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CNN SHOWDOWN: IRAQ
Annan Expected to Withdraw Inspectors
Aired March 17, 2003 - 12:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the end of the diplomatic road. Apparently, that is where we find ourselves, and that is where we find CNN State Department Correspondent Andrea Koppel -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, Secretary Powell's voice may have been tinged with regret, but one aide described him as resolute. Secretary Powell himself saying that he spent much of the evening and this morning calling around to world leaders. Of course, the other permanent members of the Security Council, including France, the country you did not hear him mention in that sound bite, but the one that he was clearly referring to. France last week, in U.S. eyes, basically torpedoing this resolution that the U.S. had hoped to get through the U.N., and as a result decided this morning to pull that second resolution and not have it go forward for a vote.
Secretary of State Powell didn't use the word failed, but that is clearly what has happened, Anderson, after basically seven months of diplomacy which began late last summer when Secretary Powell convinced President Bush to go to the United Nations to seek that resolution, 1441. During the last six and a half months, U.S., U.K., and Spanish diplomacy failed to get the majority that it felt it needed to get that second resolution through, and so barring any decision by Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq along with his family members, Anderson, it seems that war is imminent -- Anderson.
COOPER: It certainly does seem like that. Andrea Koppel, appreciate you joining us live from the State Department. U.N. weapons inspectors are closing up shop today, as we mentioned, and preparing for hasty departure. Despite White House comments that Saddam Hussein should go into exile, at this moment, the Iraqi leader showing no signs of going anywhere. Saddam Hussein did, however, make a rare public admission today on state-run television.
For that, we go to Baghdad and CNN's Nic Robertson.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Anderson. President Saddam Hussein meeting with the Tunisian foreign minister on television this afternoon talked about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Now, he said Iraq doesn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he said things that the Iraqi people had generally not heard -- heard a lot about here.
He said the reason Iraq did have weapons of mass destruction were purely for defensive measures. He talked about Iraq's eight-year war against Iran in the 1980s, and he said for that reason, Iraq had had weapons of mass destruction. Very interestingly as well, he said if the United States wants to be the leading country representing freedom in the world rather than, as he put it, the world's most hated state at this time, he said if United States got rid of its weapons of mass destruction, then he said what other country would not follow suit and do the same thing? Very interesting words coming from President Saddam Hussein.
But in the context of the weapons inspectors here, the weapons inspectors have been at work this day. It appears to be their last day of work, although the U.N. weapons inspections spokesman here says he has not had official word from the U.N. weapons chief yet that he is to evacuate his staff from Baghdad. He does say that he does expect the U.N. staff, some 56 weapons inspectors, a total of 134 staff in Baghdad altogether to fly out of Baghdad early Tuesday morning. They will fly to Larnaca, Cyprus.
Now, when the people of Baghdad see such a move by the U.N. weapons inspectors leaving Iraq, it would be a very clear signal for them that war is getting close, and we have seen signs of that today. People, store keepers closing down their stores. Not just the stores with the high value goods like television sets, and such. Even the store holders who sell fruit and vegetables, they have been closing down their stores, moving their stocks out. People here very much getting ready, it appears Anderson, to batten down the hatches.
COOPER: All right. Nic Robertson live in Baghdad. Thanks very much.
At the United Nations, the diplomatic window has apparently slammed shut. A new resolution on Iraq pulled off the table, deliberations over.
CNN Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth is there -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Anderson. Here, the French are furious, angry that the United States and United Kingdom singling out the French government for, in their view, blocking approval of a second new resolution on Iraq. However, France and other diplomats here say the U.S. just simply failed to garner enough votes that would lead to the passage of this resolution. Here is a bit of a sample of the square off between the U.S., U.K. and France.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: We -- believe that the vote would have been close. We regret that in the face of an explicit threat to veto by a permanent member, the vote counting became a secondary consideration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN-MARC DE LA SABLIERE, FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Members of the council repeatedly stated that -- and it is majority in the council -- that it would not be legitimate to authorize the use of force now while the inspections set out by resolution are producing results.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The French say it's not just the French opposing the resolution, there were 11 others against the U.S.-U.K.-Spain resolution. The U.S. was publicly only able to gather four votes in favor. Here are some of those who were opposed. Syria, non-permanent member; earlier you saw Angola -- there you see Angola again -- all of these uncommitted delegates now can remain uncommitted because their votes will never be tested once the U.S.-U.K. has withdrawn theirs. On the left, that's the German ambassador speaking there with Chile. Germany was always opposed to this. Inside the council right now, discussions going on. France still upset that it was singled out. Arab League ambassador Mamsani (ph) saying the U.S. is getting into grave trouble because of this possible military action. It's a grave day, he says, this is the day that international law has been shoveled away -- Anderson.
COOPER: Richard, other than them still meeting and still being upset, is there anything they're actually going to do?
ROTH: Not at this meeting, but what may occur in the days ahead, a ministerial meeting. France and Russia are calling for it. They are sending their foreign ministers here. It's unclear what will happen at the meeting. They did want to discuss Hans Blix's program of work, which he may never get to carry out, outstanding tasks for the Baghdad government. Kofi Annan, a few minutes ago, had not spoken yet to the council. He is going to get the blessing to pull out the inspectors. It's expected that Annan will make that call, and then the weapons people will be departing Baghdad over the next 24 hours.
COOPER: All right. Richard Roth. It definitely feels like momentum is shifting away from the U.N. at this hour. Thanks very much, Richard Roth.
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