Davutoglu: "We haven't given up on damascus"

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday rebuffed claims that Ankara has decided to give up on crisis-stricken Syria, saying that Turkey is closely cooperating with Damascus to overcome the turmoil there. The claims emerged following a recent meeting of Syrian opposition groups in the Mediterranean city of Antalya. Speaking in Konya, where he is campaigning for the June 12 general elections, Davutoglu said a meeting with pro-Syrian administration figures took place in Antalya at the same time as the opposition gathering, adding that as long as there is no element of offense, anyone can meet anywhere in Turkey, as a free democratic country. Davutoglu said Turkey has established "ties of love" with the Syrian public and ties of trust with Damascus. "We want to preserve both of these," he added. "We want to keep our place in the heart of the Syrian people and help solve the problems in the country by maintaining our relationship of trust with the Syrian administration." He said the Syrian people want a more participatory political structure and that these wishes can't be ignored. Commenting on a Gaza aid flotilla set for later this month – a larger version of last year's Mavi Marmara flotilla, which was raided by Israeli forces, resulting in the deaths of nine Turkish peace activists – Davutoglu said the Turkish government won't stop its citizens from making this effort. "If the flotilla sets sail, Israel has to be very careful this time," he warned. "We're sending a clear message to all those concerned. The same tragedy shouldn't be repeated again. Israel doesn't have the right to interfere as it wants in everything in the region. Israel thinks it has the right of all kinds of interference in the Eastern Mediterranean. If they continue to pursue this policy, they will learn that they can't interfere the way they like."