Turkey will join any coalition against Syria, says foreign minister

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Turkey would join any international coalition against Syria even if a wider consensus on action cannot be reached at the UN Security Council; Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was quoted as saying on Monday.

“We always prioritise acting together with the international community, with UN decisions. If such a decision doesn’t emerge from the UN Security Council, other alternatives … would come onto the agenda,’’ Mr. Davutoglu told the

Milliyet daily.

“Currently 36 to 37 countries are discussing these alternatives. If a coalition is formed against Syria in this process, Turkey would take its place in this coalition.’’

Turkey has emerged as one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s most vocal critics during the two-and-a-half year conflict, sheltering half a million refugees and allowing the opposition to organise on its soil.

The NATO member has criticised world powers for failing to take a decisive stance.

The UN Security Council has been hamstrung by the opposition of veto-wielding members, Russia and China, to any firm action.

“From the outset, Turkey had argued that the international community must not stand by in the face of the Assad regime’s massacres,’’ Davutoglu said.

“Leaving unpunished leaders and regimes which resort to such practices undermines the deterrence of the international community. Those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity must definitely be punished.’’

(Reuters/NAN)