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CNN Live Sunday
Iraqi Governing Council Meets for First Time
Aired July 13, 2003 - 16:08 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.
RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, there was a meeting today that's being called none of the -- one of the most defining moments of history. Nic Robertson is at the Iraqi capital. He joins us now to explain. Hello, Nic.
NIC ROBINSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rhonda, this was the forming and the inaugural meeting of Iraq's governing council. Now, the top U.S. Administrator here, Paul Bremer, has been working with Iraqi politicians -- or would-be emerging Iraqi politicians for the last several months to put a shape on this governing council, to put numbers on it, and to give it -- or agree at least, with the new politicians the powers that it should have.
So it's taken 2 1/2 months to arrive at this point, but it is being called by many people here a very significant moment in Iraq's history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Representing its religious and ethnic diversity, 25 of the country's emerging leaders began the first unified Iraqi effort to start governing their country. In attendance at the inaugural meeting of the new governing council, top U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, who still holds ultimate authority in the country. The first decision of the council, to cancel old national holidays and create new ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Considering the 9th of April, the day of the fall of the regime a national holiday for Iraq.
ROBERTSON: On the platform for their first joint press conference, members of Iraq's seven political parties; 13 Shiite, five Sunni, five Kurdish, one Christian, and one Turkaman delegate, including three women, were addressed by the U.N.'s top envoy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The united nations and its member states stands ready to assist you and the Iraqi people in any and all of the complex issues that you will need to address in the coming months.
ROBERTSON: Most say they want a stronger U.N. role in the governing council, but bridle at suggestions they have little power free from U.S. control.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The council has a lot of authorities; appointing ministers, appointing diplomats, budget, security.
ROBERTSON: Others saying they expect to manage differences with U.S. administrator Bremer through dialogue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't foresee that Mr. Bremer will ever cast a veto against any decisions taken by the council.
ROBERTSON: Plans also to improve Iraq's battered regional reputation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would like to establish cooperative and friendly relations with all our neighbors.
ROBERTSON: And complaints regional broadcasters fueled support for Saddam Hussein.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There is no way for Saddam Hussein is going to come back. He's gone to the dustbin of history, and there is no coming back for him.
(APPLAUSE)
ROBERTSON: On Baghdad streets, most had no idea who was on the new governing council, and when we showed them pictures...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have suffered for 36 years, says this baker. We want someone from among us who knows our problems, not who lived outside of our country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Now, most of the new members of the council say that they still don't yet have the authority that they want to have, but they say they recognize that their progress towards a western-style democracy will probably take a long time and that it will probably be a very difficult progress to make.
SCHAFFLER: Nic Robertson, joining us from Baghdad. Thanks very much, Nic.
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 July 13, 2003 - 16:08 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RHONDA SCHAFFLER, CNN ANCHOR: In Baghdad, there was a meeting today that's being called none of the -- one of the most defining moments of history. Nic Robertson is at the Iraqi capital. He joins us now to explain. Hello, Nic.
NIC ROBINSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rhonda, this was the forming and the inaugural meeting of Iraq's governing council. Now, the top U.S. Administrator here, Paul Bremer, has been working with Iraqi politicians -- or would-be emerging Iraqi politicians for the last several months to put a shape on this governing council, to put numbers on it, and to give it -- or agree at least, with the new politicians the powers that it should have.
So it's taken 2 1/2 months to arrive at this point, but it is being called by many people here a very significant moment in Iraq's history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (voice-over): Representing its religious and ethnic diversity, 25 of the country's emerging leaders began the first unified Iraqi effort to start governing their country. In attendance at the inaugural meeting of the new governing council, top U.S. administrator, Paul Bremer, who still holds ultimate authority in the country. The first decision of the council, to cancel old national holidays and create new ones.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Considering the 9th of April, the day of the fall of the regime a national holiday for Iraq.
ROBERTSON: On the platform for their first joint press conference, members of Iraq's seven political parties; 13 Shiite, five Sunni, five Kurdish, one Christian, and one Turkaman delegate, including three women, were addressed by the U.N.'s top envoy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The united nations and its member states stands ready to assist you and the Iraqi people in any and all of the complex issues that you will need to address in the coming months.
ROBERTSON: Most say they want a stronger U.N. role in the governing council, but bridle at suggestions they have little power free from U.S. control.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The council has a lot of authorities; appointing ministers, appointing diplomats, budget, security.
ROBERTSON: Others saying they expect to manage differences with U.S. administrator Bremer through dialogue.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't foresee that Mr. Bremer will ever cast a veto against any decisions taken by the council.
ROBERTSON: Plans also to improve Iraq's battered regional reputation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We would like to establish cooperative and friendly relations with all our neighbors.
ROBERTSON: And complaints regional broadcasters fueled support for Saddam Hussein.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): There is no way for Saddam Hussein is going to come back. He's gone to the dustbin of history, and there is no coming back for him.
(APPLAUSE)
ROBERTSON: On Baghdad streets, most had no idea who was on the new governing council, and when we showed them pictures...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We have suffered for 36 years, says this baker. We want someone from among us who knows our problems, not who lived outside of our country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Now, most of the new members of the council say that they still don't yet have the authority that they want to have, but they say they recognize that their progress towards a western-style democracy will probably take a long time and that it will probably be a very difficult progress to make.
SCHAFFLER: Nic Robertson, joining us from Baghdad. Thanks very much, Nic.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
