Speaking at a platform on Syria's future in the region held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Davutoğlu said that he trusts the Syrian people, as they are members of well-educated and civil community. “Syrians will establish the most modern, peaceful and inclusive political system if they are left alone, and as long as they do not experience any outside provocations,” Davutoğlu said. He further stated that it is not possible for an Alawite or Kurdish state to be established within the territory of what is now Syria.
Remarking that the Syrians have lived together as different ethnic and religious groups in the same cities in peace for hundreds of years, Davutoğlu harshly criticized the Assad regime for its attempts to legitimize violence by sparking sectarian tension in the country.
Asked to comment if Ankara is planning to support the continued authority of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a post-war transition period, Davutoğlu replied: “Not Ankara, nor Washington nor London will decide this. The Syrian nation should decide which path it desires. I would like to greet the Syrian people from this platform, who are struggling with the regime's well-ordered troops that have been firing at them for two years now with missiles from jets and tanks and who are still resisting them.”
Davutoğlu continued, stating that after the commission of all of these crimes, it would be a grave injustice for the fate of the Syrians to be left in their slaughter's hands.