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, according to dpa. "With the spread of communication, societies' rightful demands for democratic freedom, good governance, transparency and the fight against corruption are intensifying. These demands are justified and cannot be ignored in contemporary societies," Davutoglu said at a press conference in Istanbul before departing for Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. "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 added. 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. -- SPA
