Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 6 / Trend , G.Dadashova /
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland voiced gratitude for Turkey for the refuge provided for Syrians, the department reported.
"Turkey has provided a safe zone inside Turkey for the many refugees, tens - more than 10,000 who have moved into Turkey, and we were very grateful to the Government of Turkey for the refuge that it's provided for Syrians," Nuland said in a daily press briefing on Oct.5. "But with regard to some kind of military action, we don't believe that that is where the Syrian opposition wants us to be."
Nuland said the Turkish authorities should speak to their own decision to conduct preparedness maneuvers on the Syrian border. They have described this publicly as routine preparedness. But I would leave it to them to characterize the timing and the exercises.
Moreiver, she said the U.S. will continue to work with as many countries as we can to increase the pressure on the Syrian regime.
"We have cut off our relationship completely on the economic front; we have called for President Asad to step aside. The European Union has completely cut its oil and economic relationship. We understand that Turkey is considering increasing the pressure on the Asad regime. And we do believe that the number of countries that is prepared to tighten the noose on the regime continues to grow and will grow, and we will work with them," Nuland said.
The Turkish armed forces will hold exercises in the Hatay area bordering Syria on Oct. 5-13, the Hurriyet newspaper reported citing the Turkish General Staff on Wednesday.
The Syrian authorities have repeatedly concentrated the security forces in regions bordering Turkey due to exodus of the Syrians back after the riots.
Some in Turkey argue that the Syrian troops conducted an operation in the border area to capture soldiers, deserters, trying to break in Turkey.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry earlier expressed concern in connection with Syria's military operations near the border and warned about the dangers of the Syrian side of such actions.
Meanwhile, the total number of Syrian nationals who fled to Turkey reached 7,605. They are housed in five camps under the administration of the Turkish Red Crescent.
Mass protests in Syria began in mid March in Dera'a, the country's south, then spreading to other regions. According to Syria's Presidential Adviser Bouthaina Shaaban, 1,400 people died. Half of those dead were members of the army and security forces. According to the UN, there are 3,600 people dead.