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U.S. Responds to Weapons Inspection Agreement Reached in Vienna

Aired October 01, 2002 - 14:37   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now I'm told we can go to Andrea Koppel live at the State Department with more on what State Department officials are saying about this agreement reached in Vienna -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the State Department is essentially throwing down the gauntlet to the U.N. weapons inspecting teams, saying that it would thwart any effort to get those inspectors back to Iraq before a new U.N. Security Council resolution has been approved.

One senior State Department official saying, That we are aware of the planning and the schedules, but we will do everything we can to make sure he has new authority. The "he" they're referring to is the Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, who earlier today announced that he had reached agreement with the Iraqi government to have U.N. weapons inspectors go back to Iraq.

This is certainly shaping up to be some kind of a showdown between the United States and the U.N. weapons inspecting team. As you know, there is an ongoing debate at the U.N. on this new, tougher resolution that the U.S. And the U.K. have been pushing. But it remains to be seen whether or not the French, the Chinese and the Russians, all permanent members of the Security Council, and all members who have the power of veto, will approve this.

As a matter of fact, all of them have been telling the U.S. that they don't approve it and that it's something that they feel -- because it has the threat of force in this resolution, it's something that the French at least hinted that they would veto -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Andrea Koppel from the State Department, continue to follow that developing news.

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




Vienna>


Aired October 1, 2002 - 14:37   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now I'm told we can go to Andrea Koppel live at the State Department with more on what State Department officials are saying about this agreement reached in Vienna -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the State Department is essentially throwing down the gauntlet to the U.N. weapons inspecting teams, saying that it would thwart any effort to get those inspectors back to Iraq before a new U.N. Security Council resolution has been approved.

One senior State Department official saying, That we are aware of the planning and the schedules, but we will do everything we can to make sure he has new authority. The "he" they're referring to is the Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, who earlier today announced that he had reached agreement with the Iraqi government to have U.N. weapons inspectors go back to Iraq.

This is certainly shaping up to be some kind of a showdown between the United States and the U.N. weapons inspecting team. As you know, there is an ongoing debate at the U.N. on this new, tougher resolution that the U.S. And the U.K. have been pushing. But it remains to be seen whether or not the French, the Chinese and the Russians, all permanent members of the Security Council, and all members who have the power of veto, will approve this.

As a matter of fact, all of them have been telling the U.S. that they don't approve it and that it's something that they feel -- because it has the threat of force in this resolution, it's something that the French at least hinted that they would veto -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Andrea Koppel from the State Department, continue to follow that developing news.

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




Vienna>