Turkish foreign minister calls for 'new Syria'

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s foreign minister called on Thursday for the implementation of a “real political transition” to a new Syria.

Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “A real political transition needs to be implemented for a new democratic Syria, based on the rule of law, in which people can elect their leaders through their free will.”

Cavusoglu was speaking at a meeting of the Syrian Turkmen Assembly being held in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

“You represent the will of Syrian Turkmen,” the minister told delegates. “Our aim is that our Turkmen brothers, who are an indispensable component of Syria, have their say in the administration of the country.”

Cavusoglu said that Turkey had supported the Syrian people’s aspirations for a “pluralist and libertarian state”. He said this support was regardless of Syrians’ origin or doctrine -- including Turkmen, Arabs, Kurds, Sunnis, Christians, Alawis and others.

Cavusoglu vowed to never forget the victims of the Syrian regime, the PYD or Daesh terror organizations.

He said Turkey was sheltering more three million refugees fleeing wars in Syria and Iraq, including 300,000 Turkmen.