Davutoglu: Turkey ready for any scenario in Syria

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey said it does not want military intervention in Syria but is ready for any scenario to deal with President Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on popular unrest, including setting up a buffer zone to contain any mass influx of refugees.

According to Reuters, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also said Turkish sanctions against Syria are ready and will be announced after he meets with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

"If the oppression continues, Turkey is ready for any scenario. We hope that a military intervention will never be necessary. The Syrian regime has to find a way of making peace with its own people," Davutoglu said in an interview with television broadcaster Kanal 24.

"If tens, hundreds of thousands of people start advancing toward the Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey borders, not only Turkey but the international community may be required to take some steps such as a buffer zone. We don't want that to happen but we must consider and work on that scenario."

However, Davutoglu played down his comments at a news conference later, saying a buffer zone was not on "today's agenda.”