Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey participated in the working dinner organized on the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, formed by EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of candidate countries on May 27, 2013.

At the working dinner where Syria was the main agenda item, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu explained in details how the current situation in Syria has been reached and how the crisis has deepened by the inability of the international community to give a strong support to the Syrian people in a timely manner. “Peace cannot be achieved only through wishes” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu added that for peace, right steps should be taken at the right time and in this regard a dynamic policy taking into consideration the changing conditions should be implemented.

Underlining that from the very beginning, Turkey has never supported the military options and has made every effort for a political and peaceful settlement, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu pointed out that however, the regime did not allow these efforts to succeed with its brutal and escalating violence campaign against its own people. He emphasized that at the current stage, the international community should put an end the course of the events.

EU Foreign Ministers, whose discussion on Syria continued following the dinner, did not extend the arms embargo.