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Leaders of Iraqi Opposition Groups Meeting Today in Northern Iraq
Aired February 27, 2003 - 09:32 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Leaders of Iraqi opposition groups are meeting today in northern Iraq. It is the first such meeting since the Gulf War. The meetings come just as Turkey announced a possible agreement with the U.S. that could mean Turkish troops would enter Iraq from the north if there's a war. The Turkish parliament has yet to approve such a deal.
Our Brent Sadler is among the few reporters that can reported out of the region. He joins us now live from the territory.
Good morning, Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
A very significant opposition meeting going on for the second straight day, actually not far from here in a mountain stronghold run by the Kurdistan Democratic Party. This conference is really very symbolic in the sense it's happening inside a part of Iraq in the north beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein. Also very interesting to note that a U.S. three-star general was taking part in the meetings, along with the U.S. special envoy, Zalmay Khalijlzao (ph).
Now the envoy has been really trying to put Washington's case, the kind of shape that Iraq might emerge from after any conflict topples Saddam Hussein.
Now, these opposition groups have very many varying political and ideological agendas, but they've come together, albeit perhaps a little late in some people's view, but they've come to try and work out what they see as their role in a future Iraq, and they do not want to be sidestepped by U.S. plans. This is what the U.S. envoy had to say about wanting to help the people of Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZALMAY KHALIJLZAO (ph), U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: We're not coming here to colonize anyone or impose anyone. We are here -- we will be here to assist the Iraqi people perhaps for the first time to establish a government based on their free choice elections, yes, but before elections you need to build Democratic institutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SADLER: Now, Paula, you were talking earlier on about this Turkish agreement with the United States to position U.S. ground forces in Turkey, just north of here, about an hour, in fact, from this zone in northern Iraq. And the Kurds here are very, very nervous about Turkey's intentions should tens of thousand of Turkish troops come along with U.S. forces in the event of conflict -- Paula.
ZAHN: What is it they are most concerned about?
SADLER: Very concerned that having spent almost 12 years in a so-called liberated free zone of Iraq, they're concerned that Turkey will take an opportunity to perhaps dominate their lives in future of this part of Iraq in what comes after Saddam. The Kurds, as well as the other opposition groups wan to see a federal Democratic Iraq, but they're very concerned that is not how it may shape up if and when there is a war.
Brent Sadler from Northern Iraq for us today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Northern Iraq>
Aired February 27, 2003 - 09:32 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Leaders of Iraqi opposition groups are meeting today in northern Iraq. It is the first such meeting since the Gulf War. The meetings come just as Turkey announced a possible agreement with the U.S. that could mean Turkish troops would enter Iraq from the north if there's a war. The Turkish parliament has yet to approve such a deal.
Our Brent Sadler is among the few reporters that can reported out of the region. He joins us now live from the territory.
Good morning, Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula.
A very significant opposition meeting going on for the second straight day, actually not far from here in a mountain stronghold run by the Kurdistan Democratic Party. This conference is really very symbolic in the sense it's happening inside a part of Iraq in the north beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein. Also very interesting to note that a U.S. three-star general was taking part in the meetings, along with the U.S. special envoy, Zalmay Khalijlzao (ph).
Now the envoy has been really trying to put Washington's case, the kind of shape that Iraq might emerge from after any conflict topples Saddam Hussein.
Now, these opposition groups have very many varying political and ideological agendas, but they've come together, albeit perhaps a little late in some people's view, but they've come to try and work out what they see as their role in a future Iraq, and they do not want to be sidestepped by U.S. plans. This is what the U.S. envoy had to say about wanting to help the people of Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZALMAY KHALIJLZAO (ph), U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY: We're not coming here to colonize anyone or impose anyone. We are here -- we will be here to assist the Iraqi people perhaps for the first time to establish a government based on their free choice elections, yes, but before elections you need to build Democratic institutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SADLER: Now, Paula, you were talking earlier on about this Turkish agreement with the United States to position U.S. ground forces in Turkey, just north of here, about an hour, in fact, from this zone in northern Iraq. And the Kurds here are very, very nervous about Turkey's intentions should tens of thousand of Turkish troops come along with U.S. forces in the event of conflict -- Paula.
ZAHN: What is it they are most concerned about?
SADLER: Very concerned that having spent almost 12 years in a so-called liberated free zone of Iraq, they're concerned that Turkey will take an opportunity to perhaps dominate their lives in future of this part of Iraq in what comes after Saddam. The Kurds, as well as the other opposition groups wan to see a federal Democratic Iraq, but they're very concerned that is not how it may shape up if and when there is a war.
Brent Sadler from Northern Iraq for us today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Northern Iraq>
