Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu addressed the Geneva II Conference which was held in January 22, 2013.

Referring to Syrian baby girl Nour whom he met during his visit, together with Mr Guterres, UNHCR, and other ministers from the neighbouring countries of Syria to one of the container cities built for the Syrians, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined that the conflict in Syria has taken so far more than 150 thousand lives and added that a generation has been lost, economic infrastructure as well as the cultural heritage of Syria have been severely ruined, moreover, sectarianism is on the rise due to the policies of the regime and threatens the security and stability of our region.

Stressing that millions of civilians in Syria are deprived of their basic requirements such as food and medicine and starvation is used as a weapon of war, “These inhumane practices must be brought to an end immediately and should not go unpunished” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu emphasized that Turkey believes in a political solution for the conflict in Syria. He noted that the Geneva II Conference marks the start of a process offering an invaluable opportunity to put an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.

Recalling the basic parameters Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that the common objective is to ensure full implementation of the Geneva Communique adopted on 30 June 2012 by the Action Group on Syria and added that the process that is being initiated at the Conference cannot be an open ended one. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined that the primary goal of the process is the establishment, by mutual consent, of a Transitional Governing Body with full executive powers including all security and intelligence entities and a leader and his close associates that have lost their legitimacy and capability to exercise authority in the country and those who have blood in their hands cannot stay. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu maintained that no one must be allowed to exploit this exercise for individual agendas or taking more lives. He also said that the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian State must be preserved and the future Syria must be democratic, pluralistic, and respectful of human rights and of the rule of law in which every citizen must enjoy full equality before the law regardless of their religious or ethnic background.

In view of these parameters, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu invited all the parties to act responsibly, taking the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people as the guiding principles and to start a meaningful transition process to build a strong and democratic Syria.

“Syria belongs to Syrians. The Syrian people will achieve the democracy and defeat tyranny. A brighter future is awaiting the Syrian people. Turkey stands with them in this journey” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.

Remarks by Foreign Minister Davutoğlu at the Geneva II Conference (Full Text)