TURKEY: Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey will monitor Syria after call to end violence

Record ID: 279156

  • Title: TURKEY: Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says Turkey will monitor Syria after call to end violence
  • Date: 10th August 2011
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (AUGUST 09, 2011) (REUTERS) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER AHMET DAVUTOGLU ARRIVING FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER, AHMET DAVUTOGLU, SAYING: "In the upcoming days, not months but days, we will be passing through a critical process. In the upcoming days, upcoming weeks, with the important steps that will be
  • Embargoed: 25th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5YSWGBX3GPX10XW4FGEVNPXVG
  • Story Text: Turkey has demanded the Syrian government stop killing civilians, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a media conference on Tuesday (August 9) on his return to Ankara after talks with the Syrian leadership in Damascus.
    Davutoglu said his government would be monitoring events in Syria over the coming days. Describing his talks with President Bashar al-Assad as frank and friendly, Davutoglu also said his government would maintain contacts with all parts of Syrian society.
    "In the upcoming days, not months, but days, we will be passing through a critical process... Our main criteria is that the shape of the process must reflect only the will of the Syrian people," said Davutoglu.
    Turkish leaders have urged Assad repeatedly to halt the violence and make urgent reforms after popular protests against his autocratic 11-year rule erupted five months ago.
    Davutoglu said Turkey hoped for a peaceful transition in Syria resulting in Syrian people determining their own future. Turkey has advised Assad to enact reforms that will pave the way for Syria to move to a multi-party political system.
    "We had the opportunity to share very clearly and in a transparent way with Mr. Assad the steps that can be taken to avoid the army to coming face-to-face with the people, and to avoid further tension like what happened in Hama," said Davutoglu.
    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Tuesday his forces would continue to pursue "terrorist groups", after Turkey pressed him to end a military assault aimed at crushing protests against his rule.
    Syria "will not relent in pursuing the terrorist groups in order to protect the stability of the country and the security of the citizens," state news agency SANA quoted Assad as telling Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.
    While the two men held talks in Damascus, Syrian forces killed at least 30 people and moved into a town near the Turkish border, an activist group said.
    The National Organisation for Human Rights said most of the fatalities occurred when troops backed by tanks and armoured vehicles overran villages north of Hama, while four were killed in Binnish, 30 km (20 miles) from the border with Turkey.
    Despite growing international condemnation, including a sudden wave of Arab criticism, Assad's forces also pursued an offensive in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor, residents said.
    Activists say at least 1,600 civilians have died since the uprising against Assad erupted in March, making it one of the bloodiest of the upheavals sweeping the Arab world.
    Davutoglu held six hours of meetings with Syrian officials, including a two-hour session alone with Assad.
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