Davutoglu departs for Myanmar to deliver aid

Speaking to reporters before departing for a two-day visit to Myanmar, Foreign Minister Davutoglu said Turkey has been closely watching the situation in Myanmar from the very beginning. "We have been continuously in contact with officials in Myanmar. We have tried to find out what can be done in terms of humanitarian aid. Until now, Myanmar hasn't been in favor of any other relief agency other than the UN or another country in terms of aid delivery. We will be visiting the Arakan region for the first time as a delegation. We will visit both Muslim and Buddhist camps, and distribute the aid we are taking with us. We hope to find a solution to this humanitarian crisis of our brothers in Arakan. Opening the way of humanitarian aid is important." Touching on recent remarks by Iranian officials, Davutoglu said that these remarks "harm not only the rooted relations between Iran and Turkey, but also the diplomacy conducted by Iran in the international arena."  Davutoglu also touched on his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, to whom Davutoglu has earlier this week conveyed Ankara's unease over Iranian Chief of Staff Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi's suggestion that Turkey was involved in the bloodshed in Syria. "We would expect these officials, both in Turkey and Iran, to think a few times before making any comments. Our position on the issue was explained to Mr. Salehi in a frank and friendly manner," Davutoglu said. Regarding a group of 48 Iranian nationals who have been kidnapped in Syria, Davutoglu said he pledged to help the Iranians. "We would not spare any kind of help so that those kidnapped in Syria return to their families. When the issue is a humanitarian one, we would make all kinds of contributions anywhere in the world," he said.