President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the United Nations (UN) 72nd General Assembly meeting in New York, United States.

President Erdoğan made a speech at talks in the UN Headquarters with the participation of more than 120 states or government heads.

Voicing his hope that this year’s session of the General Assembly, which is built around the theme of “Focusing on People – Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet”, will bring goodness to all of the world’s peoples, President Erdoğan said global peace and stability had unfortunately further deteriorated over the time that had passed since the last General Assembly.

“We continue to see the ugly face of terrorism and war in various parts of the world. Feeding off violent conflicts, terrorists continue their activities and expand them into new territories,” the President said, and added: “We follow with grave concern the violent activities of radical movements that are united by xenophobia, cultural racism and Islamophobia.”

“The international community has left Syrian people alone”

“Currently in its seventh year, the Syrian crisis has inflicted deep wounds in the country, in the region and around the world. In Syria, not only civilians and innocent children but also an entire civilization faces annihilation. Fueled by instability and oppression, terrorism, which wreaks havoc through Syria, extends beyond the country’s borders to spread like cancer,” President Erdoğan said. “Unfortunately, the international community has left alone the Syrian people, who took action to demand democracy, liberty, justice and a bright future.”

“Turkiye could not remain indifferent towards the tragedy that those people –whom we consider our brothers and sisters regardless of their backgrounds and creed, and with whom we have deep-running historical ties— had to endure. Since the spring of 2011, when the conflict in Syria started, we have made all humanitarian and political efforts to resolve the crisis. And we continue to do so. Today, we host more than three million Syrian and over 200.000 Iraqi refugees within our borders. To establish lasting truce in Syria and to subsequently bring peace to the country, Turkiye, in cooperation with Russia and Iran, launched the Astana talks – in which all parties participated. In the wake of our efforts, the Geneva Process, which had long come to a halt, was revived. Within the framework of the agreement reached in Astana, we are implementing a new plan to promote security in the Idlib region. We support all steps taken towards building a stable and prosperous Syria that upholds the principle of territorial integrity and respects the democratic demands of the people,” President Erdoğan said.

“We have not get sufficient support from the international community”

“We have taken, and continue to take, all necessary steps to assist the refugees who arrived at our country in the wake of the Syrian crisis and to prevent the flow of refugees to Europe. We meet all of the refugee community’s needs – including housing, food, clothing, healthcare and education – and provide high living standards that earn the appreciation of everyone who visits our country,” President Erdoğan said, pointing out that Turkiye had not received sufficient support from the international community, especially the European Union, in its endeavors.

Noting that expenses made by Turkiye to address the needs of refugees, who reside at housing centers and in our cities alike, exceeded $30 billion, President Erdoğan said: “By contrast, the European Union merely contributed €820 million despite pledging €3 billion and an additional €3 billion. Meanwhile, the international community’s contributions through the United Nations amount to approximately $520 million.”

"Turkiye carries out humanitarian aid activities around the world"

Drawing attention to the fact that no share of the contributions intended for Syrian refugees goes to our government’s budget and that the entire amount is being delivered by the UN’s relevant agencies and through aid organizations to those in need, President Erdoğan said: “In the presence of all the world, I would like to take this opportunity to call on all countries and international organizations, which let the burden of 3.2 million refugees to Turkiye’s shoulders alone, to keep their promises.”

Stating that Turkiye is a country that provides humanitarian and development aid to people around the world, President Erdoğan said: “We do not just welcome refugees arriving at our country. We also rush to the aid of everyone who has been aggrieved or victimized anywhere in the world through public institutions such as the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) and the Turkish Red Crescent, along with a number of non-governmental organizations.”

“We were in the 2nd place in the world with $ 6 billion human development assistance in 2016”

Noting that Turkiye spent $1 billion for the rebuilding of Somalia through official institutions and non-governmental organizations, President Erdoğan said: “Our efforts and accomplishments in Somalia could truly set an example to future endeavors. As a matter of fact, according to OECD statistics, Turkiye contributed $6 billion to humanitarian assistance in 2016 to become the world’s second donor in terms of net contributions and top contributor in terms of GDP.”

