In his address to the 11th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) meeting, Director of Communications Altun stated, "Our President leads efforts to address the international system's injustices –starting with the UN Security Council— with the motto: 'The world is bigger than five.' We believe that 'a fairer world will be possible' once we reach that goal."
Noting that Türkiye is a unique and strategically important country because it is part of multiple continents and regions, Director of Communications Altun stated that Türkiye has played an active role in all issues related to Asia and that these efforts have been redoubled under President Erdoğan's leadership.
Director of Communications Altun explained how Türkiye launched the Asia Anew Initiative to develop its cooperation with Asian countries and said:
"Naturally, we are proud of our Asian identity. That is why we have shown strong interest in the ICAPP. We have always tried to use our geopolitical assets to create opportunities for our neighbours, our region, and all of humanity. Today, Türkiye realises its geographical, economic, diplomatic, and military potential – to be an indispensable partner in security, trade, energy, and irregular migration for Europe and Asia. President Erdoğan's leadership and the AK Party governments created a climate of stability in Türkiye – which is rare in our history and in our region as well. This political movement and its leader transformed Türkiye into an influential player in its region and worldwide. Today, our country engages in active diplomacy to voice its opinions, take action, and implement its decisions regarding regional and global issues."
“Türkiye as a Stabilising Power”
Director of Communications Altun emphasised how Türkiye distinguishes itself by its contributions to regional and global stability, which is why Türkiye has come to be described as a "stabilising power" in international relations literature.
Referring to the title of his most recent book, "Türkiye as a Stabilising Power in an Age of Turmoil," Director of Communications Altun underlined that under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership, Türkiye works for stability, peace, and goodness in the international arena.
Director of Communications Altun further went on to say:
"Today, we host more refugees and war victims than any other country. We are also among the world's top humanitarian donors. At the same time, we combat all forms of terrorism to consolidate our national security. We also lead efforts to promote regional and global security. In doing so, we develop our relations with all nations based on the 'win-win' principle. Our President leads efforts to address the international system's injustices –starting with the UN Security Council— with the motto: 'The world is bigger than five.' We believe that 'a fairer world will be possible' once we reach that goal.
Indeed, Türkiye's efforts for peace and stability yielded results in the Russia-Ukraine war. As the only leader that speaks with the Russian and Ukrainian presidents, President Erdoğan has been working for open dialogue, a diplomatic solution, and a just peace. Russia and Ukraine's faith in President Erdoğan and Türkiye made it possible for negotiations to begin in our country. It seems like that process has stopped. However, we believe that we can facilitate a return to negotiations and lasting peace."
"We are also ready to assume responsibility for ending the energy crisis"
Citing how President Erdoğan's leader-to-leader diplomacy facilitated the grain deal and a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine and how these developments keep hope alive, Director of Communications Altun stressed that Türkiye played a key role in preventing a global food crisis by facilitating the opening of a grain corridor.
Director of Communications Altun continued by saying:
"Negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian officials in İstanbul ended yesterday, and the grain deal has been extended. We are also ready to assume responsibility for ending the energy crisis – which was caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. Finally, Türkiye's national intelligence agency brought together the American and Russian intelligence chiefs in Ankara. That meeting was an important outcome of our principled and constructive policy. It also facilitated dialogue on threats against regional and global security. That initiative was a great example of intelligence diplomacy. And it highlighted Türkiye's potential and "stabilising power" status once again.
We are taking those steps to help peace and stability prevail in our region and worldwide. Of course, that hurts the interests and plans of those who benefit from uncertainty, chaos, and violence. In turn, they threaten us with sanctions –sometimes directly— and use terrorist organisations to make our country kneel. Our country faced many challenges, including coup attempts, terror attacks, economic sanctions, financial operations, and systematic disinformation. None of them made us kneel until now. And we will not bow to anyone in the future. Under President Erdoğan's leadership, Türkiye neutralised all those threats through unity, solidarity, and determination."
Emphasising that Türkiye achieves great results in the fight against terrorism, Director of Communications Altun said that they pursue a policy of robust development through a new and original modernisation experiment that does not depend on the West.
''We contribute to peace and stability with our diplomatic efforts''
Reporting that Türkiye pursues an independent foreign policy that puts Turkish interests first, Director of Communications Altun stated that they contribute to peace and stability with diplomatic efforts.
Underlining that all those things are possible because President Erdoğan and the AK Party have fought for democracy against anti-democratic actors for 20 years, Director of Communications Altun said, "It is important to recall Türkiye's fight for democracy at this meeting of the ICAPP – which promotes dialogue and cooperation among political parties. I believe that Türkiye's transformation –thanks to President Erdoğan's original policy of modernisation and development, democratisation efforts, and leader-to-leader diplomacy— represents an important experience for our friends, brothers, and sisters."
Director of Communications Altun stated that a country's diplomatic initiatives or role in international peace and security are directly linked to its efforts to strengthen democracy and empower civilian politics, which is why they attach importance to the ICAPP as a platform for solidarity and cooperation.
Director of Communications Altun pointed out that it is very important to cooperate more closely and address today's challenges together on such platforms.
At this point, drawing attention to fighting together against the terrorist organisation FETÖ – which carried out a coup attempt in Türkiye and remains operational in many countries, Director of Communications Altun said that all members of the ICAPP should raise awareness about FETÖ in their own countries.
Director of Communications Altun stated that Türkiye would completely support the fight against FETÖ, and of course, fight against all forms of terrorism.
''Türkiye took concrete steps to better combat disinformation and influence operations''
Commenting on disinformation, Director of Communications Altun stated that in recent months, with the support of oppressed and aggrieved peoples worldwide, Türkiye took concrete steps to better combat disinformation and influence operations.
Reporting that the steps made those groups, which run such campaigns and operations, very unhappy, Director of Communications Altun noted:
"There is only one thing that we tell them: 'There is no freedom of lying.' We reject the Western-centric, Eurocentric double standards on disinformation and influence operations. The same regulations are considered natural (and even encouraged) in Western countries. If you claim that those rules amount to "violations of free speech," then you must have different things in mind. That means you view those countries as places where you can conduct such operations. In other words, they say that it is acceptable for some states to meddle in elections and mislead the public in other countries.
I want to state very clearly that Türkiye will not bow to such double standards. There is no doubt that disinformation is a global threat today. That is why we must combat disinformation in bilateral and global contexts. In this sense, political parties have a very important responsibility. At the same time, we have to underline that there is a global order of exploitation regarding communication and the media. We must stand against that order with cooperation and joint initiatives.
Stating that together they can fight for the truth much more effectively, Director of Communications Altun added that, in this sense, establishing platforms to fight disinformation under the ICAPP umbrella would be a very significant step.