Speaking at an iftar with ambassadors in Ankara, President Erdoğan said: “The current order, which protects the powerful, disregards the rights of the weak, and confines the humanity’s fate to the mercy of five countries, is not sustainable. The United Nations Security Council urgently needs to be reformed with a comprehensive and inclusive approach.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared iftar with ambassadors in Ankara.
“I THANK ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO HAVE DISPLAYED SOLIDARITY WITH OUR NATION”
Delivering remarks at the iftar dinner, President Erdoğan, drawing attention to the earthquakes that hit Kahramanmaraş and its neighboring cities, stated that 90 countries with 11,320 personnel had responded to Türkiye’s international call for help, and said: “Your search and rescue teams have helped our hundreds of citizens be saved from the wreckage. The field hospitals you have built in the region have contributed to the treatment of the injured. Your in-kind and financial aids have played a role in meeting the urgent needs on the ground. I thank all our friends as well as brothers and sisters who, in addition to these aids, have shared our sorrow and displayed solidarity with our nation by calling us on the phone, by sending messages and by even visiting us in person.”
“WE DO NOT TURN OUR BACK ON THE TRAGEDIES TAKING PLACE IN OUR NEAR ENVIRON”
“Regardless of our faith, culture and origin, we are each an individual of the great family of humanity,” President Erdoğan stressed, and continued as follows: “Although we have differences of opinion, different priorities and different interests most of the time, the common denominator of all of us is human. On the basis of this common denominator, important duties fall to us to ensure global peace and tranquility. As Türkiye we endeavor to maintain our foreign policy, which stands out with its entrepreneurial and humanitarian features, on the axis of these principles. While boldly defending our country’s interests, we neither turn our back on the tragedies taking place in our near environ, starting with our neighbors, nor ignore conflicts or turn a deaf ear to the cries of the oppressed and the wronged.”
“WE HAVE AVERTED A GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS WITH BLACK SEA GRAIN INITIATIVE”
“Particularly, our stance, our facilitating and intermediary role in the Ukraine war is the latest example of this,” President Erdoğan said, and went on to say: “Since the very first day, Türkiye has been striving to produce a resolution to the crisis between its two neighbors, not to add fuel to the fire. The Black Sea grain initiative has shown that an environment of negotiation and reconciliation is possible despite the war conditions. With this diplomatic success we have achieved thanks to the support of our counterparts, we have averted a global food crisis.”
“I BELIEVE THAT A JUST PEACE IS POSSIBLE”
“As you know, since the beginning of the war I have been in contact with both Mr. Zelensky and Mr. Putin,” President Erdoğan further noted, and added: “I work sincerely in order for the conflicts to end. I believe that a just peace, which will provide the both sides with a dignified exit and pull our region out of the whirlpool it has been dragged into, is possible. Not only the Russia-Ukraine crisis, but also the chronic problems in Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia are awaiting resolutions. And yet, the international community hesitates to display the will that would handle crises. The unjust structure of organizations that are responsible for ensuring global security lies behind this picture that makes deadlocks seem ordinary.”
“UNSC URGENTLY NEEDS TO BE REFORMED”
“By saying, ‘the World is bigger than five,’, we have been drawing attention to this injustice and crookedness for some time now,” President Erdoğan said, and added: “The current order, which protects the powerful, disregards the rights of the weak, and confines the humanity’s fate to the mercy of five countries, is not sustainable. The United Nations Security Council urgently needs to be reformed with a comprehensive and inclusive approach. Unfortunately, innocent people continue to pay the price for each day we fail to take a step regarding this issue.”
“WE MAINTAIN OUR FIGHT AGAINST TERROR IN ALL ITS FORMS”
Pointing out that another area they needed to display solidarity was the fight against terror, President Erdoğan stressed that it was their fundamental duty to remove terror from the humanity’s agenda, and said: “To that end, we maintain our fight against terror in all its forms, PKK/PYD/YPG, FETO and DAESH in particular, without discriminating among them. We know and follow each and every initiative aimed at supporting the separatist terrorist organization through word games as well as diplomatic and military acrobatics. Obviously, we will put all this before concerned parties when the time comes.”
“WE SUPPORT STEPS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE BALKANS”
Underscoring that just as they had not allowed Türkiye to be surrounded with a terror corridor, they would definitely not allow new attempts, President Erdoğan stressed: “We will continue to implement our strategy to eliminate the terrorist threats to our country at their sources. We hope that the atmosphere created recently with Greece in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean is used as an opportunity to resolve problems. As has always been the case, we are supporting the steps that contribute to peace and stability in the Balkans.”
“TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THE ACTS THAT FUEL ISLAMOPHOBIA IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IS WORRISOME”
“Despite countless injustices we have been exposed to, European Union membership remains a strategic goal for us,” President Erdoğan underscored, and added: “Yet, turning a blind eye to the acts that fuel Islamophobia in some European countries is worrisome in terms of our future. These despicable acts, which include even burning the Quran, our holy book, are in no way acceptable or excusable. This is a clear and definite hate crime. Those, who allow our holy book to be burned under the pretext of freedom of thought, undermine the notions of democracy and freedom. I would like to underline that it is high time to put an end to these nefarious acts, which not only offend two billion people, but also infuriate them. I believe you will properly convey our expectations to relevant officials and the public in your countries.”
“WE ENHANCE OUR COOPERATION WITH THE U.S.”
Stating that the close dialogue with the U.S., Türkiye’s NATO ally, maintained, President Erdoğan noted: “Making use of the Strategic Mechanism between the two countries, we enhance our cooperation. We see the positive outcomes of our Latin America and Africa initiatives in many areas while consolidating our Asia Anew initiative. We work selflessly to strengthen our relations with your countries by means of our foreign mission network, the number of which has reached 260. That the number of the diplomatic missions in Türkiye has reached 302 contributes to our efforts.”
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ZERO WASTE
Further noting that the Zero Waste Project, carried out under the auspices First Lady Emine Erdoğan, had acquired a global dimension as a result of the resolution adopted at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Erdoğan said: “March 30 has been declared as the International Day of Zero Waste. A special session was held recently at the UN to mark this meaningful day. I thank each and every of you for your support for this issue that concerns the future of the humanity.”
https://www.tccb.gov.tr/en/news/542/145578/-eu-membership-remains-a-strategic-goal-for-us-