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CNN Saturday Morning News
Security Council Weighs Draft Resolution to Lift Sanctions Against Iraq
Aired May 10, 2003 - 09:04 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations Security Council is looking at a draft resolution that calls for sanctions against Iraq to be lifted. The document also calls for U.S. and British control of Iraq for at least one year.
Michael Okwu has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There were few signs of the division that buried diplomatic efforts before the war started, as the U.S. and its allies asked the Security Council to approve their occupation of Iraq for a year, and for permission to use Iraqi oil to pay for reconstruction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a very constructive meeting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that's a good start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are in a new situation now.
OKWU: What a difference a war makes.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Well, I would say that I feel that most delegations saw this as charting a way forward.
OKWU: The eight-page draft resolution, co-sponsored by the U.S., Great Britain and Spain, would lift 13-year-old sanctions on Iraq and phase out the U.N. oil-for-food program. Iraq's oil revenues would go into an Iraqi assistance fund subject to international oversight. But the U.S. and Great Britain would have authority to use the money to pay for reconstruction, Iraq's civil administration, and to meet humanitarian needs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the council are pleased to see that we, the powers on the ground in the coalition, accept that we are occupying powers, and that establishes a basis for a clear political discussion as to what happens next.
OKWU: What happens next for U.N. weapons inspectors is unclear. Though it's been a clear demand of France, Russia, and China, the draft resolution makes no mention of them. The resolution does call for the appointment of a U.N. special coordinator to work with the Americans and the British in restoring security, coordinating humanitarian aid, and establishing a permanent Iraqi government. But diplomats question how much authority the coordinator would really have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The role of the U.N. coordinator or special representative, whatever you call it, should be enhanced, and particular in the political field.
OKWU: One non-Western diplomat said, regardless, countries like Chile and Mexico are focused on mending fences with the U.S., and that the African nations will not oppose this. With a little fine-tuning, the diplomat said, the resolution should pass 15-0.
(on camera): But perhaps we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. What we've seen thus far is just a pregame show. The United States would like to get this wrapped up in the next few weeks, and certainly during the course of that time, many issues will come up.
In fact, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian ambassador, was asked whether he had any questions about the resolution. He simply said, "We have a long list."
Michael Okwu, CNN, at the 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
Against Iraq>
Aired May 10, 2003 - 09:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN ANCHOR: The United Nations Security Council is looking at a draft resolution that calls for sanctions against Iraq to be lifted. The document also calls for U.S. and British control of Iraq for at least one year.
Michael Okwu has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There were few signs of the division that buried diplomatic efforts before the war started, as the U.S. and its allies asked the Security Council to approve their occupation of Iraq for a year, and for permission to use Iraqi oil to pay for reconstruction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a very constructive meeting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that's a good start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are in a new situation now.
OKWU: What a difference a war makes.
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Well, I would say that I feel that most delegations saw this as charting a way forward.
OKWU: The eight-page draft resolution, co-sponsored by the U.S., Great Britain and Spain, would lift 13-year-old sanctions on Iraq and phase out the U.N. oil-for-food program. Iraq's oil revenues would go into an Iraqi assistance fund subject to international oversight. But the U.S. and Great Britain would have authority to use the money to pay for reconstruction, Iraq's civil administration, and to meet humanitarian needs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the council are pleased to see that we, the powers on the ground in the coalition, accept that we are occupying powers, and that establishes a basis for a clear political discussion as to what happens next.
OKWU: What happens next for U.N. weapons inspectors is unclear. Though it's been a clear demand of France, Russia, and China, the draft resolution makes no mention of them. The resolution does call for the appointment of a U.N. special coordinator to work with the Americans and the British in restoring security, coordinating humanitarian aid, and establishing a permanent Iraqi government. But diplomats question how much authority the coordinator would really have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The role of the U.N. coordinator or special representative, whatever you call it, should be enhanced, and particular in the political field.
OKWU: One non-Western diplomat said, regardless, countries like Chile and Mexico are focused on mending fences with the U.S., and that the African nations will not oppose this. With a little fine-tuning, the diplomat said, the resolution should pass 15-0.
(on camera): But perhaps we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. What we've seen thus far is just a pregame show. The United States would like to get this wrapped up in the next few weeks, and certainly during the course of that time, many issues will come up.
In fact, Sergey Lavrov, the Russian ambassador, was asked whether he had any questions about the resolution. He simply said, "We have a long list."
Michael Okwu, CNN, at the 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
Against Iraq>
