Arab peoples’ demands need be heard, says Turkish minister

ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the demands of citizens throughout the Middle East for democratic freedoms need to be addressed, the semi-official Anatolia Agency reported Friday.

“With the spread of communication, societies’ rightful demands for democratic freedom, good governance, transparency and the fight against corruption are intensifying,” Davutoglu said at a press conference in Istanbul before departing for Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“These demands are justified and cannot be ignored in contemporary societies,” he added.

“What’s important is for these demands to be addressed in the political arena and without leading to interference in these countries’ political course overall,” Davutoglu said.

While Davutoglu did not comment specifically on protests currently taking place in Egypt against the government, he mentioned the recent overthrow of the government of Tunisia and political upheaval in Lebanon, saying Turkey is closely watching developments in the region.

Turkey has taken an increasingly active foreign policy role towards Arab countries. Davutoglu participated in recent negotiations in Lebanon to help solve the country’s political crisis and said Friday that Turkey might also send a delegation to Tunisia.