Turkey Says Ready to Work with U.N. if Syria Crisis Worsens
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Turkey is ready to work with the United Nations if a humanitarian crisis develops in neighboring Syria after months of deadly political unrest, its foreign minister was quoted as saying on Sunday.
"We hope that before the situation reaches that stage, the Syrian administration will halt the unjust war it has waged against its own people and find ways to make peace with its people," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, the Anatolia news agency reported.
"But if a humanitarian tragedy unfolds before our eyes, and if the U.N. steps in, we are ready work with the United Nations," he added.
His remarks came as an Arab League meeting opened in Cairo to decide the future of its heavily criticized observer mission to Syria, where a regime crackdown on the opposition has left more than 5,000 people dead, according to U.N. figures.
Davutoglu said Turkey would support any decisions made at the Cairo talks but added: "If the Arab League and regional initiatives fail to produce a solution ... the issue will gain an international dimension."
The Turkish minister also said he would visit Russia on Tuesday for consultations on the Syrian crisis.
Turkey, once a close ally of Syria, has been at the forefront of international criticism over the Damascus regime's crackdown on protests and has also become a haven for many Syrian opposition activists.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also urged his once close friend, President Bashar al-Assad, to quit.
23 January 2012, 06:06
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They were kicked out of the Arab world throughb the door, now they are trying to come back through the window The Arab world should be stupid to allow their comeback. Our victims, who were sacrificed by the Ottoman Turkish government, will rise back in the conscience of those who allow them back. Shame on any Arab ruler who would let the Turkish government interfere in Arab issues. Look what they are still doing to the Kurdish people in Iraq and Turkey.
23 January 2012, 08:42
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There will be no air campaign in Syria, just safe zones and professional arming of the rebels. Such measures together with the stranglation of the economy (which is already showing serious signs of deterioration) are enough to bring the regime down.