“Having spent %0.08 of its national income to humanitarian assistance, Turkiye became one of six countries that could meet UN goals. As you can see, our country works hard for a ‘sustainable world’ – which is the General Assembly’s main message. Moving forward, we will continue to act with the same level of sensitivity.”

“Powers that claim to fıght Daesh ın the region have no such goal”

Stating that Turkiye has been engaged in an all-out struggle against some of the region’s bloodiest terrorist organizations, including Daesh and the PKK – which feed off the instability in Syria and Iraq, President Erdoğan said: “At the same time, we continue to combat the FETÖ terrorist organization, which attempted to overthrow our country’s legitimate and democratic government by orchestrating a bloody coup. Having launched Operation Euphrates Shield in response to Daesh attacks against our borders, we liberated 243 residential areas and a 2,000-square-kilometer area in Syria from the organization. Over the course of the operation, close to 3,000 Daesh militants have been neutralized.”

Noting that nearly 100,000 Syrians have since returned to the areas that were liberated from the terrorists, President Erdoğan said: “Operation Euphrates Shield represents the single greatest accomplishment against Daesh since the occupation of the area. I must highlight the following fact in your presence: The vast majority of groups and powers that claim to fight Daesh in the region have no such goal. Those groups and powers use Daesh as an excuse to further their own agendas.”

“New crises in the region, such as bids for independence, could spark new conflicts and must therefore be avoided”

Underlining that new crises in the region, such as bids for independence, could spark new conflicts and must therefore be avoided at all costs, President Erdoğan said: “We urge Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government to abort the steps they have taken in that direction. Ignoring Turkiye’s crystal-clear and determined position on this matter could trigger a process, which might deprive Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government of the opportunities they currently enjoy. Instead of sparking new conflicts, we must work together to promote peace, calm, security and stability in the region.”

“Along with Syria and Iraq, we are closely following the situation in Libya and Yemen, where terrorist groups are trying to become more influential. The international community’s support to the legitimate government in Libya shall make valuable contributions to the country’s stability. It is important to keep in mind that Europe, along with the rest of the world, will face much more serious threats if the mistakes made in Syria and Iraq end up being repeated in Libya.”

Qatar crisis and the Palestinian issue

“Another issue that we deeply care about is the resolution of the conflict that has started in the Gulf region without delay,” President Erdoğan said, and added: “For this purpose, we believe that the sanctions, which have had negative effects on the living standards of the people of Qatar, must be lifted. We support mediation efforts by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah to resolve the crisis. It is our sincere hope that ongoing efforts will produce positive results. We also hope that Saudi Arabia, which we consider the elder brother of the Gulf region, will make a genuine effort for the resolution of the matter. Another important problem remains the Palestinian question, which we see as the world’s gaping wound, and, by extension, the preservation of the historical status of Quds and Haram al-Sharif. The crisis that erupted in Haram al-Sharif in July established yet again how sensitive the problem remains. The continuation of the peace process can only be possible if Israel halts the creation of illegal settlements and takes steps towards a two-state solution. In this sense, I call on the international community to support our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Eastern Quds, the West Bank and Gaza in their struggle for an independent and geographically integrated Palestinian State.”

“Although there are no violent conflicts underway in the Balkans, which is another potential site for crises, the area continues to face very serious challenges. It is therefore that we attach great importance to the integration of Balkan countries into European and Atlantic institutions. We will continue to live up to our responsibilities to ensure that peace, stability and prosperity reign in this exceptional part of the world,” the President said.

“We are against all kinds of nuclear weapons”

“In the South Caucasus, ensuring the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia remains key to regional stability. It is therefore that we must take additional steps to promote the settling of disputes over Nagorno-Karabagh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” President Erdoğan said.

Underlining that every crisis we choose to ignore today has the potential to spark regional and even global conflicts in the future, President Erdoğan said: “In this regard, I would like to stress that we are against all kinds of nuclear weapons – which have been an increasingly important item on the global agenda. There is no doubt that we won’t be able to overcome such problems without eliminating nuclear weapons completely.”

