YouSaid · the spoken record

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

lines on the record: 298
first: 2007-09-24
most recent: 2023-09-24
sittings or episodes: 12
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Likewise, thanks to the regions we made secure, we succeeded in preventing that millions of Syrians living in different parts of the country, particularly Idlib, left their homeland. Turkey hosts approximately 4 million Syrians on its own territory for years by addressing all their needs. We also meet the needs of approximately the same number of Syrians on-site, in the regions that we keep under control, especially in areas close to our border. Ultimately, we are building tens of thousands of briquette houses in Idlib and elsewhere for our brothers and sisters. We carry out all these activities with our own means and with the support of our people, without a significant support from the international community or international organizations.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“As Turkey, we are looking for ways to eliminate threats to our country and humanity, by taking any kind of initiative if required. The conflict in Syria, which entered its 10th year, continues to pose a threat to the security and stability of our region. As the country that struck the first and most serious blow against DAESH in the region, we continue to fight against the PKK-YPG terrorist organization. As the international community, we cannot find a permanent solution to the Syrian issue without adopting the same principled attitude and decisive stance against all terrorist organizations. This approach is also essential for ensuring safe and voluntary returns to Syria. The return of more than our 411,000 Syrian brothers and sisters to the regions we liberated from terrorist organizations in Syria is the most clear indicator of this.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“No matter which country they are produced in, vaccines to be made ready-for- use should be offered to the common benefit of humanity. Dear Delegates, With the pandemic, we have once again experienced together how vital elements such as State capacity, effective governance and resilience are. Behind Turkey’s success story lies effective governance mechanisms that we have established with the Presidential Government System, a high capacity developed by our infrastructure investments in the area of health, and qualified human resources. However, the pandemic adversely affected conflict dynamics around the world and increased vulnerabilities. We regret that the United Nations Secretary General’s call for a global humanitarian ceasefire, which we also support, has not produced concrete results.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“With the repatriation operations we carried out, we ensured the return of more than a hundred thousand of our citizens in 141 countries, to their homes. With the same flights, we carried more than 5,500 foreigners from sixty-seven countries to their homes. We did not do all these with the intention of carry in gouta “corona virus diplomacy”. We did not expect and still do not hope for any compensation from anyone for our aid and repatriation efforts. Standing with the victims and the oppressed is in the veins of our Nation and in the essence of our “Enterprising and Humanitarian Foreign Policy”. I once again call for the supply of medical equipment and drugs and vaccine development efforts not to be made an issue of competition.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Considering that we have not yet overcome the pandemic crisis, we should try to use the institutions and mechanisms we have for multilateral cooperation in the most effective way. Where problems are global, local solutions can only save the day. International solidarity is essential for long-term solutions. In Turkey, since the early days of the outbreak of the crisis, we have called for cooperation in all international platforms. We have been in the forefront of efforts to combat the pandemic in the G-20, the Turkic Council, MIKTA, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other platforms. We reached out to 146 countries and 7 international organizations that requested medical equipment assistance, with the understanding that “A sure friend is known in unsure times”.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“The fate of humanity cannot be left at the mercy of a limited number of countries. In order to prevent the loss of reputation of international organizations, we must first review our mentality, institutions and rules. Effective multilateralism requires effective multilateral institutions. We must rapidly implement comprehensive and meaningful reforms, starting with the restructuring of the Security Council. We must provide the Council with a more effective, democratic, transparent and accountable structure and functioning. Likewise, we should also strengthen the General Assembly, which reflects the common conscience of the international community. Looking at the full part of the glass, the United Nations preserves its potential to be the turning point in humanity’s quest for peace, justice and prosperity.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“When we look at the picture in front of us, we need to accurately and sincerely evaluate the full and empty parts of the glass. In the empty part of the glass, there is the need of a reform for multilateral organizations, in particular the United Nations. We have seen how ineffective the existing global mechanisms have been during this crisis. This was so much true that it took weeks, even months, for the Security Council, the most fundamental decision-making body of the United Nations, to include the pandemic on its agenda. At the beginning of the pandemic, a scene emerged where countries were left on their own. Thus, we have once again seen the rightfulness of the “The World is bigger than Five” thesis, which I have been advocating for years from this rostrum.