No new strategy with Saudi on supporting moderate groups in Syria
by Merve Aydoğan
ANKARAMay 08, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Merve Aydoğan
May 08, 2015 12:00 am
Turkey has and will continue to support moderate Syrian opposition to facilitate a democratic transition in the country with no place for the Assad regime in Syria’s future, said top Turkish officials
Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç has officially rejected the Associate Press's article claiming that Saudi Arabia and Turkey have come to a deal to unite opposition groups in Syria, including al-Nusra Front, to topple Assad, during a press conference on Friday. Bilgiç reiterated at the press conference that together with Saudi Arabia, the United States as well as the United Kingdom, Turkey will continue to support moderate Syrian opposition groups and deem extremist groups as a serious threat for the war-torn region.
Commenting on recent claims by the Republican People's Party (CHP) Secretary-General Gürsel Tekin stating that Turkey will intervene in Syria within two days, during an interview published by the Gülen Movement-affiliated Taraf newspaper on Thursday, Bilgiç said: "There is no need to comment on Tekin's claims since it was made two days ago and Turkey has not launched a ground operation, thus his claims are baseless." With the Assad regime continuing to massacre thousands of civilians in the war-ridden country, the Foreign Ministry stressed that Turkey's position regarding the conflict in Syria has not changed and has maintained the same position since the very beginning.
"Turkey is not only cooperating with Saudi Arabia but also with the U.S. and U.K. and will continue to cooperate. Syria is also part of the international coalition's focus in combatting ISIS. Thus, the coalition between Saudi Arabia and Turkey is not something new. Our policies and cooperation in various fields coincide from previous years as well. Therefore, there are no new agenda in this coalition," added Bilgiç. He has also underlined that al-Nusra Front remains as a terrorist organization on Turkey's list and dismissed the claims on Friday.
Meanwhile, during the press conference Bilgiç also reaffirmed that the arrangements regarding the train-and-equip program are continuing as planned and that there are no obstacles. According to diplomatic sources, the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and Commander of U.S. European Command Gen. Phil Breedlove will be visiting Kırşehir province on May 12, in which Turkey and the U.S. are expected to start a train-and-equip program for the Syrian opposition. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass, arrived at the Foreign Ministry on Friday to discuss the developments regarding the train-and-equip program as well as other relevant issues in regards to the advancements within the region.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry will hold meetings in Antalya on May 13-14, under the chairmanship of the NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Turkey's Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will host the event. Providing details on the meetings, Bilgiç stated that a total of 52 countries will be attending with 28 of them being foreign ministries from various countries. "During the NATO meeting, determined support to Afghanistan will be discussed with Afghani Foreign Minister's attendance. Additionally, putting the decision agreed at the Wales Summit into action will be among the topics of discussion while a session regarding a cooperation between the NATO and Ukraine will be held with Ukrainian Foreign Minister present at the meeting," added Bilgiç.
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