Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Idea War Not Popular in Turkey

Aired January 28, 2003 - 14:33   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 to the U.N. New developments with Iraq and the U.N. Our Richard Roth standing by -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I'm going to tell you three things about stories that are kind of under the spotlight right now lost in the shuffle.

No. 1, Iraq has told the U.N. weapons inspectors that it has special conditions before it allows U-2 reconnaissance flights. Chief inspector Hans Blix confirming this to CNN. The inspectors will not permit it. What Iraq, he said, wanted was permission to import sophisticated radar for bases in the north and the south. They could, in effect, track the U-2s.

Blix says he needs the reconnaissance flights because they can hover over potential sensitive areas.

No. 2, guess which nation is hosting the conference on disarmament starting in May in Geneva? That's Iraq.

And point three, a senior administration official telling our State Department team that Secretary of State Colin Powell may come to the Security Council next week, and may be ready to present evidence about Iraq. Still nothing official -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. From the U.N., our Richard Roth. Thank you.

Now the showdown with Iraq and a possible war -- role, rather, for Turkey. It's no secret Washington wants the option of using Turkey to invade Iraq from the north, as other troops enter from the south. But after weeks of talks, it's not a done deal because of so many Turks opposing it. CNN's Jane Arraf standing by now in Turkey, home of Turkey's Incirlik Air Base.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, it's also no secret that the United States is growing increasingly impatient with Turkey, but Turkish political officials say they should be ready to announce a decision on cooperation with the United States next week.

Now, that's following a key meeting on Friday between political and military officials. The decision is how much does Turkey cooperate with the U.S.?

Now, it's agreed in principle that it will cooperate, but what we're looking at are much fewer numbers of troops than the United States would want. We're looking at maybe, according to American and Turkish officials, a fraction of the original 80,000 that were asked for.

Now, Turkey, as you know, Kyra, in a tough position. It's had regular protests here against (ph) Turks who are increasingly and strongly anti-war, and strongly against Turkey cooperating with the United States -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jane, you've been out on the streets. You have been spending time with the Turks. What are they telling you?

ARRAF: Well, it's interesting because this is a city that's right next to the air base, the Turkish air base used by the Americans. It's been used by the U.S. Air Force to patrol the no-fly zone since 1991.

It's also one of the bases that was used in the Gulf War. And you would think on that basis, the fact that this is a city that's dependent, Incirlik, dependent on that air base, there might be a different attitude here. But over and over, people in the streets were telling us they did not want a war.

They didn't see the need for one. In fact, one man said, that it is easy for the Americans. They just come in and fly off, an exaggeration, as we know, but he said the people down here are the ones that will have to bear the consequences. And what they are really worried about more than anything is the economy. They're really in a deep economic crisis, and they fear it could only get worse if there is a war -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Jane Arraf, live from Turkey. Thanks, Jane.

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 January 28, 2003 - 14:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to the U.N. New developments with Iraq and the U.N. Our Richard Roth standing by -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, I'm going to tell you three things about stories that are kind of under the spotlight right now lost in the shuffle.

No. 1, Iraq has told the U.N. weapons inspectors that it has special conditions before it allows U-2 reconnaissance flights. Chief inspector Hans Blix confirming this to CNN. The inspectors will not permit it. What Iraq, he said, wanted was permission to import sophisticated radar for bases in the north and the south. They could, in effect, track the U-2s.

Blix says he needs the reconnaissance flights because they can hover over potential sensitive areas.

No. 2, guess which nation is hosting the conference on disarmament starting in May in Geneva? That's Iraq.

And point three, a senior administration official telling our State Department team that Secretary of State Colin Powell may come to the Security Council next week, and may be ready to present evidence about Iraq. Still nothing official -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. From the U.N., our Richard Roth. Thank you.

Now the showdown with Iraq and a possible war -- role, rather, for Turkey. It's no secret Washington wants the option of using Turkey to invade Iraq from the north, as other troops enter from the south. But after weeks of talks, it's not a done deal because of so many Turks opposing it. CNN's Jane Arraf standing by now in Turkey, home of Turkey's Incirlik Air Base.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, it's also no secret that the United States is growing increasingly impatient with Turkey, but Turkish political officials say they should be ready to announce a decision on cooperation with the United States next week.

Now, that's following a key meeting on Friday between political and military officials. The decision is how much does Turkey cooperate with the U.S.?

Now, it's agreed in principle that it will cooperate, but what we're looking at are much fewer numbers of troops than the United States would want. We're looking at maybe, according to American and Turkish officials, a fraction of the original 80,000 that were asked for.

Now, Turkey, as you know, Kyra, in a tough position. It's had regular protests here against (ph) Turks who are increasingly and strongly anti-war, and strongly against Turkey cooperating with the United States -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jane, you've been out on the streets. You have been spending time with the Turks. What are they telling you?

ARRAF: Well, it's interesting because this is a city that's right next to the air base, the Turkish air base used by the Americans. It's been used by the U.S. Air Force to patrol the no-fly zone since 1991.

It's also one of the bases that was used in the Gulf War. And you would think on that basis, the fact that this is a city that's dependent, Incirlik, dependent on that air base, there might be a different attitude here. But over and over, people in the streets were telling us they did not want a war.

They didn't see the need for one. In fact, one man said, that it is easy for the Americans. They just come in and fly off, an exaggeration, as we know, but he said the people down here are the ones that will have to bear the consequences. And what they are really worried about more than anything is the economy. They're really in a deep economic crisis, and they fear it could only get worse if there is a war -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Jane Arraf, live from Turkey. Thanks, Jane.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com