Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Saturday Morning News
Leaders of Germany, France, England Meet in Berlin
Aired September 20, 2003 - 08:19 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We want to get you up to speed on the trilateral summit that's taking place as we speak in Berlin. Chris Burns joins us on the telephone to talk about this.
Chris, the topic of discussion here is Iraq's post-war transition, and possibly how Germany and France may help out in this, correct?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. France and Germany have said in the last couple of days they would be willing to offer help in training Iraqi troops and soldiers, maybe even help in reconstructing some of the shattered infrastructure, but when it comes to boots on the ground, they have yet to promise anything.
They didn't promise anything today, but in terms of the U.N. resolution that President Bush would like to push through to attract more international troops, they seem to be having -- showing a bit of give on that. Previously they said they want the U.N. to have a central role. Now, Gerhard Schroeder, the German chancellor saying he would like to see a meaningful role. Jacques Chirac saying that we're not all exactly on the same line, but he would like to see an Iraqi government in a few months, as rapidly as possible. Once again, a little bit of give on that because he wanted a quick transition of power within a month.
So, perhaps we see some softening of positions before Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac go to meet with President Bush at the U.N. next week. Back to you.
ROBERTS: Chris, this is an opportunity though for Tony Blair, who is a staunch alley of the U.S. and in support of Iraq and the situation taking place over there, an opportunity for him to get a feeling what these two gentlemen want to see take place in Iraq and get back to President Bush before this U.N. meeting?
BURNS: Quite likely so. It is reported he did have a long conversation with President Bush ahead of this meeting here in Berlin. It is the first three-way meeting like this since the war. So very important.
Tony Blair saying at this conference it is important to see a key role for the U.N. in Iraq. Once again, showing perhaps enough vagueness there where they could perhaps find some common ground in getting that U.N. resolution. The bottom line of that resolution is not necessarily getting French and German troops, but Indian troops, Pakistani troops, other countries to send troops. And if they don't get that U.N. resolution, they might not get any.
ROBERTS: Chris Burns, live for us on the phone this morning from Berlin. Chris, keep us posted. Thanks very much.
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 September 20, 2003 - 08:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We want to get you up to speed on the trilateral summit that's taking place as we speak in Berlin. Chris Burns joins us on the telephone to talk about this.
Chris, the topic of discussion here is Iraq's post-war transition, and possibly how Germany and France may help out in this, correct?
CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. France and Germany have said in the last couple of days they would be willing to offer help in training Iraqi troops and soldiers, maybe even help in reconstructing some of the shattered infrastructure, but when it comes to boots on the ground, they have yet to promise anything.
They didn't promise anything today, but in terms of the U.N. resolution that President Bush would like to push through to attract more international troops, they seem to be having -- showing a bit of give on that. Previously they said they want the U.N. to have a central role. Now, Gerhard Schroeder, the German chancellor saying he would like to see a meaningful role. Jacques Chirac saying that we're not all exactly on the same line, but he would like to see an Iraqi government in a few months, as rapidly as possible. Once again, a little bit of give on that because he wanted a quick transition of power within a month.
So, perhaps we see some softening of positions before Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac go to meet with President Bush at the U.N. next week. Back to you.
ROBERTS: Chris, this is an opportunity though for Tony Blair, who is a staunch alley of the U.S. and in support of Iraq and the situation taking place over there, an opportunity for him to get a feeling what these two gentlemen want to see take place in Iraq and get back to President Bush before this U.N. meeting?
BURNS: Quite likely so. It is reported he did have a long conversation with President Bush ahead of this meeting here in Berlin. It is the first three-way meeting like this since the war. So very important.
Tony Blair saying at this conference it is important to see a key role for the U.N. in Iraq. Once again, showing perhaps enough vagueness there where they could perhaps find some common ground in getting that U.N. resolution. The bottom line of that resolution is not necessarily getting French and German troops, but Indian troops, Pakistani troops, other countries to send troops. And if they don't get that U.N. resolution, they might not get any.
ROBERTS: Chris Burns, live for us on the phone this morning from Berlin. Chris, keep us posted. Thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
