Davutoglu: International community's silence kills Syrians

Speaking in a press conference jointly held with UN's World Food Program Ertharin Cousin and UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator Valerie Amos at the 43rd annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu stated that the aim of the Patriots was to assure the security in Syria. "If a stable Syria emerges in the region tomorrow and any expected threat from the Syrian side disappears, Turkish troops together with NATO soldiers will be withdrawn the same day," Davutoglu said, adding, "We hope that Turkey-EU relations will gain a new momentum and have a new atmosphere in the coming period. We are also exerting great efforts with regard to visa liberalization." Stating that the international community has failed to make a decision even on humanitarian issues, Davutoglu said that Syrians were dying not only in bombardments but the silence of the international community was killing them as well. Davutoglu also underlined that Turkey's doors shall remain open to the Syrians. Davutoglu also said that Turkey was currently hosting 160,000 Syrians and additional 60-70 thousand others were staying at homes of their relatives or in the houses they had rented. "And here is an interesting statistical figure: 2,169 babies were born in Syrian camps in Turkey and none of them has died thanks to the proper treatment provided at the hospitals," he added. Davutoglu noted that Turkey has extended humanitarian aid amounting to $500 million, while contributions by the UN and all other countries totaled $29 million and $4.5 million, respectively. He said that Turkish people have raised $10 million in just a week as part of the "One Bread& One Blanket for Syrians Campaign" which was initiated by relief organizations. During the press conference, Cousin and Amos extended their appreciation to Turkey for the humanitarian aid it has provided for Syrians.