Baku - APA. Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu said the referendum in Crimea is illegitimate, regarded the vote as groundless and unlawful. APA reports quoting Anadolu agency that Ahmet Davutoglu issued the statement after meeting with Crimean Tatars leader Mustafa Dzhemilev.
Minister said it is impossible to assess the Crimea referendum as the one, where free will was expressed in line with the international standards and which was followed by observers and attended by all voters.
"This referendum is also fully illegal both in terms of the Ukrainian constitution and Budapest Memorandum signed in 1994. According to the Budapest agreement, Ukraine gave up nuclear weapons to guarantee its territorial integrity. According to the document undersigned by Russia, UK and US, such a referendum is illegitimate," he said.
Ahmet Davutoglu said holding referendums on territorial integrity might escalate the frozen conflicts in the region.
“Azerbaijan's territorial integrity can not be the subject of dispute with referendum. Territorial integrity of Georgia and Moldova can not be the subject of dispute, either. If it happens, domino effect will cause instability in the entire region,” he said.
Minister said they support discussion and solution of the problem basing on the principles of OSCE, Council of Europe and UN.
Ahmet Davutoglu said they contacted Mustafa Dzhemilev from the very beginning.
“Crimean Tatars' living at peace and in stability, as equal-right citizens in their country is the principle which Turkey will never give up. Crimean Tatars have lived there for centuries and will always live there. The Turkish state and nation will continue supporting them," he said.
Ahmet Davutoglu said he discussed Crimea events with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Iyad Madani, the Secretary General said he supports Crimean Tatars and will meet with Mustafa Dzhemilev. He said Secretary General of the Turkic-Speaking States Cooperation Council Halil Akinci will also meet with Mustafa Dzhemilev. Ahmet Davutoglu said the issue was also discussed at the trilateral meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in Van.
"Prime Minister Erdogan will also hold consultations with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev," he said.
Mustafa Dzhemilev said the future of the Crimean Tatars is connected with Ukraine.
"We are hopeful. The problem will be solved in a diplomatic way. Ukraine's territorial integrity will be preserved, Crimean Autonomous Republic will remain a part of Ukraine and alien soldiers will be withdrawn from our lands. Otherwise, peace and stability in the Black Sea will be under threat," he said.
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