Davutoglu: De factor regime in Syria unacceptable

Speaking to reporters during a bilateral visit to Poland, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Tuesday that an isolated region in Syria would be objectionable, as a pro-Kurdish terrorist group allegedly prepares to declare an autonomous region in the country. "The formation of a de facto region and its ensuing isolation from other regions, even before a Syrian parliament is elected and the political system has been established, would be unacceptable to not only Turkey, but also other groups in Syria," Davutoglu said, adding, it would, however, not mean that Turkey was acting against the rights of any fraction of the Syrian society, especially the Kurdish people. Answering a question about the security of Syrian border, Davutoglu said, "From the moment the Syrian crisis spills out and starts to affect Turkey's security, Turkey has the right to take any measures it deems necessary to protect its borders." Stating that Turkey is concerned about de facto formations deepening the crisis in the neighboring Syria, Davutoglu said, "When the relations between Turkey and Syria were good, Turkey urged and even put pressure on Bashar al-Assad to grant citizenship rights to Kurds. Therefore, this stance against a de facto region does not target our Kurdish brothers there." Touching on the European Union resolution on Israeli settlements and describing the decision as "correct, Davutoglu said, "We expect the EU to maintain this principled stance, because any financial aid to the funds in the occupied territory would ensure the continuation of the invasion."