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With Iraq Complying By Destroying Missiles What is Next For United Nations Security Council?

Aired March 01, 2003 - 09:06   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.


HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now that Iraq has begun destroying its banned missiles, what is next for the U.N. Security Council, and its split over a possible war with Iraq?
Senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth joins us now live with more on that. Hi, Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Well, what's next for the Security Council will be days of waiting while government ministers who are higher up than the ambassadors here work out differences on the proposed resolution by the U.S., U.K., and Spain, and the differing thoughts of France, Germany, and Russia, who want the inspections to continue.

No planned meetings of the Security Council on Monday, although they do officially receive the release of the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, report saying that Iraq so far has been limited in its cooperation on disarmament.

However, Hans Blix on Friday said it would be a significant step for disarmament if Iraq started destroying those Al Samoud missiles. Now, we have not official confirmation yet about four missiles being destroyed, plus more than that.

However, just moments ago, CNN exclusively talked with Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri. CNN producer Guillaume Des Bres (ph) asked him what message Iraq is trying to send to the international community by the destruction of the Al Samoud missiles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED AL-DOURI, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Well, I -- all I know that everything is going well. And they are working in Baghdad. So what they did -- I -- really, I am not aware about that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hans Blix has given his report yesterday and said that so far, the disarmament has been very limited. Do you have any reaction to this statement?

AL-DOURI: Well, I am waiting always for his report. I hope that his report will be very balanced one and will include all -- all kind of cooperation given by Iraq so far. And this is what we hope from Mr. Blix. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This destruction of missiles, what message do you think the Iraqi leadership want to send to the international community by it?

AL-DOURI: They would like to tell the international community that we are implementing the resolution of Security Council. We are cooperating as far as we can, proactive cooperation with UNMOVIC and IAEA. And we are implementing Security Council resolution, and it's up to United Nations to implement also this resolution.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When do you think the destruction will be done of the 100, 120 missiles?

AL-DOURI: Well, really, I don't know. I don't know, really.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just one last question. The -- in Sharm el- Sheikh, the United Arab Emirates have made a proposal, or called upon Saddam Hussein to step down.

AL-DOURI: This is -- I cannot really -- this is a speculation, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) one. And this is out of -- I cannot imagine that this country would propose just like such a proposition. No. It's no good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it likely to happen?

AL-DOURI: Sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it likely to happen that President Saddam Hussein would step down?

AL-DOURI: No, no. Not at all. Not at all. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: That's Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri, speaking exclusively with CNN. He was responding at the end there to UAE's request for Saddam Hussein to go into exile, the Gulf state nation there.

Also earlier, eventually, the ambassador got around to answering the question, what's the message to the international community by the destruction by Iraq of those Al Samoud II missiles? He thinks it shows that Iraq is indeed cooperating with already existing Security Council resolutions on disarmament, certainly no need for a war against his country.

The U.S. is still pushing for a resolution which says Iraq has completely failed its disarmament activities. Back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Richard Roth at U.N. this morning. Thank you.

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




For United Nations Security Council?>


Aired March 1, 2003 - 09:06   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now that Iraq has begun destroying its banned missiles, what is next for the U.N. Security Council, and its split over a possible war with Iraq?
Senior United Nations correspondent Richard Roth joins us now live with more on that. Hi, Richard.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Well, what's next for the Security Council will be days of waiting while government ministers who are higher up than the ambassadors here work out differences on the proposed resolution by the U.S., U.K., and Spain, and the differing thoughts of France, Germany, and Russia, who want the inspections to continue.

No planned meetings of the Security Council on Monday, although they do officially receive the release of the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, report saying that Iraq so far has been limited in its cooperation on disarmament.

However, Hans Blix on Friday said it would be a significant step for disarmament if Iraq started destroying those Al Samoud missiles. Now, we have not official confirmation yet about four missiles being destroyed, plus more than that.

However, just moments ago, CNN exclusively talked with Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri. CNN producer Guillaume Des Bres (ph) asked him what message Iraq is trying to send to the international community by the destruction of the Al Samoud missiles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMED AL-DOURI, IRAQI AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Well, I -- all I know that everything is going well. And they are working in Baghdad. So what they did -- I -- really, I am not aware about that right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hans Blix has given his report yesterday and said that so far, the disarmament has been very limited. Do you have any reaction to this statement?

AL-DOURI: Well, I am waiting always for his report. I hope that his report will be very balanced one and will include all -- all kind of cooperation given by Iraq so far. And this is what we hope from Mr. Blix. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This destruction of missiles, what message do you think the Iraqi leadership want to send to the international community by it?

AL-DOURI: They would like to tell the international community that we are implementing the resolution of Security Council. We are cooperating as far as we can, proactive cooperation with UNMOVIC and IAEA. And we are implementing Security Council resolution, and it's up to United Nations to implement also this resolution.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When do you think the destruction will be done of the 100, 120 missiles?

AL-DOURI: Well, really, I don't know. I don't know, really.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just one last question. The -- in Sharm el- Sheikh, the United Arab Emirates have made a proposal, or called upon Saddam Hussein to step down.

AL-DOURI: This is -- I cannot really -- this is a speculation, a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) one. And this is out of -- I cannot imagine that this country would propose just like such a proposition. No. It's no good.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it likely to happen?

AL-DOURI: Sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it likely to happen that President Saddam Hussein would step down?

AL-DOURI: No, no. Not at all. Not at all. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROTH: That's Iraq's U.N. ambassador, Mohammed Al-Douri, speaking exclusively with CNN. He was responding at the end there to UAE's request for Saddam Hussein to go into exile, the Gulf state nation there.

Also earlier, eventually, the ambassador got around to answering the question, what's the message to the international community by the destruction by Iraq of those Al Samoud II missiles? He thinks it shows that Iraq is indeed cooperating with already existing Security Council resolutions on disarmament, certainly no need for a war against his country.

The U.S. is still pushing for a resolution which says Iraq has completely failed its disarmament activities. Back to you.

COLLINS: All right, Richard Roth at U.N. this morning. Thank you.

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




For United Nations Security Council?>