International community and UN Security Council must be a single voice on Syria, says Turkish FM

TALLINN (AA) - May 11, 2012 - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday said that the international community and the United Nations (UN) Security Council had to be a single voice on Syria and send a strong message to the Syrian administration to end all forms of violence. Davutoglu and his Estonian counterpart Urmas Paet held a joint press conference following their meeting on Friday in Estonian capital of Tallinn. Turkey and Estonia share historic ties. Following Estonia's independence, Turkey began considering Estonia as its neighbor, Davutoglu stressed. During our talks, we discussed cooperation for membership in the UN Security Council. Our economic relations with Estonia are on the rise but there is still a great potential, Davutoglu noted. I had a chance to talk with the chair of the Executive Board of the Turkish Airlines (THY) and requested that flights to Estonia begin in the shortest time possible, Davutoglu indicated. We discussed the development of cultural relations and exchange of academicians and students. We thank Estonia for their support to Turkey's EU bid, Davutoglu stated. We want to be shoulder to shoulder with Estonia in both NATO and the EU, Davutoglu underlined. We also discussed the developments in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. I would especially like to thank Estonia for their support in the area of visas, Davutoglu said. -"Turkey a crucial partner"- Urmas Paet, in his part, said that Turkey and Estonia shared very close and good relations. Today, we discussed Turkey's sending a representative to the Cyber Defense Excellence Center in Tallinn and direct flights of the THY from Istanbul to Tallinn, Paet said. In the cultural field, an Estonian team will join the Aspendos festival in July, Paet noted. We provide certain training to Turkish authorities in Turkey's EU process. Turkey is a crucial partner not only for Estonia but the EU. We believe that entry negotiations with Turkey should continue. We need to make efforts so that new chapters get opened to negotiations with Turkey, Paet stressed. The EU offers easy visas to its close partners. As a candidate country and a close partner of the EU, Turkey must receive the appropriate step from the EU regarding visas, Paet indicated. Turkey and Estonia are in cooperation with each other within the framework of NATO. Many issues of interest to Estonia will be on the agenda at the NATO summit in Chicago, Paet noted. It is highly important for the EU to listen to the views of Turkey as a country bordering the EU, North Africa and the Middle East. The issue of Syria is highly important and Turkey takes care of Syrians who fled from the regime in Syria, Paet stressed. Turkey makes enormous contributions to the security of Europe and would add value to the EU, Paet stated. -Questions- Asked about when the THY may begin flights between Istanbul and Tallinn, Davutoglu said that they were working on the issue for several years now and that he spoke with the Chairman of the Executive Board of the THY during his meeting with Paet on Friday. There have been delays due to administrative problems. This is not merely related to the THY but the airport capacity in Istanbul, Davutoglu said. We do hope that the flights begin by the end of 2012. I will personally follow-up on the matter, Davutoglu underlined. -"Main reason lack of strategic vision in EU"- Asked about why Turkey's EU membership could not be realized for decades and if anti-Muslim views played a role, Minister Davutoglu said that they also asked similar questions in various platforms. Turkey faced many political obstacles. When we look at the EU agenda we notice a certain loss of motivation, Davutoglu said. This problem was not related only to Mr. Sarkozy. We hope that President Hollande makes a new evaluation. We hope that he understands the value of Turkey's EU membership, Davutoglu stated. Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Hollande held a very positive talk on Thursday. Turkish President Abdullah Gul is expected to meet Hollande at the NATO summit in Chicago, Davutoglu noted. What I can say is that, the main reason has to do with a lack of strategic vision in the EU. It is not just religious topics but pre-conceived notions as well, Davutoglu said. Turkey has confidence in itself, Davutoglu underlined. -Syria- Reminded about the continuation of instability in Syria despite the Annan Plan and asked about what the next step in Syria should be, Paet said that the first process involving the UN observers in Syria was not over yet. When you consider how large Syria is, 300 observers is a small number. China and Russia's positions have changed lately, Paet noted. A solution in Syria must be reached not by violence but by political dialogue, Paet indicated. In this process, the international community tries to influence the problems in Syria in a positive direction. This is the first issue that the international community acted together on, Davutoglu said. The Annan Plan is not just about a cease-fire but involves six points. The cease-fire is not properly implemented in Syria, Davutoglu noted. Other points in the Annan Plan were not properly implemented either. Sending UN observers to the field was highly crucial, Davutoglu said. The number of UN observers is very small when you consider how large Syria is. The international community and the United Nations (UN) Security Council had to be a single voice on Syria and send a strong message to the Syrian administration to end all forms of violence, Davutoglu also said. Following the joint press conference, Paet hosted a luncheon in honor of Davutoglu.