Saudi Arabia and Turkey voiced their support of Syria’s opposition members in Geneva for possible U.N.- sponsored peace talks with the Syrian regime, whether the opposition continued with the talks or not. The comments were made in a joint press conference by Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir and Turkish Premier Ahmet Davutoglu in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey also played down their roles in setting the agenda for the negotiations. The two leaders also discussed other regional challenges and cooperation between the two countries, and Davutoglu met with HRH King Salman.
On Saturday, Turkey accused Russia of again violating its airspace and warned Russian leaders they would “face consequences” if such infringements continue. Russia, a supporter of the Bashar Al-Assad regime, has targeted rebels in airstrikes since September 30th, 2015.
In November, a Russian jet was shot down by a Turkish jet when it flew over Turkey’s airspace. Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In an online statement broadcast from Washington, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry urged Syria’s opposition and regime to play “a full role in peace talks” Sunday, while accusing Bashar al-Assad’s forces of starving civilians.
“This morning, in light of what is at stake in these talks, I appeal to both sides to make the most of this moment,” he said.
“The town of Madaya is just an hour’s drive from Damascus and yet its people have been reduced to eating grass and leaves,” Kerry said.
“How have the regime and the militias that support it responded? By planting landmines and erecting barbed wire to keep relief workers out,” Kerry said.
Saudi Arabia has provided streams of humanitarian relief to Syria’s civilians affected by the ongoing civil war, including clothing, food and water, according to the Saudi embassy in Washington. A full list of that aid can be found here.
