Foreign Ministers of Turkic countries convene in Aegean resort town

Foreign ministers from five Turkic countries yesterday arrived in the Aegean resort town of Bodrum at the invitation of Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to hold informal talks on a variety of issues, including bilateral relations. The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are all set to attend. During his three-day stay in Bodrum, Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is expected to meet with Davutoglu to discuss bilateral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry also said the six diplomats will discuss the possibility of providing humanitarian aid to Kyrgyzstan. The small, ethnically divided Central Asian country was swept into chaos this spring after an ethnic conflict between its Uzbek and Kyrgyz communities. Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev is also set to discuss ways to strengthen communications and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest between the participating countries.