Davutoglu: "Assad should know that only leaders who embrace change can survive"

Stability in the Middle East is no longer possible without freedom, and the leaders of the region who resist change will "disappear," according to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. "There are three types of leader in this region," Davutoglu told Britain's Financial Times in an interview last Friday. "Those who see change as a must and want to lead and manage it; leaders who accept the need for change but who are following rather than leading in the hope of gaining time; and those who are resisting change. The third category will disappear – I told Bashar (Syrian President Bashar Assad) this – the second can get by for a time, but only the first category will survive. We are telling our friends in the region we want them in that first category." He added, "Turkey has developed a very good relationship of confidence with Arab governments. But now the future has arrived, indeed it was overdue, and this is a natural process of change. We are trying to promote the legitimate demands of the people and open the way towards a peaceful transformation. That is our policy."