Turkish foreign minister to visit Afghanistan and Pakistan next week

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

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"I will pay the visits as the foreign minister of a country that is a close friend of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and which holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council," Davutoglu, currently on a formal visit to the United States, was quoted by Anatolian Agency as telling reporters before departing for New York from Washington.

"The international community feels uneasy over the developments in Pakistan and Afghanistan," he added.

Davutoglu said his visit to the region aims at observing what could be done in the region in a political sense and to ensure a closer cooperation among friendly political groups and civil associations.

The Turkish foreign minister met high level officials, including the U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, during his stay in Washington.

Davutoglu is due to hold talks with U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, in New York on Thursday and chair a U.N. Security Council session.

He is also expected to meet U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday.

Davutoglu's U.S. visit comes as Turkey takes over the United Nations Security Council's rotating presidency as of Monday.