Turkey ready to join int'l action on Syria without UN consensus: FM

Source:Xinhua Published: 2013-8-26 18:52:02

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said his country would join any international coalition in case of a possible intervention in neighboring Syria if the UN Security Council fails to reach a wider consensus on the issue, Milliyet Daily reported on Monday.

Recalling that a UN delegation was ready to probe into alleged use of chemical gas in a recent attack in Syria, Turkey would await the result of it, Davutoglu was quoted as saying.

"We always prioritize acting together with the international community, with UN decisions. (But) if UN Security Council fails to take decision, then other alternatives, which have been discussed nowadays, would come onto the agenda," Davutoglu stated.

"Currently 36-37 countries are discussing these alternatives. If a coalition is formed against Syria in this process, Turkey would take its place in this coalition," he noted.

The minister also said a "Turkish general, chief of staff or another," would participate in an upcoming meeting of senior military officials of the United States, Turkey and other Western allies in Jordan to discuss developments in Syria and possible ways to respond to allegations of chemical weapon use in the country.

Syrian opposition claimed that at least 1,300 people have been killed in a chemical weapon attack staged by the government forces in the suburb of Ghouta in Damascus on early Wednesday, an allegation that the Syrian administration has strongly denied.

Turkey, once an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad but now a leading voice urging his ouster, shelters more than 350,000 Syrian refugees and reportedly provides Syrian rebel leaders with sanctuary.

Syrian opposition recently claimed that 400 tons of arms have recently been sent into the country from Turkey to the rebels against Syrian government forces, according to foreign media, but a senior Turkish official on Sunday denied the allegation.



Posted in: Mid-East

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