We will not let tyranny continue in Syria, says FM Davutoglu

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Wednesday that they would not let tyranny continue in Syria. Speaking on a private TV channel on Wednesday, Davutoglu said that "we will not let tyranny continue in Syria and we don't let the region enter a phase of instability". We are in a position to initiate a new road map for Syria. I will have a talk with Qatar's prime minister while Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will speak with Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev on Wednesday. We have to establish a wide international platform of consensus on Syria, Davutoglu stressed. The principles of the international platform of consensus on Syria is more important than the geography where it will take place. We want to establish the platform in the region and embrace the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and all Arab countries, Davutoglu underlined. A road map prepared by the initiative of the Arab League on Syria was taken to the United Nations (UN) but was vetoed by Russia and China. Russia and China's stance could not be understood and was a reflection of the Cold War, Davutoglu noted. I do not want to talk about a military operation at the point where diplomacy ends. We do hope that Syria would not become the North Korea of the Middle East by continuing its acts, Davutoglu said. If the Assad regime accepts the plan of the Arab League, it could win the confidence of the Syrian people, Davutoglu said. Asked about the possibility of a terrorist act against Turkey, Davutoglu said that "a regime that can not even control Zabadani can not be in a position to stage a terror act against Turkey. We will not let a terror act against Turkey take place". In reference to a question on his upcoming visit to the United States and what type of a message he would give on Syria, Davutoglu said that his visit to Washington was not primarily associated with Syria. During my talks in the United States, we will discuss counter-terrorism, Afghanistan, NATO as well as many other issues including Syria, Davutoglu said. On the possibility of establishing a buffer zone at the Turkish-Syrian border or a no-fly zone over Syria, Davutoglu said that they began working on the issue by considering such possibilities last year and that they would run to rescue the Syrian people if there was an humanitarian need to do so. We receive messages that people in Homs, Syria are without bread, economy have stopped, and that social activities have come to a halt. We will always evaluate the developments taking place, Davutoglu emphasized. On the Turkish Embassy in Damascus, Davutoglu said that the Turkish diplomats were working under tough circumstances. If we need to take any measures related to our embassy in Damascus, we will evaluate them. We have to think about the security of our diplomats, Davutoglu said. As far as humanitarian assistance is concerned, we will evaluate every scenario and work on the issue. Turkey is well experienced in providing humanitarian assistance as in Iraq and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Our doors are open to those who escape from tyranny. However, the continuation of tyranny is not acceptable, Davutoglu underlined. Touching on the veto made by Russia and China on a Syrian resolution at the UN Security Council, Davutoglu said that Russia and China were countries that made decisions as countries that would not pay any price. "As such, the structure of the UN Security Council must be reviewed. If five permanent members of the UN Security Council are the 'international community', this has to be questioned," Davutoglu also said. (SOL-HHK)