Baku, Azerbaijan, March 4
By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend:
Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu have discussed the situation in the Crimea, the Turkish Sabah newspaper reported on March 4.The meeting was held in private.
It was reported earlier that the Turkish FM held a meeting with representatives of the Crimean Tatars Association in Ankara.
"We are the first to hasten to help Crimea where there are relics left by our ancestors," he said, pointing to the importance of preserving the unity and integrity of Ukraine, as well as equality of citizens in that country.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed that the necessary measures are taken in connection with events taking place in the Crimea, according to Davutoglu.
The Turkish FM further said that all the details of this issue were discussed during the meeting lasting more than three hours.
Mass protests in Ukraine began on November 21, 2013, when the government announced the suspension of the preparation of a Association Agreement with the EU. As a result of protests in Ukraine, the country's President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted on Feb.22. The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) has approved the new composition of the parliament and is preparing to hold pre-term elections.
On Feb.26 several thousand people taking part in two rallies, gathered in front of the Supreme Council of Crimea. After the escalation of protest action in Crimea, the Federation Council supported President Vladimir Putin's appeal regarding the use of the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine pending 'normalisation of the socio-political situation in that country'.
Leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK and the U.S., as well as chairman of the European Council and the chairman of the European Commission issued a joint statement condemning Russia's position on Ukraine and cancelled preparations for the G8 summit in Sochi, scheduled for June 2014.
Translated by S.I.
Edited by S.M.