Turkey spent more than $200 million for Syrians

ANKARA

Turkey has spent more than $200 million sheltering Syrians within its borders, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınç has said, adding that Ankara is ready to spend more on the humanitarian issue.

Turkey has been attempting to achieve an end to the violence in Syria via diplomacy, Arınç said yesterday, in a meeting with U.S. Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero.

Otero visited the Ceylanpınar camp for Syrian refugees in the Turkish province of Urfa ahead of her meeting with the deputy prime minister. Otero congratulated the Turkish government on its humanitarian aid efforts and said that Turkey’s keeping its border open was a generous act.

“Turkey has displayed its generosity by keeping its borders open and has become a model for the world by taking care of its neighbors,” Otero said, adding that Turkey showed how humanitarian aid should be conducted.

Arınç said he would discuss the issues of democracy, human rights and minorities with Otero.