Speeches

Ambassador’s Answer to a Reporter’s Question on Syria Governor’s Office, Bursa

March 14, 2005

AMBASSADOR EDELMAN: I think the important thing with regard to Syria is that the international community is united behind UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which was co-sponsored by the United States and France, and which calls for the withdrawal of all Syrian forces promptly from Lebanon and the disarming of militias in Lebanon. This is a policy that has international support. When President Bush came to Europe, it was a policy that was endorsed by President Chirac, by Chancellor Schroeder, by the Russian Government, by the Saudi Arabian Government, and by the Egyptian Government, and we continue to believe that that is the best course for stability in the region. We hope that Turkey will also join in that international consensus, in supporting a thorough and immediate Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon. How Turkey wants to reflect the international community’s general position is for Turkey to determine.