Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu met with Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations in New York on March 11, 2014.

During the meeting crisis in Ukraine, recent situation in Syria and settlement negotiations in Cyprus were addressed.

Speaking to the press about the meeting Foreign Minister Davutoğlu said that he is pleased to note that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has similar views concerning the developments in Ukraine. Maintaining that the territorial integrity and the political unity of Ukraine are one of the main principles Foreign Minister Davutoğlu urged that any compromise on these principles can affect not only the region but the whole Eurasia. Foreign Minister Davutoğlu stated that he and the Secretary General underlined the importance of that the current and future governments in Ukraine should represent the whole country.

“During the meeting, I conveyed the problems of our Tatar brothers in Crimea in various areas including security” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu and pointed out that he is in contact with Mr. Mustafa Kırımoğlu, member of the Parliament of Ukraine and the necessary steps with regard to the current situation in Crimea are carried out in consultation.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu emphasized that Turkey has always stood by Crimean Tatar people and will continue in the future.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu also mentioned that he and the Secretary General agreed that settlement negotiations in Cyprus should be carried out towards eventual peace. Stating that Turkey and Greece as well as international community have provided a serious support to the new process in Cyprus, “I hope, this time, we will reach a settlement in Cyprus” said Foreign Minister Davutoğlu.

Foreign Minister Davutoğlu, on Syria, pointed out that Turkey requests that the UN Security Council resolutions regarding the elimination of chemical weapons and the humanitarian aid access should be implemented, adding that in case the regime in Syria does not implement these resolutions, the sanctions should be put in place.

Underlining that the future of Geneva process also depends on improvement of the humanitarian situation in Syria, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu noted that at the meeting, they agreed that both the UN and Turkish agencies should cooperate more closely particularly concerning the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to Syria through Turkish border gates.