Davutoglu briefs G-8 ministers on Syria

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu returned from China to Ankara yesterday, hours before UN-brokered ceasefire is expected to take effect. Davutoglu was firstly briefed by Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay on the contacts held by UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan in Turkey's southeastern province of Hatay. Afterwards, Davutoglu conducted a coordination meeting on Syria which was held at Turkish Foreign Ministry on Wednesday and attended by high-level officials from the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, General Staff, Directorate General of Security and National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Reportedly, mainly an attack launched by Syrian army near the Turkish border which has hit a camp full of Syrian refugees near the town of Kilis was discussed during the meeting. Furthermore, Davutoglu briefed the G-8 officials in Washington via videoconference regarding the latest situation in Syria. As part of videoconference, Davutoglu expressed his concerns over acts of violence in Syria which have spilled across Turkey's border, saying that Turkey expects UN Security Council to adopt a resolution consisting of necessary measures aimed at protecting Syrian people. For her part, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced concerns about the problems facing UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, as he tries to get Syria to implement his peace plan that calls for a ceasefire on Thursday.