Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Mrs. Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State who paid a working visit to Turkey on 11 August 2012.

At the meeting which was headed by Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and Secretary Clinton, recent developments in Syria and the steps to be taken to end the violence in this country were discussed. Foreign Ministers held a joint press conference following their meeting.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said Turkey and the US agreed that a transition process in Syria had to take place in the shortest possible time and that a power vacuum should not be allowed during the transition. "We share a joint perspective that we need to take all kinds of measures against terrorist groups especially the PKK which could try to take advantage of such a power vacuum." Foreign Minister Davutoğlu added.

Moreover, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu underlined that international community should take steps to say a powerful and clear 'stop' to the massacre in Syria. He pointed out that Turkey and the US would work together to end the violence. In this vein, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said the joint efforts would focus on two main issues namely, the way ahead which will be followed by Turkey and the U.S. as well as international community and establishment of a new public order in Syria after the transition period.

U.S. Secretary of State Clinton was also received by H.E Abdullah Gül, President of Turkey and H.E Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey.