Strongly criticizing Russia and China for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution aimed at ending the bloodshed in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has said Turks and Arabs will pay the price for these nay votes, Today's Zaman reported.
"They cast the vote but Arabs and Turks will pay the price for it," he was quoted as saying by Turkey's NTV news channel. Davutoğlu spoke at the Munich Security Conference, an annual gathering of security officials, on Sunday -- a day after Moscow and Beijing vetoed the UN Security Council resolution. Accusing the two countries of failing to act "ethically" and of showing Cold War era reflexes, Davutoglu said Turkey does not want a Cold War in the region.
The Turkish foreign minister once again vowed solidarity with the Syrian people, saying his country would welcome Syria's entire population with open arms. "Our doors are open to the Syrians who are currently in trouble," he said.
"Russia and China did not vote based on existing realities but more as a reflex to [the] West. Veto power should not be used from this perspective," Davutoglu said. "By vetoing a very softly worded resolution, what kind of message are we sending to the Syrian people and the region?" he asked.
NATO member Turkey shares a 900-kilometer-long border with Syria. Top Turkish leaders have criticized Syria's crackdown on protesters many times and called on former ally Bashar al-Assad to step down. Turkey has also imposed sanctions on Damascus.
Turkey is currently hosting several thousand Syrian refugees, including members of the rebel Syrian Free Army, at camps, while the opposition Syrian National Council meets regularly in İstanbul.