Presidential advisor Syrians feeling violence "guests, not refusees"

Syrian citizens taking shelter in border tent cities are Turkey's guests, not refugees, said a senior advisor to President Abdullah Gul yesterday. Ersat Hurmuzlu, presidential advisor on the Middle East, made the remarks while visiting the tent cities in the border province of Hatay, where he also met with Hatay Governor Celalettin Lekesiz. Today representatives of foreign embassies and offices of international organizations in Ankara are also planning to visit the refugees, whose numbers have reached almost 11,000. Five tent cities, including sanitary facilities, worship areas, playgrounds and social activity centers, have been established for the refugees, and are open to members of the domestic and foreign press.