Davutoğlu Denies Turkey Has Security Forces In Syria

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has denied claims that Turkey has security forces in war-torn Syria in his response to a question submitted to Parliament by an opposition deputy.



Responding to the question from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kahramanmaraş deputy Durdu Özbolat whether Turkey has security forces in Syria, Davutoğlu replied that such an allegation does not reflect reality.



Davutoğlu noted that Turkey's support for the Syrian people and its legitimate opposition was based on the will to establish a new Syria in which there is peace and democracy, adding that Turkey's support for the opposition was based on this fact.



Turkey has been blamed for the clashes and accused of supporting al-Qaeda-linked groups and extremists groups in Syria, something which the Turkish government denies



"It is out of question for Turkey to support terrorist organizations, extremists groups and allow such groups to take shelter in Turkey and also it is out of question for Turkey to turn a blind eye to inhuman activities, whoever carries them out," said Davutoğlu.



On the contrary, said Davutoğlu, on every occasion such activities are strongly condemned by Turkey, which maintains that such activities are unacceptable.



Davutoğlu also denied claims that Turkey discriminates against Syrian refugees who have fled from the war-torn country and have taken shelter in Turkey according to ethnicity, religion and sect.



Meanwhile, Turkish Gendarmerie forces detained a man of Syrian in the military forbidden zone in the southeastern province of Kilis with a military map of the Turkish province of Malatya.



According to a statement released by the provincial gendarmerie command, gendarmerie forces, which were patrolling the border, came across six people of Syrian origin. Among the Syrians, one had a military map of Malatya. The Syrians, who were taken into custody, were released after giving a statement.



(Cihan/Today's Zaman)