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CNN Saturday Morning News

Interview with Congressman Ed Whitfield

Aired March 08, 2003 - 07:29   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Heidi, the U.S. is still holding out hope Turkey will change its stance and allow U.S. troops to deploy there. Hoping to help that change, two U.S. congressmen are in Turkey at this moment to meet with government officials. We are pleased to be joined live from Ankara by Kentucky Representative Ed Whitfield.
Congressman Whitfield, thanks for being with us.

You have been meeting with Turkish officials. What has come out of those meetings thus far?

REP. ED WHITFIELD (R), KENTUCKY: Well, we've had very frank and open discussions, and we've emphasized to them the long relationship between Turkey and America. We've had many common goals and been involved in many activities. And, of course, I represent the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and we want to do everything possible to maximize the safety of our troops as well as the Turkish troops.

COOPER: Well, Congressman Whitfield, Turkey's parliament has already rejected a resolution that would have allowed 62,000 U.S. troops to operate out of there, providing a northern front in any campaign against Iraq. There was talk from Turkey's leaders that there was going to be a new resolution. Do you have any sense of a timetable on that? When -- is there, in fact, going to be a new resolution, have you heard from officials you've talked to? And if so, when might a vote take place?

WHITFIELD: Well, we're hopeful that there will be. As you know, there will be an election here in Turkey tomorrow, and if Mr. Urdawan (ph) wins that election, as we anticipate he will, he more than likely will become the prime minister of Turkey, will form a new government. And it is our hope that he will then bring this resolution back to the parliament for a vote.

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 8, 2003 - 07:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Heidi, the U.S. is still holding out hope Turkey will change its stance and allow U.S. troops to deploy there. Hoping to help that change, two U.S. congressmen are in Turkey at this moment to meet with government officials. We are pleased to be joined live from Ankara by Kentucky Representative Ed Whitfield.
Congressman Whitfield, thanks for being with us.

You have been meeting with Turkish officials. What has come out of those meetings thus far?

REP. ED WHITFIELD (R), KENTUCKY: Well, we've had very frank and open discussions, and we've emphasized to them the long relationship between Turkey and America. We've had many common goals and been involved in many activities. And, of course, I represent the 101st Airborne in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and we want to do everything possible to maximize the safety of our troops as well as the Turkish troops.

COOPER: Well, Congressman Whitfield, Turkey's parliament has already rejected a resolution that would have allowed 62,000 U.S. troops to operate out of there, providing a northern front in any campaign against Iraq. There was talk from Turkey's leaders that there was going to be a new resolution. Do you have any sense of a timetable on that? When -- is there, in fact, going to be a new resolution, have you heard from officials you've talked to? And if so, when might a vote take place?

WHITFIELD: Well, we're hopeful that there will be. As you know, there will be an election here in Turkey tomorrow, and if Mr. Urdawan (ph) wins that election, as we anticipate he will, he more than likely will become the prime minister of Turkey, will form a new government. And it is our hope that he will then bring this resolution back to the parliament for a vote.

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