
It was troubling the other day when empty chemical warhead shells were found. While they may have been dated and more than 10 years old, the fact that they're still around and not declared by the Iraqis is troubling to the White House and can't make the inspectors feel too comfortable -- Miles. O'BRIEN: Well, Richard, just quickly, because the other day Dr. Blix was quoted as saying that it really doesn't amount to much, these 11 casings. The administration saying it was very serious and troubling. Is Dr. Blix changing his tune a little bit?
ROTH: Not really. On the plane here from London we asked him about that and he is still not ready to say it's a significant finding. He keeps saying and pointing out that they were empty. But they're an omission and at this point, though, the inspectors would rather see important items, fresh items, things that are not empty. And that is what would make Blix rush to the Security Council.
We asked him would he have gone to the Security Council on an emergency basis should he have been in New York on this finding and he said no.
O'BRIEN: Interesting.
All right, well, let's leave it at that for now.
Richard Roth, who is in, traveling with Dr. Blix, as I should say, to Iraq.
We'll check in with him later.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
