President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made remarks and answered journalists' questions on current issues at the Türkevi Centre in New York, where he was attending the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Noting that his visit to New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly was drawing to a close, President Erdoğan recalled that this year’s General Assembly events, attended by heads of state and government from more than 130 countries, were held under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation".
Recalling that he addressed the United Nations General Assembly on the second day of the meetings, President Erdoğan said: "In my address, while emphasising our country’s support for multilateralism, we shared our views on developments in our region. We underscored the need for a more inclusive, fairer and more effective global system under five key points. We once again brought the plight of our brothers and sisters in Gaza to the world’s attention. I explained our approach, which is based on regional ownership in addressing the threats we face."
President Erdoğan said that, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, he also attended a meeting that brought together the United States and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council that same day, adding that they had shared their views and proposals on bringing security and stability to the Middle East.
Noting that climate action and a fair transition were also among the prominent issues discussed during this year’s General Assembly meetings, President Erdoğan recalled that Türkiye would host the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31) in Antalya from November 9 to 20.
President Erdoğan said they would welcome 100,000 participants from around the world in Antalya, adding that, in his address to the General Assembly, he had also shared Türkiye’s comprehensive initiatives, particularly those aimed at preventing food waste, as well as the Zero Waste Movement launched at the initiative of his spouse, First Lady Emine Erdoğan.
Intensive schedule of meetings and engagements
Drawing attention to his intensive schedule of meetings and engagements during his visit to New York, President Erdoğan said:
"In addition to Secretary-General António Guterres, whose term will end this year, I met with my counterparts from Vietnam, Libya, Kuwait, Kosovo, Lebanon, Georgia, Qatar, Senegal, the United Kingdom, Japan, Poland, Bangladesh, Armenia, Iraq and Ukraine, respectively. During our meetings, we discussed bilateral issues as well as steps we can take to prevent ongoing instability and conflicts in our immediate region. During our visit to New York, I also met with leading U.S. business representatives and think tanks. At these meetings, I explained the investment and trade opportunities in our country. Today, I also attended a programme organised with the participation of the Turkish-American Muslim community, where we embraced our friends and brothers and sisters. As you know, next year marks the centennial of diplomatic relations between the United States and Türkiye. We aim to mark this important milestone in the relations between our two friendly countries in a manner befitting its significance. We know President Trump shares our views, and we want to make 2027 a landmark year for Turkish-American relations. With these thoughts in mind, I hope our visit yields positive outcomes. I will now take your questions."
"This unfair structure cannot preserve global stability and peace"
Reminded that, in his article for Bloomberg, he had stressed the need for UN reform and Türkiye’s readiness to assume its share of responsibility in the pursuit of this reform, President Erdoğan was asked, “What is your vision for the UN?” He replied, "Today, we have a United Nations in which the will of more than 190 countries is constrained by the veto power of just five countries.” This unfair structure cannot preserve global stability and peace, remain faithful to the fundamental principles it has set forth, or fulfil its promise to humanity. The issue is not simply about Türkiye having a greater say. The issue is about Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Islamic world, Europe and all other regions being fairly represented in this global system through their own experiences and their own will."
President Erdoğan continued:
"That is why we say the veto mechanism should be abolished. Let us move from a United Nations model that protects only five members to a mechanism that embraces all members. Let us make the General Assembly strong, robust and effective." The new mechanism should be a fairer system in which elected members serve for set terms, and those who want to serve again must earn the trust of the international community once again Allow all members—not just five—to offer solutions to the world's problems and make decisions. Because the world no longer needs new walls; it needs new bridges."
“Today, the world is increasingly moving towards the position we have advocated from the very beginning.”
Recalling his remarks at the UN General Assembly, “As long as Allah grants me life, I shall continue from this rostrum to speak the truth,” President Erdoğan was asked to reflect on his long journey from his first address to the General Assembly to his latest. He stated, “This journey entails an unwavering stance. When we first took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly, we stood for the same principles and expressed the same views as we do today. Thankfully, we remain steadfast in our position."
President Erdoğan said that developments in Syria, Iraq, the Russia-Ukraine war, Africa, Myanmar and, most recently, Gaza had repeatedly demonstrated the truth of what he had been saying, adding that the foundations of the Russia-Ukraine war had been laid back in those years.
President Erdoğan noted that many issues in the region had been exacerbated by the misguided steps taken at the time, with sparks turning into raging fires, and said, "Had the world heeded our warnings back then and taken the necessary measures, so many lives would not have been lost. If United Nations reform had been implemented during those years, the conflicts and wars that we see today in our region and around the world could have been avoided."
President Erdoğan emphasised that the fact that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had been unable to attend the United Nations for two consecutive years was in itself a reflection of how deeply injustice had become entrenched in the international system, adding: “Our aim is not to oppose any country. Our concern is to combat injustice. For our part, we are pleased that we have always stood on the right side of history, from those days to the present, and have never taken a single step that would disgrace our nation. Today, the world is increasingly moving towards the position we have advocated from the very beginning.”
Asked by a journalist, “Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is declining sharply. The steep drop in the number of vessels passing through the region shows that the crisis is no longer just about Iran, but has become an issue affecting global energy and trade. Does Türkiye have a concrete plan to bring the United States and Iran to a ceasefire, and what are you proposing to the parties?" President Erdoğan said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz showed the issue was no longer solely between Iran and the United States.
Emphasising that Türkiye had made its position on the matter absolutely clear, President Erdoğan said, "We oppose the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved. Any tension in the Strait of Hormuz directly affects not only the countries of the region, but also Europe, Asia, energy markets, transport and the daily lives of millions of people.”
Drawing attention to the dramatic decline in commercial shipping traffic in recent months as a clear indication of the scale of the issue, President Erdoğan said that the Strait of Hormuz was vital to global energy security and international trade.
President Erdoğan underlined that the Strait of Hormuz should be opened as the key to resolving problems through dialogue and negotiations, adding, "We are telling our counterparts that we need to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. Instead of opening new fronts, it is necessary to open new diplomatic channels."
Asked whether establishing a new security mechanism similar to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and reviving the grain corridor might be on the agenda, President Erdoğan said that Black Sea security was of great importance to both Türkiye and the region.
President Erdoğan reiterated that the Black Sea should not, and must never be, a battleground in this conflict and continued:
"In our discussions with the parties, we emphasise the importance of restoring navigational safety. This will have two advantages: it will provide food security while also preventing the war from spreading. We have made it clear that we will not tolerate attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea, regardless of who carries them out, and that we expect all parties to act responsibly. We have stepped up our efforts to re-establish the grain corridor. We are also stepping up our diplomatic efforts to this end. I discussed the issue with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine once again, and the response I received from him was positive."