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CNN Saturday Morning News

Turkish Parliament Debating on Whether to Allow U.S. Troops Stage in Turkey

Aired March 01, 2003 - 07:54   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.


HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Turkish parliament has been debating a plan to allow the U.S. to use Turkey as a staging area for troops. Opponents fear the deployment will endanger Turkey's borders and make them a target during any war with Iraq. Our Harris Whitbeck joins us live from Ankara with the very latest. Good morning to you, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, the Turkish parliament is currently in session at this time. They are debating whether to make it a closed session or an open one. They are getting ready to vote on whether to allow the United States to use Turkish soil, Turkish basis to launch a northern front, should hostilities with Iraq begin.

Now that vote, of course, is causing a lot of people to come out into the streets. A lot of interest here. Hundreds of thousands have gathered in Ankara to protest the war and to protest the U.S. intention of using Turkey as a base for opening up this northern front. Public opinion polls here indicate that 90 percent of the Turkish population is opposed to the war with Iraq. The concern here is that that war would have an effect on the Turkish economy, but also effect regional stability.

People here saying that they do not want Turkey to be used to further what they call U.S. imperialism in the Middle East. And they are trying to pressure the Turkish government, Turkish deputies against -- allowing the U.S. to use Turkish territory and its bases here .

This is Harris Whitbeck, CNN, reporting live from Ankara in Turkey.

COLLINS: All right, Harris. Thank you.

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




Troops Stage in Turkey>


Aired March 1, 2003 - 07:54   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HIEDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The Turkish parliament has been debating a plan to allow the U.S. to use Turkey as a staging area for troops. Opponents fear the deployment will endanger Turkey's borders and make them a target during any war with Iraq. Our Harris Whitbeck joins us live from Ankara with the very latest. Good morning to you, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Anderson, the Turkish parliament is currently in session at this time. They are debating whether to make it a closed session or an open one. They are getting ready to vote on whether to allow the United States to use Turkish soil, Turkish basis to launch a northern front, should hostilities with Iraq begin.

Now that vote, of course, is causing a lot of people to come out into the streets. A lot of interest here. Hundreds of thousands have gathered in Ankara to protest the war and to protest the U.S. intention of using Turkey as a base for opening up this northern front. Public opinion polls here indicate that 90 percent of the Turkish population is opposed to the war with Iraq. The concern here is that that war would have an effect on the Turkish economy, but also effect regional stability.

People here saying that they do not want Turkey to be used to further what they call U.S. imperialism in the Middle East. And they are trying to pressure the Turkish government, Turkish deputies against -- allowing the U.S. to use Turkish territory and its bases here .

This is Harris Whitbeck, CNN, reporting live from Ankara in Turkey.

COLLINS: All right, Harris. Thank you.

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




Troops Stage in Turkey>