President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who wrote the introduction to the book titled "Türkiye's Friendly Hand: Humanitarian Diplomacy", says, "Türkiye is actively engaged in a vast array of issues, ranging from the fight against terrorism to peace diplomacy, global system reform to development aid. Humanitarian diplomacy is a significant component of these efforts, which we continue in pursuit of a fairer world."
The book, which examines Türkiye's foreign aid from the perspective of public diplomacy and nation branding, focuses on the foreign aid provided by Türkiye from past to present.
Featuring Türkiye's strong tradition in humanitarian aid, stemming from its history and culture, the book emphasises that Türkiye carries out its humanitarian diplomacy activities in a way that has earned the title of being "the most generous country in the world".
The book, which includes an introduction by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a preface by Director of Communications Prof Fahrettin Altun, covers chapters on Türkiye's foreign aid and soft power, the relationship between nation branding and foreign aid, Türkiye and humanitarian diplomacy, types of foreign aid, its historical development and foreign aids in Turkish Foreign Policy, and humanitarian diplomacy in the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the book, which provides examples of how aid is made and delivered by organisations such as TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency), Turkish Red Crescent, AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency) and Türkiye Diyanet Foundation, mask and medicine aids during the COVID-19 pandemic are also addressed. Underlining that Türkiye is a country that does not hesitate to extend its friendly hand to those in need, the book stresses that Türkiye differs from many donor countries due to the aid it provides.
"Türkiye come to the aid of the persecuted"
In the book's introduction, President Erdoğan states that throughout the world, conflicts, wars, injustices, inequality, terrorism, epidemics, climate change, migration, and racism cause severe humanitarian crises.
President Erdoğan calls attention to the fact that governments are unable to demonstrate the necessary solidarity in the face of these challenges that impact the entire human race and that no single nation can solve on its own, adding that international institutions are similarly incapable of demonstrating the necessary will and acting to find a solution.
Stating that this situation necessitates Türkiye to assume greater responsibility in the face of global developments as well as those occurring within its immediate geographic region, President Erdoğan underlines that Türkiye is actively engaged in a vast array of issues, ranging from the fight against terrorism to peace diplomacy, global system reform to development aid.
In the introduction part of the book, President Erdoğan notes:
"Humanitarian diplomacy is a significant component of these efforts, which we continue in pursuit of a fairer world. We, as Türkiye, provide unrivalled assistance to our brothers and sisters who fled the Syrian civil war and terrorist attacks and took refuge in our country. Türkiye, which currently hosts the greatest number of refugees in the world, ranks first in the world in terms of humanitarian aid per national income. Today, Türkiye seeks to extend a hand of friendship to all corners of the globe, regardless of religion, language, skin tone, or geographic region. Our voluntary organisations, foundations, associations, and government institutions, which are the embodiment of our nation's generosity, come to the aid of the persecuted, the victimised, and the impoverished. Providing medical supplies to 161 countries and 12 international organisations during the pandemic, when wealthy nations were entirely shut down, the Turkish government has once again shown the significance it places on sharing and solidarity."
Stating that he believes the book "Türkiye's Friendly Hand: Humanitarian Diplomacy" prepared by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications will be a work that emphasises the vastness of the compassion of our nation and the example that our country sets for the world in this field, President Erdoğan adds, "May Allah reward our aid workers who work devotedly all over the world."
In a post shared on his social media account regarding the book, Director of Communications Altun said, "I believe that the book 'Türkiye's Friendly Hand: Humanitarian Diplomacy', prepared by our Directorate, will increase awareness of our country's aid efforts on the humanitarian and diplomatic levels. I wish that it would be auspicious."