President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presented the books "Religious Diversity and Shared Understanding: Peaceful Coexistence within the Same Geography" and "UN Reform: A New Approach to International Cooperation," prepared by the Directorate of Communications, to Heads of State and leaders at the 78th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, which he attended.
President Erdoğan gifted the leaders books titled "Religious Diversity and Shared Understanding: Peaceful Coexistence within the Same Geography" and "UN Reform: A New Approach to International Cooperation," which detail the democratisation steps, comprehensive reforms, and legal regulations implemented in Türkiye over the last 21 years for various religions and faith groups.
The book "UN Reform: A New Approach to International Cooperation" was prepared for last year's UN General Assembly and presents Türkiye's arguments on UN reform in three chapters: "Why is UN Reform Necessary?" "The Importance of the United Nations in the Field of International Peace, Peacekeeping, and Humanity's Problems" and "Reasons and Proposals For UN Reform."
In the book "Religious Diversity and Shared Understanding: Peaceful Coexistence within the Same Geography" prepared for this year's UN General Assembly, for which President Erdoğan wrote the foreword, the chapters "Removal of Barriers to the Use of Diverse Languages and Dialects," "Facilitation of Property Ownership for Community Foundations," "Bringing the Education System to a More Democratic and Pluralistic Structure," "Extending the Cultural Rights of Diverse Religions and Faith Groups," "Extending the Areas of Freedom of Diverse Religious and Faith Groups" were included.
The book also includes a chronology of the efforts made in this field and historical meetings held by President Erdoğan with representatives of diverse religions and belief groups.
The book, prepared in Turkish and English, emphasises that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, democratic improvements in all areas have reached all segments of society, irrespective of language, religion, or ethnicity.
"Türkiye will continue to take concrete and permanent steps in all areas regarding its efforts to live peacefully under the same sky with different religious and faith groups today as it did yesterday," the book reads.
"We will continue to welcome all those tied to Türkiye by citizenship."
In the foreword, President Erdoğan stated that a country's level of civilisation was dependent upon its economic and technological progress, as well as its citizens' capacity to fully enjoy their freedom of religion and belief.
Emphasising that this was how the global Ottoman State managed to keep its subjects of various beliefs, cultures, and languages in peace and tranquillity for 6 centuries, President Erdoğan said:
"It is our duty to both our history and future generations to carry on this trait inherited from our forefathers. With this understanding, we have taken numerous steps over the last 21 years to expand the religious freedom and conscience of all faith groups living in our country, as well as to meet their demands and needs. We have not allowed any of our citizens to be marginalised or despised because of their faith, identity, or culture. Despite many troubles and the destruction brought on by the tragedies experienced in our region for the last 150 years, we have not let our commitment to coexistence waver in the least.
At a time when intolerance rises, and cultural racism and fanaticism spread like a plague all over the world, we see that this encompassing understanding of our nation to regard diversity as richness gains even more importance. As members of a civilisation that regards 'human beings as the most honourable of all creations,' we shall continue to embrace everyone who is connected to Türkiye through citizenship without any discrimination. This book, prepared by our Directorate of Communications, is an exceptional work that portrays our country's climate of tolerance. I hope that the work, which I believe will be a source of reference for those who want to get to know Türkiye’s humane and cultural treasures more closely, will be auspicious, and I congratulate those who contributed."