Turkey increases its efforts to unite Syria’s fractured opposition ahead of Turkish prime minister Erdogan’s visit to Iran and the Friends of Syria meeting in Istanbul in April, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu declared. Turkey Syria News

Ankara / NationalTurk – Turkish Foreign Minister Davuyoglu stated ‘tight contact traffic looms as efforts continue to extend the Syrian National Council and to strengthen the social base ‘. Davutoğlu also hinted at Ankara’s tight schedule comprising of upcoming Arab League summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Iran, and the Friends of Syria meeting.

Missing Journalists in Syria

Davutoğlu noted at a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart, Saad-Eddine al-Othmani, that Turkey is also working ‘day and night’ to locate and secure the return of two missing Turkish journalists in Syria.

Turkey has urged Syria to locate Adem Özköse from Milat newspaper and freelance cameraman Hamit Coşkun and ensure their safe return to Turkey, expressed Hüseyin Çelik, a deputy chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). ‘ But we have not yet received a reply from Syria ‘ added the former secretary of Ankara administration.

The pair of Turkish Journalist was last heard from on March 11 when they called Milat from the northern Syrian city of Idlib.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç said last week that the Turkish journalists were being held by Syrian forces. But other Turkish officials have stated there was not ‘ confirmed ‘ intel.

‘ There has been no confirmed intel on the whereabouts of the missing Turkish journalists at the moment,’ Ahmet Davutoğlu said in the press conference.

‘ The profession of journalism depends on freedom of expression and universal values,” the foreign minister called on ‘ the Syrian authorities ‘ and other parties involved in the Syrian crisis to respect those values.

Turkey is considering the establishment of a buffer zone in Syria, approved by the statement of the Turkish foreign minister: ‘ With concern both for our border security and for ending our Syrian brothers’ pain, we are determined to consider every possible move and measure in that regard.’

Syrian refugees flock to Turkey

Two more former pro-Bashar al Assad Syrian generals fled to Turkey over the last weekend, bringing the number of defected generals to nine. Meanwhile the total number of Syrian refugees in Turkey has reached nearly 16,500, the Turkish General Directorate of Natural Disasters announced.

Turkish authorities are setting up a fully equipped 70-bed field hospital in Islahiye in the southern
province of Gaziantep on Syrian border, to treat injured or traumatized Syrian refugees.

Some other reports indicate that some public servants cornered by the Syrian opposition are also seeking Turkey’s help, mainly for food and security issues.

Meanwhile members of the ‘Free Syrian Army’ hold their weapons in Sermin, in the restive northern Syrian Idlib province.

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