Support Brahimi’s proposal: Main opposition

ISTANBUL - Daily News with wires

Deputy chair Loğoğlu has called on the government to back UN proposal. AA Photo

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) has called on the government to abandon its incorrect policies on Syria and lend full support to a recent call by international mediator Lakhdar Brahimi for dialogue.

On Feb. 17 Brahimi called for talks between the Syrian opposition and an “acceptable delegation” from the Damascus government on a political solution to the country’s 23-month-old civil war.

‘Davutoğlu hemming’

After a meeting at Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Brahimi said negotiations could begin on United Nations premises. Recalling Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s comment on Brahimi’s call, CHP deputy chair Faruk Loğoğlu said Davutoğlu was “hemming and hawing,” while adding: “We have always favored a solution without arms.” Turkey has always supported Brahimi’s efforts, Davutoğlu said Feb. 17, but added that the Syrian government had never responded to the initiatives.

Turkey appreciates all the steps taken for peace, but it is the Syrian people and the Syrian coalition that will decide at the end of the day, the minister said. Recalling that al-Assad had not yet responded to a proposal from Moaz al-Khatib from the National Coalition for the Syrian Opposition, Davutoğlu said Turkey would monitor the outcome. Loğoğlu accused the government of permitting the production of bombs in border cities and failing to exert control over frontier crossings.