PARIS
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Sunday said the General Assembly of Syrian National Coalition would convene again on January 17 and make a decision considering the resolutions taken at the Friends of Syria People meeting, expressing Turkey's desire for the coalition to attend the Geneva 2 conference on January 22.
Davutoglu held a joint press conference with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the US Embassy after the meeting.
Answering questions of Turkish press, the minister said he met with foreign ministers of the participating countries and the head of Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, Ahmed al-Jarba, discussing the developments in Syria and the agenda items of the meeting.
Stating he discussed the developments in Syria and Iraq as well with the Secretary of State, Davutoglu also said they tried to persuade the coalition to attend the conference, alongside issues such as Israeli-Palestinian relations and Iranian nuclear talks with the P5+1 world powers.
During the press conference, Davutoglu stressed the importance of strategic cooperation between the two countries and stated the said cooperation reached a more important dimension. Besides, Kerry also emphasized on the close relationship between the two countries, saying they adopted a common attitude on the issues Davutoglu mentioned.
Touching on the last meeting [London 11] held in London last October, Davutoglu said, "We released a communiqué at the meeting and the Syrian National Coalition said they would attend Geneva 2. However, it has been 2,5 months and the Syrian regime has excessively escalated its attacks, committing massacres with barrel bombs, which caused some righteous concerns for the coalition. Therefore, we reiterated our support for the coalition in a bid to remove these concerns."
Underlining that they have come to agreement on action plans together in order to end the massacre and the crimes against humanity in the country, the Turkish minister also said the Syrian National Coalition would convene again in Istanbul on January 17.
All countries at the meeting reiterated their common opinion that Bashar al-Assad lost his legitimacy to sustain a government in Syria, expressed Davutoglu, adding Assad would not be able to use any auhority concerning governing a country when a full authorized transitional government was founded in the country.
Turkey's position in this issue is clear as that of Friends of Syrian People group. A transitional government which will respect to Syrian people's will should be established and those whose hands were covered with blood, including Assad, should not take place in the transition process.
Friends of Syrian People "Core Group" convened in French capital Paris on Sunday and was hosted by France, which was attended by Turkey, US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan as well as a delegation from the Syrian opposition led by Ahmad el-Jarba.
The members of the group discussed the details of the peace conference to be held on January 22 with the Syrian opposition during the meeting.
In addition, Geneva 2 will be held on January 22, aiming to end the Syrian civil war by bringing together the Syrian regime and the opposition to discuss a transitional government for the future of Syria.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
