Turkey says ready to help ensure stability in Kyrgyzstan

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday Turkey is ready to do its utmost to ensure peace and stability in Kyrgyzstan, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

"We consider Kyrgyzstan as a very important and friendly country. We attach great importance to stability and prosperity of Kyrgyzstan," Davutoglu was quoted of telling a joint news conference with visiting Slovenian Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar here.

The Turkish embassy in Kyrgyzstan has taken all necessary measures to protect Turkish citizens and firms in the country, said Davutoglu.

He said he had talked with Foreign Minister Kanat Saudabayev of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and that the three ministers agreed to extend all kinds of support for stability in Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz opposition parties on Thursday claimed to form an interim coalition government, while President Kurmanbek Bakiyev refused to step down after clashes that left at least 75 people dead and another 1,000 injured.

The interim government led by former Foreign Minister Roza Otunbayeva would replace the government of Bakiyev, who fled the capital to southern Kyrgyzstan after a day of bloody unrest.

At Thursday's press conference, Slovenian Foreign Minister Zbogar said his country strongly supports Turkey's bid to join the European Union (EU).

The EU launched accession talks with Turkey in October 2005 but has only opened 12 chapters, or negotiating areas, out of 35 that are required so far.

Source: Xinhua