Turkey Reacts Strongly to Bloody Operation by Syrian Regime in Hama
Gül emphasized that the recent operations in Syria had further deepened existing concerns.Turkey has reacted strongly to Sunday’s bloody crackdown by the Syrian regime in the city of Hama, condemning the Syrian army’s operations that killed nearly 100 protesters.
“As expectations are underway for the restoration of tranquility in line with the spirit of Ramadan and for the fulfillment of radical reforms, beginning the holy month of Ramadan within a bloody environment is unacceptable,” President Abdullah Gül told Anatolia news agency Monday.
Gül emphasized that the recent operations in Syria had further deepened existing concerns. “I am calling on the Syrian administration to halt the violence against people and fulfill the reforms that will build the future of the country on the basis of peace and stability,” the Turkish president said.
“The use of heavy weapons against people in Hama when Ramadan began shocked me. It is not possible for us to remain indifferent to this violence,” Gül added.
Syrian tanks stormed the restive city of Hama on Sunday, killing at least 95 civilians in a move to crush demonstrations against President Bashar al-Assad’s rule.
Ankara’s first reaction against Syria’s operations came with a statement late Sunday. “The latest developments have brought into question the Syrian government’s intention and sincerity to resolve the conflict through peaceful means,” a Turkish Foreign Ministry statement said late Sunday. The ministry underlined Turkey had been “waiting with patience” and watching the developments in Syria closely over the last couple of months.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu also voiced concern Sunday over the Hama crackdown, saying Syria was passing through a very critical period. Following his first assessment, the foreign minister condemned Syria on Monday for its heavy assault on protesters.
“We were greatly disappointed over yesterday’s operations, especially the operations conducted in Hama. Both the timing and the way Syria conducted the operations were enormously wrong. We severely condemn these operations,” Davutoğlu told reporters Monday.
The foreign minister also joined other international actors in criticizing the timing of the massive operations on the eve of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which began Aug. 1 and lasts until Aug. 29 this year. Davutoğlu emphasized that the move was not appropriate to the spirit of Ramadan.
“The dimensions of the loss of civilian lives in an operation that deploys tanks and heavy weapons in a highly populated area should have been known to the Syrian authorities,” Davutoğlu said.
Turkey has called on Syria many times to make urgent reforms and urged it to abstain from bloody actions to quash protests, but the latest remarks are the strongest reaction yet from Ankara toward Assad’s regime.
August 1, 2011
SOURCE: Turkish Daily News