“We are prepared to discuss resolution offers provided that they respect the rights of Turkish Cypriots”

Regarding the Cyprus issue, President Erdoğan said: “We are saddened by the fact that the comprehensive negotiation process in Cyprus, which was launched in 2008, came to an end due to the Greek Cypriots’ incomprehensible position. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the natural resources, which have been discovered in the Eastern Mediterranean in recent years, will serve regional peace, stability and welfare. We are prepared to discuss resolution offers provided that they respect the rights of Turkish Cypriots.”

“In Arakan, ethnic cleansing is done by pretending to be terrorist acts”

Stating that the world, which faces a number of regional and global problems, was shocked once again by the sad news we received from Myanmar a few weeks ago, President Erdoğan said: “The Muslim community in the Rakhine state of Myanmar has been subjected to ethnic cleansing, citing provocative terror attacks.”

“The villages of Rohingya Muslims, who already lived under extreme poverty and were deprived of citizenship rights in the past, have been burned down, as hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave the region and their native country. The refugee camps in Bangladesh, where the Rohingya Muslims have arrived, are unable to meet even basic human needs.”

“Humanity will have to live with the shame of another dark stain in its history”

“Just like in Syria, the international community failed the test of the Rohingya Muslim community’s tragedy,” President Erdoğan said. “Unless the tragedy taking place in Myanmar is brought to a halt, humanity will have to live with the shame of another dark stain in its history.”

Noting that the main point is to ensure that the Rohingya people, who have sought refuge in Bangladesh and elsewhere, can live their lives in a safe, peaceful and prosperous manner on the lands that they have occupied for centuries, President Erdoğan said: “Turkiye has also been taking steps to resolve this crisis.”

“We will continue to help Rohingya people”

Stating that they recently held a special session about this very issue in the Kazakh capital Astana together with countries attending a meeting of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation, President Erdoğan said that his wife and his son, along with cabinet ministers, visited refugee camps in Bangladesh, and that Turkiye will continue to provide aid to Rohingya people.

Adding that they will hold a meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Rohingya Muslims at the United Nations Headquarters, President Erdoğan said: “The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), which is Turkiye’s official provider of development assistance, remains the only aid organization that is operational in Myanmar. At the same time, AFAD, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Diyanet Foundation and a number of non-governmental organizations continue their efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh and other countries.”

Reform of the UN Security Council

“All of the above-mentioned developments and human tragedies confirm the validity of Turkiye’s call for the reform of the United Nations, especially the UN Security Council – which is symbolized by our motto: “The world is bigger than 5.”

“If we, who gathered here today as representatives of world nations under the same roof, cannot have the will to prevent murders by terrorist organizations, humanitarian crises and other grievances, everyone will start looking for ways to help themselves. If this approach becomes widespread, the world will be dragged into a new storm of chaos and oppression. If Western countries do not stop xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia, if countries in crisis-ridden areas fail to make a firm commitment to fight terrorist organizations and poverty, and if we all cannot cooperate to accomplish those goals, how can we reach our ideal to provide peace and a humane life for all in a sustainable world? We support the steps taken by Mr. Secretary-General, with whom we closely cooperated during his tenure as High Commissioner for Refugees, in this direction. Insisting on the preservation of this crooked system, which has no power left to take concrete steps for the good of humanity in its current condition, serves the interests of no one,” President Erdoğan said.

“We would like this important Council to attain a democratic, transparent, just and effective structure. We propose that the Security Council consist of 20 equal members that serve for two years and half of which are replaced every year. As such, all countries in the world will have a say in this important institution when it is their turn.”

“Regardless of the color of our faces and eyes, the color of our tears is the same”

“I would like to remind you that ‘regardless of the color of our faces and eyes, the color of our tears is the same’. I urge you to take action without further delay to stop the tears flowing in various parts of the world. I sincerely hope that the 72nd Session of the General Assembly will make valuable contributions to the steps we shall take in this direction,” President Erdoğan said.

President Erdoğan ended his speech as follows: “It is with those emotions that I would like to salute all countries and peoples represented under this roof, at this joint Parliament of humanity, on behalf of myself and my country.” (ILKHA)