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| Syrian President Bashar al-Assad meets Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Damascus yesterday |
“Developments in the coming days will be critical, for both Syria and Turkey,” Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Ankara. “Turkey’s main and first aim is for the bloodshed to be stopped, and (for) an end to civilian deaths.”
Davutoglu said he had clearly stated Turkey’s expectations in talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and described the 3-1/2 hour meeting as friendly, open and specific. He said he had first held three hours of talks with other Syrian officials.
The minister said he had conveyed a written message from Turkish President Abdullah Gul and an oral message from Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to Assad.
Turkish leaders have repeatedly urged Assad to halt the violence and make urgent reforms after popular protests against his autocratic 11-year rule erupted five months ago.
“We hope that those steps that will stop the bloodshed will be taken,” he said.
Turkish outrage reached a new pitch last week after Assad’s security forces launched an assault at the start of Ramadan on the central city of Hama.
President Gul said he was horrified by the use of heavy armour in the attack, while Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said a government that sanctioned attacks on its own people could not be called a friend.
Asked whether he was hopeful Damascus would heed Turkey’s advice this time, Davutoglu said: “The shape of the process will be more clear in the coming days not in the coming months. Days and weeks are important now.”
Turkey has advised Assad to enact reforms that will pave the way for Syria to move to a multi-party political system.
“We hope for a peaceful transition process which will end in the Syrian people determining their own future,” Davutoglu said.
Ankara has nurtured strong relations with Damascus over the past decade after almost going to war in the late 1990s over Syria harbouring Kurdish separatist militants.
Davutoglu said Turkey remained committed to building a common future with Syria and would maintain contacts with all parts of Syrian society.
“We have a unity of fate with Syria and we will continue this. We will continue our contacts, we will continue our contacts with all the parties from Syria,” Davutoglu said.