TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Monday that his country does not recognize the outcome of a referendum on Crimea.



Davutoglu made the remarks during a joint press conference with former chairman of Crimean Tatar National Assembly and deputy of Ukrainian parliament Mustafa Kirimoglu after their talks in the Turkish capital of Ankara. "The referendum is not legitimate," Davutoglu said, adding that ways for solution have not closed despite the referendum.

In a referendum organized by the government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and by the local government of Sevastopol, people were asked to vote on two options; reuniting Crimea with Russia or restoring the 1991 Crimean constitution and remaining part of Ukraine.

Official results showed on Monday that 96.6 percent of Crimeans voted to join Russia, Xinhua reported.

For his part, Kirimoglu said that Crimean Tatars, who support territorial integrity of Ukraine, boycotted the referendum, noting that 99 percent of Crimean Tatars did not go to polls on Sunday.

"If there are any that went to polls, it's because they are not informed. But I am sure they voted for territorial integrity of Ukraine," said Kirimoglu, adding that the population of Crimean Tatars are nearly 14-15 percent in the Crimean peninsula.

He expressed hope that the problem can be still solved through diplomatic ways.

Turkey is in close dialogue with Crimean Tatars since they have Turkish origins.

By Tasnim News Agency

 

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