Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey met with Mr. Jan Eliasson, the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General on November 20, 2013 in İstanbul.

At the meeting, the developments in Syria, Cyprus and Somalia and the conditions of Rohingya Muslims as well as Arab-Africa Summit where Deputy UNSG Eliasson attended on behalf of the UN were addressed.

While Deputy UNSG Eliasson gave information about the efforts of Mr. Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN and the Arab League Special Envoy to Syria within the framework of the preparations of Geneva II, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu shared Turkey’s views on Syria and emphasized that Geneva II conference should be held in the shortest time and the immediate steps should be taken concerning the humanitarian situation which deteriorates in parallel to the ongoing violence in Syria.

Deputy UNSG Eliasson said that the UN follows Turkey’s assistance to Somalia with appreciation and Turkey has played an essential role in the stage Somalia has reached today. In response, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined that despite all the risks, Turkey will continue to provide assistance to Somalia and maintain close cooperation with the UN throughout this process.

Noting that there is an important window of opportunity for the resolution of Cyprus question and that this opportunity should not be missed, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu once again underlined Turkey’s support for the efforts of the UN in this direction.

Furthermore, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu gave comprehensive information on his latest visit to Myanmar together with the representatives of OIC Contact Group. Pointing out that he has followed the matter since 1993, Deputy UNSG Eliasson said that effective steps should be taken with a view to finding a solution and that the UN attaches great importance to working with Turkey on the issue of Rohingya Muslims.