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I have no doubts that he will carry out his duty in a fair and transparent manner. I wish Mr. Bozkir every success in his duty, which he assumes on such a meaningful date as the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. I think holding the General Assembly under the theme of “Fight against COVID-19 and Multilateralism” is the right decision. As Turkey, we stand by our commitments and we are determined to maintain our support in the fight against COVID-19. The pandemic caught the world at a time when it was having difficulties in coping with various challenges. Globalization, rules-based international system and multilateralism, which were already the subject of discussions, are now even more questioned under the impact of the pandemic.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“Mr. President, Distinguished Heads of State and Government, Mr. Secretary General, Esteemed Delegates, I greet you with respect on behalf of myself and my Nation. I would like to thank Mr. Muhammed-Bande for his successful work at the United Nations during this difficult period. I also wholeheartedly congratulate my former colleague, Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, who has taken over the Presidency of the General Assembly. Ambassador Bozkir’s election to this post with the support of the overwhelming majority of countries is a sign of his personal qualities as an experienced diplomat and politician, as well as confidence in Turkey. As the first Turkish citizen to undertake the highest-ranking position within the United Nations system, I believe that Ambassador Bozkir will be the voice and conscience of the international community.”
2020-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 75 (2020)
“I would like to conclude my remarks with the following wishes: freedom for all, peace for all, prosperity for all, justice for all and a peaceful and safe future for all. I wish every success for the work of the seventy-fourth session of the General Assembly. On behalf of my people, I extend greetings to all members with the most heartfelt love and respect.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries became operational last year in Istanbul. We also appreciate the positive and encouraging reactions we have received to date to our proposal to host a United Nations youth centre in Istanbul, which I announced last year from this very rostrum (see A/73/PV.6). There are now 59 members of the Group of Friends of Mediation, which we co-chair. We have carried that United Nations initiative into the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. I believe that it is within our reach to find fair, equitable and conscientious solutions to all the global challenges we face.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Turkey stands ready to support all endeavours and initiatives in that regard. With that understanding, we are willing to assume the presidency of the General Assembly at it seventy-fifth session We have therefore nominated to that important post Ambassador Volkan Bozkir, former Minister of European Union Affairs and current Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. We have full confidence that Mr. Bozkir, a seasoned diplomat and politician, will shoulder that responsibility very successfully. I trust that the Assembly will give him its full support. Istanbul, the biggest city in Turkey, currently hosts various United Nations regional agencies and we would like to turn Istanbul into a bigger regional and global hub for the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I also invite the Islamic world to start a thorough assessment of all issues, in particular the Sunni-Shia divide, which have fuelled its internal conflicts and political power struggles to date, and to settle their disputes once and for all. Turkey is a rightful successor to the collective heritage of both Eastern and Western civilizations, owing to its geographical location at the centre of the ancient world. Therefore, we are obliged to take the necessary steps, assume responsibility and rise to the occasion. We will continue to fulfil our responsibilities to humankind because we are deeply affected, directly and indirectly, by the crises that besiege our region. A United Nations — and especially a Security Council — that is reformed on the basis of justice, moral values and conscience will again give hope and aspirations to humankind.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“As statesmen and stateswomen, it is our fundamental duty to adopt inclusive and tolerant public rhetoric to eradicate the scourge of terrorism once and for all. The Secretary-General recently introduced the Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites, a United Nations initiative in the establishment of which Turkey played a lead political role within the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations. We hope it will help raise awareness on the issue. I hereby request the designation of 15 March by the United Nations — the date the Christchurch attack was carried out — as the International Day for Solidarity against Islamophobia.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Just as the terrorist attack targeting Muslims in New Zealand was wrong and unacceptable, acts of terrorism targeting Christians in Sri Lanka and Jewish communities in the United States are equally wrong and unacceptable. We are responsible for turning that disease into a raging insanity. Populist politicians seeking votes by provoking such tendencies, as well as the communities that normalize hate speech under the pretext of freedom of expression, are primarily the ones to blame. Prejudice, ignorance and bigotry, as well as attempts to marginalize migrants, in particular Muslims, have paved the way for the rise in such morbid tendencies, which can be defeated only by our common will and efforts.