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ERDOGAN VOWS 'RESPONSE' TO SYRIA AFTER ATTACK ON TURKISH FLAG
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2011
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that an apology
from the Syrian government for attacks on its diplomatic missions in
Syria is not enough, urging President Bashar al-Assad's regime to find
and punish the perpetrators of an attack on the Turkish flag in Latakia
and vowing that such assaults will receive the proper "response."
Addressing the Syrian president by his first name, Erdogan said:
"Bashar, you who have thousands of people in jail, must find those
who attacked the Turkish flag and punish them."
Turkey evacuated the families of diplomats after Saturday's attacks
on its embassy in Damascus and its consulates in the cities of
Aleppo and Latakia, where assailants burned a Turkish flag. Assad
supporters tried to break into Turkish missions to denounce an Arab
League decision to suspend Syria's membership over its crackdown
on the eight-month uprising. Turkey is not a member of the league,
but welcomed the decision.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, speaking at a news conference
on Monday, apologized for the attacks on foreign diplomatic missions.
The diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia and France were also attacked
following the Arab League's decision.
"I want to make this clear to the Assad regime: Throughout history,
those who have tried to touch the Turkish flag were given their
response. They will receive a response in the future as well,"
Erdogan said, during a parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and
Development Party (AK Party). "Once again, we strongly condemn these
attacks. We want the Syrian regime not only to apologize, but also
to find the culprits."
However, the Turkish prime minister, once a close ally of Assad,
reiterated his criticism of the Syrian government's brutal crackdown
on anti-regime protests and promised that Turkey will continue to
support the Syrian nation. "Those who fire on their own people will
go down in history as leaders who feed on blood," Erdogan said.
Addressing Assad, he continued: "You are on the same path."
"Nobody now expects the (Syrian) people's demands to be met. We
all want the Syrian administration, which is now on a knife-edge,
to turn back from the edge of the cliff," Erdogan also said.
Gul warns of 'different reaction' President Abdullah Gul also
condemned attacks on Turkish diplomatic missions on Tuesday, calling
it "unacceptable" and warning the Syrian regime against unspecified
measures if it happens again.
"If Syrian authorities do not take the necessary measures, if
these attacks are repeated, then our reaction will certainly be a
different one," Gul said at a joint news conference with his Hungarian
counterpart, Pal Schmitt, in Ankara.
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Nov 15 2011
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan signaled that an apology
from the Syrian government for attacks on its diplomatic missions in
Syria is not enough, urging President Bashar al-Assad's regime to find
and punish the perpetrators of an attack on the Turkish flag in Latakia
and vowing that such assaults will receive the proper "response."
Addressing the Syrian president by his first name, Erdogan said:
"Bashar, you who have thousands of people in jail, must find those
who attacked the Turkish flag and punish them."
Turkey evacuated the families of diplomats after Saturday's attacks
on its embassy in Damascus and its consulates in the cities of
Aleppo and Latakia, where assailants burned a Turkish flag. Assad
supporters tried to break into Turkish missions to denounce an Arab
League decision to suspend Syria's membership over its crackdown
on the eight-month uprising. Turkey is not a member of the league,
but welcomed the decision.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, speaking at a news conference
on Monday, apologized for the attacks on foreign diplomatic missions.
The diplomatic missions of Saudi Arabia and France were also attacked
following the Arab League's decision.
"I want to make this clear to the Assad regime: Throughout history,
those who have tried to touch the Turkish flag were given their
response. They will receive a response in the future as well,"
Erdogan said, during a parliamentary group meeting of his Justice and
Development Party (AK Party). "Once again, we strongly condemn these
attacks. We want the Syrian regime not only to apologize, but also
to find the culprits."
However, the Turkish prime minister, once a close ally of Assad,
reiterated his criticism of the Syrian government's brutal crackdown
on anti-regime protests and promised that Turkey will continue to
support the Syrian nation. "Those who fire on their own people will
go down in history as leaders who feed on blood," Erdogan said.
Addressing Assad, he continued: "You are on the same path."
"Nobody now expects the (Syrian) people's demands to be met. We
all want the Syrian administration, which is now on a knife-edge,
to turn back from the edge of the cliff," Erdogan also said.
Gul warns of 'different reaction' President Abdullah Gul also
condemned attacks on Turkish diplomatic missions on Tuesday, calling
it "unacceptable" and warning the Syrian regime against unspecified
measures if it happens again.
"If Syrian authorities do not take the necessary measures, if
these attacks are repeated, then our reaction will certainly be a
different one," Gul said at a joint news conference with his Hungarian
counterpart, Pal Schmitt, in Ankara.