Erdogan Says Syria Peace Meet must Seek Future without Assad
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A U.N.-hosted peace conference on Syria must work to remove President Bashar Assad from power because of his culpability for tens of thousands of deaths, Turkey's Prime Minster said in Tokyo on Tuesday.
"In Geneva 2, we must make sure that... all the measures will not fail...so that we can (bring) in an era without Bashar Assad," he said, referring to peace talks planned later this month in Switzerland.
The Syrian conflict is estimated to have claimed more than 130,000 lives, and has forced millions more to flee their homes.
"A person who has allowed that to happen still remaining at the top of the country cannot be accepted," Erdogan said.
U.N. leader Ban Ki-moon has started sending out invitations to the so-called Geneva 2 peace talks, but Assad's key ally Iran was not on the first list, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said.
That could help pave the way for the opposition National Coalition, which has repeatedly stipulated that Iran must not be invited, to participate.
The 30 countries invited to the Geneva talks include Saudi Arabia, a major backer of the Syrian opposition, as well as the five U.N. Security Council permanent members -- and Syria's neighbours Turkey, Iraq and Jordan.
Japan's foreign minister Fumio Kishida is also expected to attend.
"In the Geneva 1 there were several issues that were taken up and in the Geneva 2 we will make sure that these will not fail.... It is very important that Japan takes part in this," Erdogan said.
The Coalition, which re-elected Ahmed Jarba as its leader on Sunday, will discuss Tuesday whether to attend the talks, although a key group -- the Syrian National Council -- has already announced a boycott.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet on January 13 in a bid to decide Iran's role in ending the nearly three-year-old war, said Haq.
Erdogan is on a three-day visit to Japan, with more than 100 business officials, aimed at boosting economic ties with Tokyo. He will also visit Malaysia and Singapore.
He was speaking at lecture hosted by the Nikkei newspaper and the Turkish embassy in Japan, and did not address the current political machinations at home, where a corruption and bribery investigation has shaken his pro-business government.
07 January 2014, 10:38
31
That makes absolutely no sense. You re blaming the advocates of the Syrian people for their slaughter. That's like a child on the playground: "don't stick up for that kid, he ll only get a worse beating."
I hope Erdogan unleashes the Turkish military on the Syrian regime. The Arab world would support them, and they would wipe the floor with the Syrian army and their pathetic shabiha.
07 January 2014, 16:09
01
Te statement should read, "Syria peace without Erdogan". No one should even think of a peace deal without Al Assad, that will be suicidal and an impetus to give the war added momentum. Assad represents the leadership of his Aalawite sect and no Aalawite will accept his demise during the talks. What would be reasonable though is an agreement whereby Assad oversees the transition to shared power, once done, then fresh elections held and anew leader elected. At this stage it is of the utmost importance to secure the rights of the Aalwawite sect in a new Syria, as well as all the minorities of Syria. Only reason will prevail.
07 January 2014, 17:14
00
Alawites that consider Assad a "guarantee" of their security have contributed to the very creation of the hatred felt for them....the "Balkanization" of Syria where a rump territory of Alawites in Latakia could continue to form a client state of Russia centered around the Tartous Naval Base could perhaps be negotiated in the interests of such Alawites...