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Turkey will continue to carry out initiatives to ensure the security and fundamental rights of the Rohingya people, as well as the humanitarian relief activities it has undertaken since day one. The invasions, conflicts and terrorist activities that have continued uninterrupted in Afghanistan for almost four decades have also raised challenges at the global level. It is high time for peace and security to be restored. It is up to us to assume that responsibility and to take action. Today, one of the biggest threats to global peace and stability is the rise in racist, xenophobic, discriminatory and anti-Islamic rhetoric. Muslims are the primary targets of hate speech, discrimination and defamation against their sacred values. The most striking recent example was the terrorist attack perpetrated last March in Christchurch, New Zealand.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Despite the resolutions that the Security Council has adopted, Kashmir remains besieged and 8 million people are still stuck in Kashmir; they cannot leave. In order for the Kashmiri people to look towards a safe future with their Pakistani and Indian neighbours, it is imperative to solve the problem with dialogue and on the basis of justice and equality, instead of with conflict. Another issue to which the world appears to remain indifferent is the humanitarian tragedy faced by Rohingya Muslims. The independent commission of inquiry, established under the auspices of the United Nations, has recorded the existence of a genocidal intent behind the events perpetrated in Myanmar’s Rakhine state.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Turkey will continue to stand by the oppressed people of Palestine, as it has always done. It is also very important for the South Caucasus to cease to be one of the areas of conflict and tension in the world, with a view to achieving a fair and peaceful future. It is unacceptable that Nagorno Karabakh and its surrounding areas, which are Azerbaijani territories, are still occupied despite all the resolutions that have been adopted in that regard. One of the problems to which the international community has failed to devote enough attention is the Kashmir conflict, which has been awaiting a solution for 72 years. The stability and prosperity of South Asia cannot be separated from the Kashmir issue.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Are they the 1947 borders, the 1967 borders or is there another border of which we must be informed? How can the Golan Heights and the West Bank settlements be seized, just like other occupied Palestinian territories, before the eyes of the world if they do not fall within the official borders of that State? Is the aim of the initiative promoted as the deal of the century to entirely eliminate the presence of the State and the people of Palestine? Is there a thirst for more bloodshed? All the actors of the international community, in particular the United Nations, should provide concrete support to the Palestinian people beyond mere promises. It is very important in that regard for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to continue its activities effectively.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Under this roof we adopt resolutions that effect no change. When and where, then, can justice prevail? That is the origin of our suffering and pain. The current Israeli Government, together with their murders and atrocities, is busy intervening in and attacking the historical legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sacred sites and artefacts. We as Turkey have a clear stance on that issue — the immediate establishment of an independent Palestinian State, with homogeneous territories on the basis of the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, is the only solution. Any other peace plan, apart from that, will never stand a chance at being fair, just and implemented. Now, from the rostrum of the General Assembly, I ask those present, where are the borders of the State of Israel?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“This is 1947, the land of Palestine. There is almost no Israeli presence in those lands; the entire territory belongs to the Palestinians, as the map suggests. However, in 1947, the distribution plan took place and was ratified, Palestinian lands began to shrink and Israel started expanding. From 1947 to 1967 Israel continued to expand and Palestine continued to shrink. In the current situation there is seemingly no Palestinian presence and the entire land belongs to Israel. But is that enough for Israel? No, Israel remains intent on taking over the remaining territories. What about the Security Council, the United Nations and their resolutions? Are those resolutions being activated, implemented and enforced? No, they are not. We must therefore ask ourselves, what purpose does the United Nations serve?”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“They have both become a profound symbol of the need for justice and equality in the region. We also hope that the discussions about Iran’s activities, as well as the related threats to that country, will be resolved in a rational manner. The Palestinian territories today under Israeli occupation have become one of the most striking places of injustice. If the images of an innocent Palestinian woman who was heinously murdered by Israeli security forces on the street just a few days ago will not awaken the global conscience, then we have reached a point where words no longer suffice. I am quite curious about this map of Israel. Where does the land of Israel begin and end? Look at this map. Where was Israel in 1947 and where is Israel now? Where was Israel between the years of 1949 and 1967 in particular, and where is it now? Look.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Interventions in Yemen and Qatar have had serious consequences in both humanitarian and economic terms. We should all seek an immediate settlement to that crisis in the region, which has re-emerged as a result of the attacks on oil production facilities. We will continue to follow the developments relating to the demise of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was brutally murdered last year and on whose case the courts have yet to reach a verdict, because we are steadfast in our commitment in that regard. Another issue that we are heavily invested in is that Egypt’s first democratically elected President, Mohamed Morsi, suspiciously lost his life in a court room and his family was not allowed to give him a proper burial. That remains a bleeding wound in our hearts.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Unfortunately, however, despite our reasonable approach, some countries in the region, through unilateral action, are trying to turn the issue of energy resources into a conflict. In the eastern Mediterranean, we are determined to protect the legitimate rights and interests of both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot people until the very end. We will continue to be open minded to all proposals based on cooperation and equitable sharing. Libya is another critical area of the Mediterranean. We endeavour to ensure security and stability in the country by establishing a democratic Administration based on the free will of the people. The political and economic empowerment of Libya will provide relief for both North Africa and Europe. The solution in that country can be reached only by respecting the choices and the free will of the Libyan people.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“The Greek Cypriot side has been pursuing an inequitable and unjust policy of imposition and refuses to share political power and prosperity with the Turkish Cypriots. Turkey is the international treaty-based guarantor of the Turkish Cypriot people, with whom it has deep historical and cultural bonds. Similarly, Greece is a guarantor, as well the United Kingdom. It is clear that those who claim to be working towards solving the Cyprus problem with zero security and zero guarantee have had ill-intentions from the outset. For its part, Turkey will continue its efforts until a solution that guarantees the security and rights of the Turkish Cypriot people is reached. We believe that the energy resources in the eastern Mediterranean constitute an important opportunity for cooperation if we all adopt a win-win approach.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“If we succeed in establishing an environment of trust and stability on the basis of the principles of legitimacy and justice in Syria, we will also help to alleviate the situation in neighbouring Iraq that has been generated by the presence of Da’esh and the PKK. I take this opportunity to call on the entire United Nations family to engage in initiatives and support our ongoing efforts to stop the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The Mediterranean basin, in addition to the tragedies triggered by the Syrian crisis, such as illegal migration, faces further problems owing to developments in the eastern Mediterranean. Despite negotiations over more than five decades, the Cyprus question has yet to be resolved because of the uncompromising position of the Greek Cypriots.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We are resolutely committed to implementing that plan and have already begun the necessary preparations. We are also laying the groundwork for the holding of an international conference with the participation of Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. We also attach great importance to the success of the Global Refugee Forum, which we will co-chair in Geneva in December. In our view, a donor conference should be convened under the auspices of the United Nations to support returns to safe areas. There is also a need for worldwide implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration and the global compact on refugees, as adopted and affirmed at the United Nations last year.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“I would like to show the Assembly a map illustrating our plans — the border with Turkey and the proposed safe zone below. If such a safe zone can be established, we could confidently resettle between 1 million and 2 million refugees. Achieving that goal is within our reach. By working together — with the United States, the coalition forces, Russia and Iran — we could resettle the refugees, thereby saving them from tent camps or container camps. We can take the necessary steps by working together. The Republic of Turkey cannot bear that burden alone. We need to take the necessary measures as soon as possible. If the region can be extended to the Deir ez-Zor/Raqqa line, we could increase to 3 million the number of Syrians who will return from Turkey, Europe and other parts of the world.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We therefore expect all countries around the world to support Turkey’s efforts to ensure security and stability in Idlib. The third important issue is the elimination of the PKK-YPG terrorist organization east of the Euphrates, where it occupies one quarter of Syria and seeks to legitimize itself as the so-called Syrian democratic forces. We will not be able to find a permanent solution to the issue of Syria if we fail to deal with all terrorist organizations in the same way. We remain engaged in talks with the United States with a view to establishing a safe zone within Syria. We intend to establish a peace corridor in Syria, 30 kilometres wide by 480 kilometres long, where we hope, with the support of the international community, to facilitate the settlement of 2 million Syrians.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Today we face three important issues that must be dealt with as we seek to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Syria. The first is the territorial integrity and political unity of Syria, which depends greatly on an effectively functioning constitutional committee. We met with our Russian and Iranian counterparts in Ankara early last week and, through the Russian summit memorandum, have managed to accomplish most of our goals. When a permanent political solution is reached in Syria, territorial integrity will be restored. The second important issue is that we must do everything possible to prevent a possible massacre in the city of Idlib and a wave of migration 4 million strong. Despite some setbacks, the agreement we reached with Russia in Sochi on that issue remains valid. Turkey cannot withstand another influx of migration.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In the first eight months of this year alone, we saved 32,000 irregular migrants from drowning at sea and sent 58,000 irregular migrants, excluding Syrians, back to their countries. Together with those fleeing other parts of the world, Turkey currently hosts 5 million oppressed and victimized people on its soil. Unfortunately, we have been abandoned in our selfless sacrifice to benefit asylum-seekers. Genuine return has not been possible to the regions in Syria controlled by the regime and terrorist organizations such as the Kurdistan Workers’ Party- Kurdish People’s Protection Units (PKK-YPG) and Da’esh. Syrians who fled their country for their lives have been able to return only to those areas liberated and secured by Turkey.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“We provide them not only housing but also with essential services, such as education and health care. Unfortunately, the international community has been too quick to forget the journey of survival that they have made, ending either in the dark waters of the Mediterranean Sea or confronted by the security fences stretching along the borders that they are trying to flee. As the Assembly can see, this is the picture of baby Aylan, whose lifeless body washed ashore not so long ago but has already been forgotten. We should never forget that that could happen to any of us. There are many baby Aylans. There are millions of baby Aylans. And we need to take action for them. It is a responsibility to which we must rise.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In fact, the number of Syrian brothers and sisters we are currently hosting on our soil is well over half the population of New York City. We have devoted $40 billion to the asylum seekers over the past eight years. But have we in Turkey received anything? I will tell the Assembly. To date we have received no more than €3 billion from the European Union, not as direct contributions into our national budget but through international organizations. That amount was allocated to the Disaster Relief Agency of Turkey and the Turkish Red Crescent. Of the asylum seekers who have fled to our country, 365,000 have safely returned to areas that we have secured within Syria, including the city of Jarablus. Nearly half the Syrian asylum seekers in Turkey are under the age of 18. The number of Syrian children born on our territory has reached 500,000.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Through Operation Euphrates Shield, we have neutralized approximately 3,500 Da’esh terrorists and paved the way for that terrorist organization’s downfall in Syria. We are also at the forefront of international efforts to identify the terrorists and foreign fighters who come from all over the world to join Da’esh, by imposing entry bans and deportations to and from our country. At the same time, Turkey is the most generous country today in terms of humanitarian aid and in terms of the ratio between official humanitarian assistance and gross domestic product. We are currently hosting 5 million asylum seekers who are fleeing conflict, starvation and persecution. In other words, there are more asylum-seekers in Turkey than in the combined population of 29 states of the United States, and 3.6 million of them are from Syria.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“Syria today has become a wound in the collective conscience of humankind and a symbol of global injustice. Since 2011 the regime and terrorist organizations, as well as the forces encouraging them, have been pursuing a policy of perpetual crisis. Almost 1 million people have been killed and 12 million people have been displaced, while half of the population has been forced to live elsewhere. The Syrian crisis needs to be ended once and for all. Turkey is the country most affected by the threat of Da’esh, the terrorist organization that has threatened our borders and targeted the very heart of surrounding cities with suicide bombings, killing hundreds of Turkish citizens. Turkey is the country that has inflicted the most important and heaviest blow against the presence of Da’esh in Syria.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In particular, we should immediately carry out much- needed fundamental reforms of the Security Council, in line with the principles of justice and equality. With a proactive and humane foreign policy, Turkey embraces the rest of the world and strives to find justice-based solutions to our problems. It is not without reason that Turkey has earned distinction as the most generous country in terms of humanitarian aid and the country hosting the largest number of displaced persons in the world. The third African Union-Turkey Partnership summit, to be held in Turkey in 2020, is another concrete example of our dedication and our proactive humanitarian policy. I invite all the countries present in this Hall to support our policies and initiatives, which we have formulated on the basis of justice, ethics and conscience.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is high time that we change our current mentality, our institutions, organizations and rules. The inequality between nuclear-weapon States and non-nuclear-weapon States is by itself enough to undermine global stability. It bothers us, like everyone else, that weapons of mass destruction, instead of being totally eliminated, are used as leverage in every crisis. The possession of nuclear power should either be forbidden for all or permissible for everyone. For the sake of a peaceful future for all humankind, let us solve that problem as soon as possible on the basis of justice. At a time when 13 people lose their lives every minute owing to air pollution and when global warming threatens our very future, we cannot afford to remain indifferent. First and foremost, we need to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of the United Nations.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“It is unacceptable to see that one part of the world lives in luxury and enjoys the benefits of prosperity while people in other parts of the world suffer at the hands of poverty, misery and illiteracy. It is painful to see that, while a fortunate minority in the world is discussing such issues as digital technology, robotics, artificial intelligence and obesity, more than 2 billion people are living under the poverty line and 1 billion people are suffering from hunger. We cannot turn our backs on the reality that, until all of us are safe, none of us will be safe. For many years I have been saying from this rostrum that we cannot leave the fate of humankind to the discretion of a handful of countries. Today I would like to reiterate once again that the world is greater than five countries.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“At the same time, injustice generates instability, power struggles, crises, waste and extravagance. Yet the Organization in whose Hall we are gathered today was established in the aftermath of the Second World War with the ultimate purpose of eradicating injustice. Indeed, the international community is gradually losing its ability to find lasting solutions to such challenges as terrorism, hunger, misery and climate change, all of which threaten the future of all of us. We have no doubt that the theme for the seventy- fourth session of the General Assembly is fitting in that regard: “ Galvanizing multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion”. But what is more important than that is to understand what we can achieve together.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“On behalf of the Turkish nation and on my own behalf, I salute the General Assembly with the most heartfelt emotion. I would like to thank Ms. Espinosa Garces for her successful work over the past year. I also wholeheartedly congratulate Mr. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, who has taken up the presidency of the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session. I hope and pray that this session of the Assembly will bring peace and prosperity to the whole world and humankind. Our world today faces many challenges and much pain resulting from injustice on a global scale. The great scholar of our civilization, Rumi, once defined justice as “appropriately sharing rights and obligations among the people and allocating to them what they are entitled to”. It is obvious that today neither people’s rights nor their responsibilities are shared appropriately.”
2019-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 74 (2019)
“In that respect, the United Nations international agency for the elderly is being established in Istanbul, and the third World Assembly on Ageing will take place in Istanbul. I cordially invite representatives to attend that summit, which will be held on 10 December. Once again, I wish every success to the General Assembly during its seventy-third session. On behalf of myself and my country, I wholeheartedly salute with respect all the countries and peoples represented in this common parliament of humankind. May they prevail in peace and in health.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We hope to receive the international community’s support in that respect. Before concluding my address, I would like to share with the Assembly two additional remarks. First, we believe that there is a need for an institution within the United Nations for youth, as young people ensure the sustainability of our future. Turkey proposes the establishment of a United Nations youth organization as soon as possible, and suggests Istanbul, a city that symbolizes the history of the world, as its headquarters. We can allocate a youth centre, which is currently being built in Istanbul, to that organization. Secondly, in 2005, we hosted the world ageing summit in Turkey for the first time, and then 2019 was designated the International Year of Older Persons.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We are in favour of solving our problems through constructive dialogue on equal terms. We expect responsible action by all our friends around the world. We have effective, harmonious and constructive cooperation with our counterparts on international platforms, such as the World Trade Organization, the Group of 20, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the European Union in the form of the Customs Union. Turkey has always expressed its support for a win-win approach to those we do business with around the world. The sincerity of our approach is obvious, which is why we deem the allegations against and pressure on our country unfair. We believe that, together with the countries and institutions sharing our perspective, we can surmount the political and economic chaos that the world is being drawn into.