Clinton deplores Syrian escalation, welcomes Tunis talks

AFP, Washington, 13 Feb 2012 – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday lashed out at an escalating Syrian military crackdown as she welcomed a fresh chance to put international pressure on Damascus at talks soon in Tunis.
Clinton also said at a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu that Washington would work with Ankara to tackle Syria’s humanitarian problems, and obtain the entry of emergency supplies.
The chief US diplomat also reinforced White House and State Department caution over whether an Arab proposal for a peacekeeping force could work in Syria under the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
‘It is deplorable that the regime has escalated violence in cities across the country, including using artillery and tank fire against innocent civilians,’ said Clinton as she stood next to Davutoglu.
The US government on Friday released what it called ‘declassified national security imagery’ purporting to show tanks and artillery deployed toward the flashpoint Syrian central city of Homs.
It also released photographs purporting to show artillery deployed near Zabadani, Rankus and Halbun, as activists said more than 6,000 people have been killed since Assad launched a crackdown on pro-democracy protests last March.
‘We look forward to joining the Arab League initiative for the ‘Friends of Syria’ group, which will have its first meeting in Tunisia next week,’ Clinton said after the Arab League announced the meeting for Tunis on February 24.
Seeking other ways to turn the screws on Syria after Russia and China vetoed a second resolution on February 4, Clinton said Washington will work with Syria’s friends worldwide to support the peaceful aims of the opposition.
Clinton said here Monday that she and Davutoglu will ‘intensify our diplomatic pressure on the regime to end its campaign of violence.’
‘We will strengthen our targeted sanctions, bring the international community in condemnation of the actions of the Assad regime,’ the chief US diplomat said.
‘We will increase our outreach to the opposition, both inside and outside of Syria, and particularly we will work closely with Turkey and other partners to address the growing humanitarian concerns of those who are suffering,’ she said.
‘We are committed to working to allow the entry of medical supplies, of emergency help, to reach those who are wounded and dying,’ she said without elaborating how the aid would be delivered.
She added that the United States is increasing funding of aid organizations like the Red Crescent and Red Cross while working directly with grass-roots Syrian groups to help people without electricity, food and clean water.
In the run-up to the Tunis talks, she said Washington will work with Ankara and others to ‘promote a political process’ as Syrians deserve a ‘democratic future free of government oppression, terrorism and violent extremism.’
Davutoglu, who also met with US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday, echoed Clinton’s remarks.
‘There should be a new humanitarian initiative to reach out to people who are suffering because of the shortage of food, medicine everywhere in Syria,’ he said.
He said he spoke with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday about a Turkish initiative with the United Nations aimed at obtaining ‘humanitarian access’ to Syrians in need.
The Turkish top diplomat welcomed the upcoming Tunis talks.
‘The meeting in Tunisia will be an important international platform to show solidarity to (the) Syrian people and to send a strong and clear message to (the) Syrian regime that they can not continue this,’ he said.