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CNN Live Saturday
Turkey Nullifies Vote Favoring U.S. Troops' Use of Bases
Aired March 01, 2003 - 16:20 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.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Today it seemed like Turkey reached a decision on its role in the possible war with Iraq, and then the Turkish parliament set aside a vote favoring U.S. troops using bases there. CNN's Harris Whitbeck is covering the debate in Ankara and joins us now by videophone -- Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Renay. As we've been reporting, the cabinet has been meeting here in Ankara this evening to try to figure out what its next steps will be. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that tomorrow he'll be holding meetings with members of his party and with members of parliament who are members of his party. No word yet on whether the government will try to put forth a new motion to parliament regarding possible U.S. increased troop presence in Turkey.
But we do know that there is a new parliamentary session on Tuesday. That session will be open. But as one member of opposition told me earlier this evening, as far as the opposition is concerned, the matter is closed, and any future session of parliament would be to address more routine actions of government.
As far as public opinion here goes, Renay, I can tell you that today there was a massive demonstration against the war on the streets of Ankara, people saying that they not only do not want war, they do not want the United States to tell Turkey what to do. There is a sense among the public here, and opinion polls say that more than 90 percent of people oppose U.S. intentions vis-a-vis Iraq. The sense here is that this parliamentary action today was a victory that would prevent possible conflict between the United States and Saddam Hussein -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: Harris, can you talk a little bit about the pressure that Abdullah Gul, the prime minister there is under? He came out earlier today and told the media that his country and government are going through a critical period after this vote and the nullification of the vote today. Is there a chance he could lose his job? What kind of pressures are we talking about here for Gul?
WHITBECK: Well, there has been rumors about that possibility. And there's been a lot of talk about the incredible pressure that his government is under.
On the one hand, he has public opinion, which has been quite adamant in expressing its desire that the United States not use Turkey for staging an offensive on a northern front in a possible war against Iraq. Privately, government officials do talk about the very, very intense pressure Gul is feeling from the United States to get this deal passed, to get this deal approved. (AUDIO GAP) official said Turkey is a democratic country, a democratic institution, such as parliament are the ones who make the decisions here. And in this case, it has been a democratic decision.
Now, again, it is still yet to be seen whether the government here in Turkey will try to put forth a new motion towards parliament, will try to negotiate that new motion be passed next week or in the weeks beyond.
SAN MIGUEL: We shall see what happens. Harris Whitbeck, live from Ankara, Turkey, thank you very much for the report.
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 March 1, 2003 - 16:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RENAY SAN MIGUEL, CNN ANCHOR: Today it seemed like Turkey reached a decision on its role in the possible war with Iraq, and then the Turkish parliament set aside a vote favoring U.S. troops using bases there. CNN's Harris Whitbeck is covering the debate in Ankara and joins us now by videophone -- Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Renay. As we've been reporting, the cabinet has been meeting here in Ankara this evening to try to figure out what its next steps will be. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that tomorrow he'll be holding meetings with members of his party and with members of parliament who are members of his party. No word yet on whether the government will try to put forth a new motion to parliament regarding possible U.S. increased troop presence in Turkey.
But we do know that there is a new parliamentary session on Tuesday. That session will be open. But as one member of opposition told me earlier this evening, as far as the opposition is concerned, the matter is closed, and any future session of parliament would be to address more routine actions of government.
As far as public opinion here goes, Renay, I can tell you that today there was a massive demonstration against the war on the streets of Ankara, people saying that they not only do not want war, they do not want the United States to tell Turkey what to do. There is a sense among the public here, and opinion polls say that more than 90 percent of people oppose U.S. intentions vis-a-vis Iraq. The sense here is that this parliamentary action today was a victory that would prevent possible conflict between the United States and Saddam Hussein -- Renay.
SAN MIGUEL: Harris, can you talk a little bit about the pressure that Abdullah Gul, the prime minister there is under? He came out earlier today and told the media that his country and government are going through a critical period after this vote and the nullification of the vote today. Is there a chance he could lose his job? What kind of pressures are we talking about here for Gul?
WHITBECK: Well, there has been rumors about that possibility. And there's been a lot of talk about the incredible pressure that his government is under.
On the one hand, he has public opinion, which has been quite adamant in expressing its desire that the United States not use Turkey for staging an offensive on a northern front in a possible war against Iraq. Privately, government officials do talk about the very, very intense pressure Gul is feeling from the United States to get this deal passed, to get this deal approved. (AUDIO GAP) official said Turkey is a democratic country, a democratic institution, such as parliament are the ones who make the decisions here. And in this case, it has been a democratic decision.
Now, again, it is still yet to be seen whether the government here in Turkey will try to put forth a new motion towards parliament, will try to negotiate that new motion be passed next week or in the weeks beyond.
SAN MIGUEL: We shall see what happens. Harris Whitbeck, live from Ankara, Turkey, thank you very much for the report.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
