Deputy PM Aziz says war on Iraq is unjustifiable

Описание: (9 Feb 2003)
1. Wide of French E.U. delegation to Iraq and foreign journalists watching Powell's briefing to U.N. Security Council on television in Information Ministry press centre
2. Various of people watching
3. Wide of press centre room
4. E.U. delegation arriving to meet Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz
5. SOUNDBITE (English)Tariq Aziz, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister:
"I haven't heard them (statements by Powell to Security Council). I was in a meeting, you see. (pauses) I have not heard what Powell said."
(Q: You said to the French daily paper le Figaro that you are going to meet the Pope on February 14. Are you confirming that?)
"Yes."
(Q: So you are going to be received by the Pope?)
"Inshallah" (Arabic: God willing)
(Q: In the Vatican on February 14th?)
"Yes."
(Q: It's confirmed by the Vatican as well?)
"Yes, they told me that they are meeting with me on the 14th in the morning."
(Q: And what are you going to tell the Pope?)
"I am going to tell him that we would like to live in peace and we are implementing the U.N. Resolutions. And we hope that everybody who believes in peace and justice should stand against the American aggression because it's unjustifiable."
6. Journalist holding microphone
7. Various of Aziz seated
8. Various of journalists watching television

STORYLINE:

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz told journalists on Wednesday that he had not watched U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation to the UN Security Council, but reiterated his position that any strikes would be unjustifiable.

Aziz, a Chaldean Catholic said that he would ask Pope John Paul II, to call on all peace-loving people around the world to oppose any American-led military action against his country.

The Chaldean Catholic Church is a are semi-autonomous Christian Church, which is affiliated to the Roman Catholic Church and is based in Baghdad headed by its own patriarch.

The Vatican confirmed earlier on Wednesday that the deputy foreign minister will meet the Pope on 14 February, the day that Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix is due to give his next findings to the U.N..

A French delegation from the European Union met Aziz after touring the south of the country on a fact-finding mission.

Before their meeting with the deputy prime minster, the delegation joined foreign journalists to watch Powell's presentation in the Iraqi information ministry - the only location available to watch satellite news channels.

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