Davutoglu: Turkey to start war if Syria poses security threat

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turkey will take all necessary measures, including military ones, if the ongoing turmoil in neighboring Syria poses a security threat for Turkey.

Davutoglu was speaking during a television program hosted by veteran journalist Mehmet Ali Birand on Thursday night. When Birand asked whether Turkey is heading towards war with Syria, Davutoglu said the Turkish state thinks that the oppression inflicted on the Syrian people has reached unacceptable levels.

When he was asked what Turkey can do in the face of this crackdown, Davutoglu said the Syrian people will do what should be done. “But, as Syria's neighbor, there are also many steps that we can take. Everyone knows that,” Davutoglu said. As for whether military measures are also included in these steps, the minister said, “Of course, when the situation becomes a security threat for us.”

“Every domestic crisis in Syria will affect Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Jordan. It affects the whole region. In this regard, there is no other country more important than Syria today. So, when an internal conflict in Syria poses a risk to Turkey, we will take all necessary measures,” he said, Turkish media reports.