Ankara urges to implement Annan plan

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey has said the United Nations Security Council’s resolution to send monitors to Syria was a step taken in the right direction but called for the full implementation of the Annan plan.

“This resolution stands as an important message as the United Nations Security Council could finally send out a unified voice on the situation in Syria. Though it does not fully meet our expectations, it’s considered a step taken in the right direction,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement over the weekend. Syrian forces do still commit violence against civilians and demonstrators although it says it has began withdrawing its troops from the cities, the statement said, adding it was important that the monitors resume their duties as soon as possible. Turkey will closely follow the full implementation of the Annan plan, including launching a political transition process and dialogue aiming to structure a democratic and pluralistic political system, the statement read. Turkey repeated its calls on the Syrian leadership to heed the demands of its people and the international community. Meanwhile, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) sent 1,600 tents and 13,860 blankets on April 13 for the Syrians staying in tent sites in the southern province of Hatay.