BISHKEK. April 25 (Interfax) - Just as with other countries, Kyrgyzstan cannot remain neutral toward the conflict in Ukraine, but its possible influence on the situation should not be overestimated, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said.
"Not only Western countries, but also others have declared that they cannot stand neutral on the matter," Japarov said in an interview with the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on Monday, when asked whether Kyrgyzstan might change its position in light of the West's warning that countries remaining neutral on Ukraine would also be sanctioned.
"We are a small country and have no influence. Whether we support any of the parties or not, this won't determine who wins," Japarov said.
The fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements would have helped avoid the conflict in Ukraine, Japarov said. "There would have been no war if strict implementation of the Minsk Agreements had been demanded. Not only Russia and Ukraine, but also France and Germany signed the Minsk Agreements," he said.
"The war might have been avoided, and the parties had this opportunity, but each of them misled their presidents by presenting incorrect information. Moreover, instead of taking steps to end the war, some are actually instigating" the opposite, he said.