Turkish PM calls on US to act more 'determined' against Russia

LONDON

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called on the U.S. to act more "determined" against Russia, in a press briefing at the Syria Donors conference in London on Thursday.

“We invite our U.S. ally to act more determined and clearly against Russia,” he said. “It is our right to expect an explanation. If we host millions of Syrians in our country, we have the right to ask this question and expect for an answer."

The Turkish PM said that Russian attacks were responsible for cutting off a humanitarian corridor between Turkey and the Syrian city of Aleppo.

"Ten thousand civilians are at the Turkish border. Russia is bombarding schools, hospitals -- not Daesh positions but only moderate opposition and civilians. If this continues, there will be no meaning to any conference like what we have today today or what was in Geneva. All these are becoming like a diplomatic game."

The UN on Wednesday suspended Geneva peace talks concerning Syria.

"We have nothing to expect from the talks between the U.S. and Russia, Moreover, these talks worry us. Because whenever there is a meeting between Russia and the U.S., the next day there are more attacks in Syria by Russians.”

The Turkish prime minister mentioned the Syrian city of Madaya which he said was besieged by "pro-regime forces".

"When I say pro-regime I mean, Russia, Iran and some other militias on the ground," he said.

The prime minister said that Turkey would offer help to Syrian people under any circumstances.

He said that Turkey’s decision to allow Syrians to work was not an "economic decision" but a "humanitarian" one.

Leaders of governments, NGOs and the members of civil society met in London on Thursday to raise funds for those affected by the crisis in Syria.

The one-day Syrian Donors Conference -- jointly hosted by Britain, Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations -- was called late last year after calls were made for governments and international bodies to work better together to solve protracted crises. The conference aimed to raise $9 billion for the Syrians in need.

Davutoglu also held bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron at the conference

Turkey, hosting more than 2,5 million refugees, has spent more than $10 billion for humanitarian assistance, according to numbers announced by the Turkish prime minister.