Syria most critical for Middle East peace, Turkish FM says

TUNISIA/ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish foreign minister has said Syria needed to transform itself in line with legitimate demands of its people for regional peace. "Syria is a neighbor to Iraq, Israel and Lebanon. So it wouldn't be an overstatement to say that Syria is the most important country in geopolitical terms for peace in the Middle East," Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters aboard his plane en route to Istanbul from Tunis, Tunisia, where he participated in a meeting of the "Friends of Syria Group" that sought an international agreement to end violence in Syria. Davutoglu said Turkey favored a settlement to the turmoil in Syria before the country faced any risk of division or the escalation of violence into a civil war. Davutoglu said the most important outcome of Tunis meeting of the Friends of Syria Group was that the Syrian National Council won acceptance as a legitimate representative.             Responding to a question whether Turkey planned to recall its ambassador in Damascus, Davutoglu said "We have kept our diplomatic missions in Libya and Iraq to remain in touch with the people of those countries. But if such a call needs to made then we would make it." Davutoglu said two separate meetings would be held in Istanbul prior to the next meeting of the Friends of Syria Group, which is also set to take place in Istanbul. "These two meetings will discuss ways for a national reconciliation in Syria and religious minorities and Christians in the Middle East," Davutoglu said.