Kyrgyzstan to maintain neutrality on Ukraine situation - PM

BISHKEK. March 24 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan will make efforts to help settle the situation in Ukraine while maintaining neutrality, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov said.

"This is a huge tragedy that has happened between the two brotherly peoples of Russia and Ukraine. This is our pain, no matter how far away we are," Japarov said at a government meeting on Thursday.

Kyrgyzstan is "a small country, whose position influences little in this world, but any ill-advised decision might incur great troubles for our people," he said.

"Our country has split into two camps. At the individual level, this choice is justified, and everything depends on personal likings and mindsets. But I believe this approach [siding with one of the parties] at the state level would be injudicious and even irresponsible," Japarov said.