ANKARA (AA) - US Secretary of State John Kerry, British Foreign Secretary William Hague, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met on Monday in Paris to discuss the chemical weapons agreement on Syria and a French-drafted UN resolution that would govern the agreement.
Kerry was the first to talk, giving details about the agreement reached with Russia regarding Syrian chemical weapons, and the development of the process. Next, Kerry, Hague and Fabius gave information about the upcoming steps expected to be taken at the UN Security Council, as well as the draft resolution.
- "Turkey key country"
Acknowledging Turkey's key position regarding the situation in Syria, all 3 ministers said that they considered Turkey's opinions and concerns important, and asked Davutoglu about Turkey's stance.
Although Davutoglu acknowledged that the agreement between US and Russia regarding Syrian chemical weapons was favorable, he expressed Turkey's deep concerns regarding the Assad regime's attacks and killings without using chemical weapons. Davutoglu said that effective steps needed to be taken in order to stop the violence and bloodshed going on in Syria, in addition to destroying the chemical weapons.
- Geneva meeting
Later, the 4 ministers discussed the terms and parameters of a meeting in Geneva within the framework of finding a political solution for the Syrian crisis. Referring to the meeting he had in Ankara on Sunday with members of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Davutoglu shared the Coalition's opinions and expectations on the issue.
After Kerry left, Hague, Fabius and Davutoglu attended a working lunch to further discuss the Syrian issue and the next steps that could be taken in the near future.
Davutoglu is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabian and Qatar Foreign Ministers later on.
