Turkey is set to deliver a final warning to Syria that it must end the bloodshed sweeping the country and introduce reforms or Ankara will join international measures against the regime, officials said Sunday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu will go to Damascus on Tuesday to deliver this warning following the harshest reaction yet from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the deadly unrest sweeping Syria.
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The talks will show whether the ties will be cut loose or not If a new [Turkish] policy is to be outlined on Syria thats the last meeting. The official stressed that Turkeys position would influence the course of international action against Damascus.
The situation here is not like the one in Libya. No one can do anything on Syria without Turkey I dont think that military action against Syria is likely but the process may lead to an embargo, isolation and a Saddam [Hussein]-like situation for al-Assad, he said.
Thus far, Ankara has stopped short of calling for al-Assads departure, arguing that a democratic transition should take place under his leadership.
By turning against al-Assad, Turkey would face deterioration in ties with its southern neighbor, which had flourished in recent years. The turmoil has already hit trade links between the two countries and led to an exodus to Turkey of thousands of Syrians fleeing bloodshed in their country.
In a gloomy reminder to al-Assad, Erdoğan on Saturday made a veiled reference to fallen Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak, who recently appeared before a Cairo court, confined to a cage and lying on a stretcher.
Those who sent scores of Muslims to the gallows are not up on their feet now and look where they are going on a stretcher Those who do not learn a lesson will suffer, Erdoğan said.
Erdoan sends Turkish FM to up pressure on Syria - Hurriyet Daily News
Syria says Turkey to hear more decisive reply | Diplomacy | World BulletinSyria says Turkey to hear more decisive reply
In sharp rebuff to Ankara, presidential adviser Bouthaina Shaaban said Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu could expect tough words during a visit to Damascus on Tuesday.
Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who built close ties with Assad but has been increasingly critical of his crackdowns, has said Ankara's message "will be decisively delivered."
Shaaban, in a retort published by Syria's state news agency SANA, said: "If...Davutoglu is coming to Syria to deliver a decisive message, then he will will hear even more decisive words in relation to Turkey's position.