Turkey mulls creation of buffer zone on Syria borderDecember 2, 2011 - 17:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey may consider setting up a buffer zone on its border in co-ordination with the international community in the event of a massive exodus of refugees from Syria, its foreign minister said. "We are preparing for every scenario," Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Kanal 24 television channel when asked whether Turkey was mulling the creation of a buffer zone. "If hundreds of thousands of people flee to our border, this would of course create a different situation. Some steps could be taken then together with the international community," he added. Ankara has been critical off Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's crackdown on opposition protests after Turkish diplomatic missions came under attack by pro-government demonstrators in several Syrian cities earlier this month. Tensions deteriorated further when two busloads of Turkish pilgrims who were in Syria on their way back from the hajj in Mecca were attacked by Syrian gunmen. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last week urged his one-time ally Assad to step down, becoming the second regional leader to do so after Jordan's King Abdullah. Davutoglu told the Syrian regime that the crackdown must end. "Syria has no chance to survive unless it makes peace with its own people," he said, while repeating that Turkey opposed military intervention. Turkey has accommodated about 7,500 opponents of Assad's regime in its Hatay province which borders Syria, after they fled the violence. Among them is Riad al-Asaad, a Syrian army colonel who heads a group of army deserters that carries out attacks inside Syria. Ankara has distanced itself from the group but has offered sanctuary to the broad-based opposition Syrian National Council, The Telegraph reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |