Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the UN, in its current form, is unable to fulfill its basic functions of crisis resolution. He wrote this in an article for the American magazine Newsweek.
„The UN, established after World War II to maintain peace and security, is unfortunately no longer able to fulfill its basic function in the face of modern crises and conflicts. The Security Council, the main organ of the UN, based on the principles of justice and equality, has found itself limited by the will and interests of only five countries in making decisions on regional and global crises. This unjust structure, one of the main sources of impasses of our time, requires urgent reform so that the UN can truly become a functioning center of effective multilateralism in accordance with its founding principles and so that we can develop just solutions to global problems,” Erdogan wrote.
Turkey, he added, “places the diplomacy of dialogue and mediation at the center of its foreign policy, despite the vacuum created by the declining effectiveness of the UN and the multifaceted geopolitical challenges.”
“Our recent Black Sea Grain Initiative is the most striking example of this approach, which makes tangible contributions to both regional and global security and stability. In the vast region stretching from the Caucasus to Africa and from the Middle East to the Balkans, Turkey does not shy away from its responsibility for just diplomatic resolution of conflicts and the establishment of a sustainable and just peace,“ the Turkish leader said.
Erdogan said that the recognition of Palestine by other countries is the most powerful response to the occupation, blockade and oppression in the region.
“A just peace can only be achieved through the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, preserving its territorial integrity and its capital in East Jerusalem. This is essential for lasting peace and stability in the Middle East. Our call to the peoples of the world is clear: “Recognize the State of Palestine“. “Recognizing Palestine is indeed the most powerful response to the occupation, blockade and oppression. We congratulate the countries that have recently announced their support for this front, and we expect them to maintain their firm stance and translate their commitments into concrete steps,” Erdogan wrote.
He also called “Israel’s ongoing occupation and atrocities in the Gaza Strip one of the most severe tests of humanity’s conscience.” “This test is a disgrace to all of humanity and especially to members of the international system. Children and women are dying, and millions are left without the most basic things. We believe that the international community should demonstrate a more determined and sincere stance,” he said.
Speaking of Syria, Erdogan said it was “essential for regional stability.” “Since 2011, the conflict in Syria has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, the displacement of millions, and widespread destruction. Today, the reconstruction of Syria is crucial for stability in the entire Middle East. The interests of the Syrian people must be a priority in any decision regarding the future of this country. Lasting stability and peace in Syria can only be achieved by taking into account the collective will of the entire Syrian people, without granting privileges to any specific group,“ the president wrote.
Turkey, Erdogan noted, “will continue to uphold the principle of respecting the territorial integrity and political unity of Syria“. “Turkey opposes any initiatives that ignore the will of the Syrian people and create a springboard for separatist ambitions and terrorist organizations. The only way to correct the mistakes made in Syria over the past fourteen years is to promote the establishment of a stable state and social order based on a collective approach to security,“ Erdogan wrote.