ID :
201836
Wed, 08/17/2011 - 10:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/201836
The shortlink copeid
Assad squanders last chance with Turkish FM's visit to Syria, US says
WASHINGTON (A.A) - August 17, 2011 - The U.S. Department of State has said that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu made a trip to Damascus last week in the interest of giving Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a last chance, but the Syrian leader obviously has squandered that last chance.
Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the Department of State, told a daily press briefing, "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu made this trip in the interest of giving al-Assad a last chance, and he obviously has squandered that last chance. The Turkish government's own frustration and concern is evident in the statement that the foreign minister made yesterday."
"And more broadly, it speaks to the point that the Secretary's been making about the growing chorus of condemnation around the world. Just six months ago the notion that close allied – close partner Turkey would make such comments about Syria would be unheard of. But it's his own actions that have drawn this kind of criticism," she told reporters.
"Foreign Minister Davutoglu drew his own conclusions and made his own warnings. I'm not, obviously, going to speak for the Turkish government. The Secretary made clear, as we've all been making clear, what our posture and what our policy is, that we are working with partners and allies to tighten the noose economically and politically, and we will continue to do that," she said.
Upon another question, Nuland said, "on the humanitarian side, I think you know that the Turkish government has been very generous in setting up camps, in providing support for those refugees who've come over the border. The U.S. has repeatedly offered our support to the Turkish government, to UNHCR in that effort, and we are very gratified by that open response."
Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the Department of State, told a daily press briefing, "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu made this trip in the interest of giving al-Assad a last chance, and he obviously has squandered that last chance. The Turkish government's own frustration and concern is evident in the statement that the foreign minister made yesterday."
"And more broadly, it speaks to the point that the Secretary's been making about the growing chorus of condemnation around the world. Just six months ago the notion that close allied – close partner Turkey would make such comments about Syria would be unheard of. But it's his own actions that have drawn this kind of criticism," she told reporters.
"Foreign Minister Davutoglu drew his own conclusions and made his own warnings. I'm not, obviously, going to speak for the Turkish government. The Secretary made clear, as we've all been making clear, what our posture and what our policy is, that we are working with partners and allies to tighten the noose economically and politically, and we will continue to do that," she said.
Upon another question, Nuland said, "on the humanitarian side, I think you know that the Turkish government has been very generous in setting up camps, in providing support for those refugees who've come over the border. The U.S. has repeatedly offered our support to the Turkish government, to UNHCR in that effort, and we are very gratified by that open response."
