President Erdoğan: "At a time when Islamophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia are on the rise, the Alliance of Civilizations' vision and values are more necessary than ever."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the commemoration ceremony held at United Nations Headquarters in New York in commemoration of Jorge Sampaio, the former Portuguese President and first High Representative of the United Nations (UN) Alliance of Civilizations, who passed away in September.
President Erdoğan said that he was deeply saddened by the passing of Sampaio in his video message at the ceremony.
President Erdoğan extended his condolences to Sampaio's family, the Portuguese people, and the United Nations community, emphasising that Sampaio was a remarkable statesman who played an important role in Portugal's democracy history.
President Erdoğan said that throughout his political career, from Mayor of Lisbon to President, he worked to secure the effective implementation of pluralist democracy.
President Erdoğan said that they would always remember Sampaio for his contributions throughout his presidency to foster Türkiye-Portuguese friendship and collaboration, noting that they launched the Alliance of Civilizations Initiative in 2005 with Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a former Prime Minister of Spain, that the Initiative was adopted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and that Sampaio was the first High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which later became a United Nations Initiative.
"He worked tirelessly to transform the Alliance of Civilizations into a structure dedicated to global peace"
President Erdoğan added:
"Mr Sampaio made major contributions to the Alliance of Civilizations' conceptual framework and institutionalisation, as well as to the diversification of its actions, during his tenure from 2007 to 2012. He worked tirelessly to transform the Alliance of Civilizations into a structure dedicated to global peace. Indeed, under Mr Sampaio's leadership, the Alliance of Civilizations developed into a crucial component of the United Nations system, moving beyond a platform. The Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilization, which was founded under the auspices of the United Nations, today has 146 members, including states and international organisations."
Emphasising the significant impact of Mr Sampaio's inclusive attitude on the current status of the Alliance of Civilizations, President Erdoğan stated that considerable efforts had been made toward making the Alliance of Civilizations a successful and effective peace project since its establishment.
President Erdoğan said:
"At a time when Islamophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia are on the rise, the Alliance of Civilizations' vision and values are more necessary than ever. This initiative, the seeds of which we planted 16 years ago, provides a critical way out of the world's current crises. With these thoughts, I once again commemorate Mr Sampaio with respect and express my condolences to his family, loved ones and the Alliance of Civilizations."