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“At a time when we need to work towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, no one wants the world to experience a new economic rupture. It is easy to create chaos, but it is difficult to restore order. Today, unfortunately, some countries are persistently trying to create chaos. There is no bigger danger than a world order that has lost mercy, conscience, truth and hope. That is the danger we are facing now. Turkey has always been in favour of both free trade and the free movement of persons and goods. Every regression in those areas has negative repercussions that will be hard to overcome for future generations. Furthermore, the fact that this approach is brought up with a rhetoric of threat, force and by entirely disregarding the history of bilateral relations disappoints us even more.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“We are ready to share our experiences and the information we have gathered on that issue with countries that are friends of Turkey and any country that is willing to cooperate with us more closely. Trade wars have harmed humankind in every age. We are on the brink of another such frightening war. None of us can remain silent in the face of arbitrary cancellations of commercial agreements, the spreading prevalence of protectionism and the use of economic sanctions as weapons. The negative effects of those twisted developments will eventually affect all countries. We must all work together to prevent damage to the world trade regime as a result of unilateral decisions in the form of sanctions.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“The Fethullah terrorist organization is generating between $700 million and $800 million in the United States through their charter schools located in different states throughout the country. That figure does not include the income generated by commercial institutions involved in all sorts of money laundering activities and other structures with secret agendas that appear to be NGOs. I am hurt, and that is why I am frankly warning countries that are friends of Turkey around the world. I invite them to mobilize their efforts to combat the presence of the Fethullah terrorist organization in their countries. We must show the same solidarity that we have shown with regard to armed terrorist organizations and bloodthirsty regimes with regard to that insidious gang as well.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“With the economic and bureaucratic power they attained over time, that terrorist organization has attempted to take control of politics, society and the State itself. However, thanks to the support of our people and to our resolute fight against the Fethullah terrorist organization over the past five years, we have eliminated the majority of members of that organization in our country. We can now see that this terrorist organization is carrying out similar activities across the globe. We are warning many countries that are friends of Turkey around the world and demanding the extradition of the terrorists hiding within their borders, but some of those countries are shying away from extraditing them. Ultimately, however, the price for such a failure will be quite hefty.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“That is the sort of terrorist organization I was referring to just now. The Fethullah terrorist organization is hiding behind such glossy concepts as education, welfare and dialogue, and it continues its operations as NGOs or businesses. The leader of this terrorist organization is currently living in very comfortable fashion in Pennsylvania, on more than 400 acres of land. For the last four decades, this terrorist organization has been growing and developing in Turkey through deception, and we saw its true face when the terrorists felt that they had become powerful enough to undertake coups d’état. They initiated consecutive attempts, first with their operatives who had infiltrated the police and the judiciary in Turkey, and then with their agents in the armed forces.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“So let us make more sincere and constructive efforts aimed at finding solutions in regions currently in conflict, such as Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan and Ukraine, as well as in regions potentially in conflict, such as the Balkans, the Caucusus, North Africa, Central Africa, the Gulf and the eastern Mediterranean. Let us not forget that, if we cannot create a minimum level of peace and prosperity for all in every part of the world, no one can live safely within their own borders. Not all terrorist organizations obtain their power solely from their armed actions. Some of them use more complex, more convert and more deceptive methods. The Fethullah terrorist organization attempted a coup on the night of 15 July 2016, and, in the end, 251 Turkish civilians were martyred and more than 2,193 civilians were wounded.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)
“Those who equip terrorists with tens of thousands of trucks and thousands of cargo planes loaded with arms and ammunition for the sake of their tactical interests will most definitely feel sorrow and regret in future for having done so. Supporting terrorist organizations and closing borders to refugees, all the while putting the entire burden on a few countries like Turkey, will not give the world a more secure or prosperous future. On the contrary, issues deflected in such a way will reach a point where one day the measures at hand will fall short of overcoming them.”
2018-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 73 (2018)