TURKEY: Syrian opposition leader Burhan Ghalioun seeks support from Ankara

Record ID: 280036

  • Title: TURKEY: Syrian opposition leader Burhan Ghalioun seeks support from Ankara
  • Date: 14th November 2011
  • Summary: ANKARA, TURKEY (NOVEMBER 13, 2011) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY RESIDENCE BODYGUARD VIEW OF WINDOW CHAIRMAN OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL BURHAN GHAILOUN GETTING OUT REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) CHAIRMAN OF SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, BURHAN GHAILOUN, SAYING: "I think that we will work together with Turkey, like Arab countries and European countries,
  • Embargoed: 29th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Turkey, Turkey
  • Country: Turkey
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA17OAOZHLU1OJ1E4WP8F2ADY10
  • Story Text: Syrian National Council will open an office in Turkey in a couple of days, chairman of the council Burhan Ghalioun announced after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in capital of Ankara late on Thursday (November 13).
    "We will of course open an office," Ghalioun told Reuters after the meeting. "We will have offices and we will work freely in Turkey, it is an open country."
    Ghalioun condemned the attack on Turkey's diplomatic missions in Syria.
    "I think that we will work together with Turkey, like Arab countries and European countries, to free this country Syria as soon as possible and stop the massacre. And equally we denounce these wrong doings of this regime regarding what they have done yesterday to the flags of friend countries," he said.
    Some 1,000 Assad supporters attacked the Turkish embassy in Damascus on Saturday evening, throwing stones and bottles before Syrian police intervened to break up the protest, Turkey'sstate-run Anatolian news agency said.
    Non-Arab Turkey, after long courting Assad, has lost patience with its neighbour's failure to halt the violence and implement promised reforms. It now hosts the main Syrian opposition and has given refuge to defecting Syrian soldiers.
    Sunday's meeting was a clear diplomatic signal of its growing anger with Damascus.
    Ghalioun voiced hope to bring down the Syrian regime soon with the help of Turkey and other countries.
    "We are expecting all kinds of necessary and possible help and I think our Turkish friends are not hiding their support for our cause. With Turkey, Arab League and European countries and other countries in the world and United Nations, we will definitely manage to bring this regime to an end soon," he said.
    Turkey called on Syria to guarantee the safety of Turkish diplomats and prosecute those behind the embassy attacks. Ankara also warned its citizens against non-essential travel to Syria.
    Despite the increasing international isolation and domestic turmoil, Assad still enjoys support among Syria's minorities, including his down Alawite sect and Christians, wary of sectarian conflict or Sunni Muslim domination if Assad were to be toppled.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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