Ukraine split may destabilize Eurasia, Davutoğlu says

ANKARA

Ahmet Davutoğlu shakes hands with his Turkmen counterpart Raşit Meredow ahead of a press statement in Ankara, March 7. AA photo

Any threat to the territorial integrity of Ukraine could lead to instability throughout Eurasia, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said, noting Turkey was concerned about the decision regarding an early referendum in Crimea.

“The exclusion of any ethnic or political side may cause further unrest in the country and pose a threat throughout the Black Sea basin,” the minister said on March 7, speaking at a joint press conference with Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Raşit Meredow.

Stressing the need for an all-inclusive political structure in Ukraine, Davutoğlu expressed concern over the recent decision by the Russian-majority Parliament of the Autonomous Crimea to hold a referendum on March 16 to determine whether or not to join Russia.

The Crimean peninsula should remain an autonomous republic in Ukraine with peace among all its ethnicities, including the Turkic community of the Crimean Tatars, Davutoğlu said, urging Crimean authorities to avoid any actions that could escalate the tension.