ANKARA - The U.S. Embassy in Ankara denied news reports claiming that the United States asked for new bases in Turkey.
Releasing a statement on Monday, the Embassy indicated that the United States is not seeking to establish any military bases in Turkey.
''A front-page article in today's Cumhuriyet claims that the United States is seeking to set up three naval bases on Turkey's Mediterranean and Aegean coasts. This story is unfounded. The United States is not seeking to establish any such military bases in Turkey,'' noted the statement.
Early in the day, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson also affirmed (after his meeting with Turkish Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker) that the United States does not ask for bases in Turkey.
Commenting on the same issue, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan said that the news reports about the bases are not true.
The news reports took place in today's Cumhuriyet and Aksam newspapers.