Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

NATO Has New Compromise on Table

Aired February 12, 2003 - 13:16   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: In Brussels, another problem, this one related to Iraq, but NATO has a new compromise on the table to provide for the defense of Turkey if war breaks out next door in Iraq.
CNN's Matthew Chance live at NATO headquarters -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Kyra.

And the United States is backing a new plan to overcome objections from France, from Germany, from Belgium, to deploying NATO forces to Turkey for the possibility of a war with Iraq. The new compromise plan, which has been forwarded by the NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson would see batteries of patriot missiles posted on the borders of Turkey and Iraq, would also see the dispatch of AWACs, early warning aircraft systems, and counter chemical and germ warfare specialist units. These are elements that were contained in the original U.S.-backed proposal to get NATO involved in the planning of a possible war with Iraq.

Dropped from that proposal, a request initially made by the U.S. for NATO troops to replace any allied forces that are rotated out of their peace-keeping duties in the Balkans and redeployed to the Persian Gulf area. France, though, all along opposed, along with Germany and Belgium, opposed to any deployment of NATO forces at this time, saying it could undermine potential peace efforts. NATO officials say meetings are continuing behind the scenes. A formal meeting of NATO ambassadors is scheduled to take place, again, in just under an hour from now. Behind the scenes, though, NATO saying officials saying that it doesn't seem, at this stage, the positions of either France, Germany or Belgium have shifted significantly -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Matthew Chance, live at NATO. Thanks, Matthew.

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 February 12, 2003 - 13:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Brussels, another problem, this one related to Iraq, but NATO has a new compromise on the table to provide for the defense of Turkey if war breaks out next door in Iraq.
CNN's Matthew Chance live at NATO headquarters -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you, Kyra.

And the United States is backing a new plan to overcome objections from France, from Germany, from Belgium, to deploying NATO forces to Turkey for the possibility of a war with Iraq. The new compromise plan, which has been forwarded by the NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson would see batteries of patriot missiles posted on the borders of Turkey and Iraq, would also see the dispatch of AWACs, early warning aircraft systems, and counter chemical and germ warfare specialist units. These are elements that were contained in the original U.S.-backed proposal to get NATO involved in the planning of a possible war with Iraq.

Dropped from that proposal, a request initially made by the U.S. for NATO troops to replace any allied forces that are rotated out of their peace-keeping duties in the Balkans and redeployed to the Persian Gulf area. France, though, all along opposed, along with Germany and Belgium, opposed to any deployment of NATO forces at this time, saying it could undermine potential peace efforts. NATO officials say meetings are continuing behind the scenes. A formal meeting of NATO ambassadors is scheduled to take place, again, in just under an hour from now. Behind the scenes, though, NATO saying officials saying that it doesn't seem, at this stage, the positions of either France, Germany or Belgium have shifted significantly -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Matthew Chance, live at NATO. Thanks, Matthew.

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