Turkish FM to hear firmer response from Syrian officials

Presidential Political and Media Advisor Butheina Shaaban said on Sunday that Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutouglu will receive a very firm message from the Syrian administration due to Turkey''s announced position from the unrest in Syria. Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported today that the Political Advisor said: "If the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is to deliver a firm message to Syria, he will hear more decisive reply regarding the Turkish stance which didn’t condemn the brutal killing and crimes committed by the armed terrorist groups against the civilians, military and police members till now." The Political Advisor stressed that the Syrian administration refuses any foreign intervention in the country''s affairs, adding that the fact that Turkey and Syria share 850 Km of land should not lead Turkey to believe that they can have a say over Syria''s issues. Shaaban though said that the administration would welcome consultations between the two countries. "If the Turkish government does not consider the issue of Syria as a foreign matter due to the historic and cultural relations, Syria has always welcomed consultation among friends but it categorically rejected all regional or international attempts of interference in its internal affairs, Shaaban said. Shaaban''s statement comes in response to Turkish Prime Minister''s Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said on Saturday that his government viewed the issue of Syria as a domestic problem because both countries share 850 Km of land. Erdogan also said that his country''s Foreign Minister is set to visit Syria on August 9 to hold meetings with Syrian officials and convey the Turkish position from the unrest in Syria "in a determined way."