At least seven Turkish citizens ‘died in Syria’

ANKARA

FM Davutoğlu says seven Turkish citizens have died in the Syrian uprising. AA Photo

Seven Turkish citizens have died in Syria according to information obtained during the period when Turkey’s missions in Damascus and Aleppo were operating, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said.

The statement was in response to a written motion submitted by an opposition deputy asking about Turkish civilian casualties since the civil war in the neighboring country began on March 2011.

The Foreign Ministry has no detailed inventory of persons who crossed into and from Syrian territory in regards to the details of whether they are journalists, civil society organizations’ staff, students etc., Davutoğlu also said in his response.

“The detailed inventory of persons entering and exiting from the border gates opening to Syria – in regards to facts whether they are journalists, civil society organization staff and students or in regards to other facts – does not exist at our ministry,” Davutoğlu said in response to the motion submitted in January by main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Deputy Chair Sezgin Tanrıkulu.

“In consideration of the current situation in Syria, as of March 2012, our Damascus Embassy, and as of July 2012, our Aleppo Consulate General, temporarily suspended their activities. In this regard, during the periods in which our missions were active, it is known from the information that reached our Ministry that seven of our citizens have died in Syria,” he said.