Turkey strengthens ties with Syrian opposition

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (R) in a meeting with Burhan Ghalioun, the outgoing president of the so-called Syrian National Council (file photo)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/05/28/243426/turkey-strengthens-ties-syrian-opposition/

Turkey has strengthened ties with the Syrian opposition during a meeting between the country’s foreign minister and members of the so-called Syrian National Council (SNC).

Ahmet Davutoglu held talks with the SNC members in Istanbul to discuss the escalation of violence in Syria following a recent massacre in the western Syria town of Houla, AFP reported on Sunday.

Burhan Ghalioun, the outgoing president of the council, was leading the opposition’s delegation during the meeting.

Ghalioun resigned a few days ago because of increasing criticism of his leadership, but has been asked to continue in his post until a new president is elected.

The SNC has been plagued by infighting and divisions since it was established in September. It is based in Turkey and is made up of several exiled Syrian opposition groups.

The head of the UN observer mission in Syria, Major General Robert Mood said on Sunday that more than 100 people, including at least 32 children, had been killed in the deadly clashes in Houla on Friday.

The confrontations broke out between Syrian forces and armed groups, despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 12.

Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jihad Makdissi said on Sunday that Damascus holds armed groups responsible for the clashes.

The ceasefire is part of a six-point peace plan, which was presented by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan in March.

The first group of UN observers arrived in the Syrian capital on April 15 in line with the UNSC Resolution 2042, which had been approved on the previous day.

On April 21, the Security Council met and unanimously approved Resolution 2043, which ratified a proposal to send a mission of 300 observers to the country.

US summons Syrian diplomat

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=123828§ionid=351020203


The US has summoned a Washington-based Syrian diplomat to protest what Israel has claimed to be efforts to supply the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah with missiles.

Based on the allegations that Syria is equipping Hezbollah with Scud missiles, the most senior Syrian diplomat in Washington, Deputy Chief of Mission Zouheir Jabbour was obligated to report to the US Department of State on Tuesday, AFP reported.

The move was to serve as a warning on what the department's deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid called, “Syria's provocative behavior concerning the potential transfer of arms to Hezbollah."

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said on Wednesday that "we are obviously increasingly concerned about the sophisticated weaponry that is allegedly being transferred."

Also on Wednesday, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said, "If [Scuds have been transferred into Lebanon], and we continue to analyze this issue ... clearly it potentially puts Lebanon at significant risk."

Hezbollah-affiliated lawmaker Ali Fayyad on Saturday said Washington is inciting Israel to launch another war on Lebanon by saying it is worried by the alleged transfer.

The United States is "placing itself in a position of complicity in the event of aggression [on Lebanon] and it will have to take responsibility," Fayyad was quoted by AFP as saying.

Earlier in the month, Tel Aviv communicated a threatening message to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In the 'secret' message, Israel alleged that Hezbollah may launch an attack on Israel using the projectiles, threatening to engage Syria in a war if such missile offensive by the Lebanese movement materialized.

Ahmadinejad in Syria for talks on Israel

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119446§ionid=351020101


Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has arrived in Damascus to discuss with his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad the threat that Israel poses to the Middle East and beyond.

Before leaving Tehran on Thursday morning, the Iranian president announced that his talks with Assad in the Syrian capital would focus on regional and global developments.

Ahmadinejad added that Israel's efforts to destabilize the region would also be one of the main topics of their discussions.

He mentioned that Iran and Syria already share the same stance on regional and global issues, noting that both countries stood in “the front line of standing up to” Israel.

“These days, the Zionists are constantly threatening countries and nations surrounding Palestine. They intend to drag the region into an atmosphere of serious tension,” he said

“That is why it is necessary for our two countries to begin a new series of negotiations,” he added.

Winding up, the Iranian president pointed out that talks on economic cooperation and joint investment projects would also be a part of his discussions with his Syrian counterpart.