Statesmen's Forum: His Excellency Ahmet Davutoğlu Minister of Foreign Affairs

“We have to create a new international awareness regarding the suffering of the Syrian people,” said Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoğlu before a standing room only audience at CSIS. Turkey supports the rights of the Arab people wherever they are, he said at a CSIS Statesmen’s Forum hosted by CSIS president and CEO John Hamre and CSIS Turkey Project director Bulent Aliriza. 
 
Minister Davutoğlu urged active diplomacy to help resolve issues throughout the Middle East by peaceful means. "We will use all the means of diplomacy until the end in order to prevent bloodshed, massacres, [and] bloody transition," he said. Citing Turkey’s "zero problems" policy, Davutoğlu said that he is confident Turkey will have excellent relations with a new Syria established by the Syrian people.
 
"Turkey, in principle, is against any foreign intervention," Davutoğlu said. "But at the same time, if there is an oppression by an autocratic leader against the people, nobody can expect us or [the] international community to be silent."
 
On Iran, Minister Davutoğlu said that military action would be “a disaster” that would complicate developments in the Middle East at this crucial juncture. On Israel, Davutoğlu said that Turkey supports recognizing the Palestinian state and urged Israel to come to the negotiating table without preconditions.