Turkey

The mission of the United Nations is to protect the dignity, security and well- being of all human beings. Therefor, peace, security, stability and general welfare constitute the tenets of Turkey’s work and action in the United Nations. Since this Assembly gave us an overwhelming mandate for Turkey’s non–permanent seat on the Security Council, we have worked hard, sincerely, objectively and effectively to contribute to peace, security and the welfare of the international community. In these two years, we have tried to offer added value, in a fair and principled manner, in addressing various global and regional issues. We have sought to advance the discussions within the Council on an issue to which we have always accorded high priority: peacekeeping and peacebuilding. Indeed, this afternoon, we will be holding a Security Council summit to exchange views and ideas on this matter at the highest political level. Furthermore, next Monday, we will hold a thematic debate of the Security Council on counter-terrorism. Terrorism is indeed a leading and most pressing challenge for the international community on the global scale. It cannot be countered without sincere, effective, cohesive and concrete international cooperation. I would like to recall that our struggle against terrorism is bound to fail unless we fight all terrorist organizations, irrespective of their supposed political, ideological, ethnic or religious aims. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the risks of our contemporary world. We cannot overcome that menace unless all Member States, including nuclear States, adopt a just and principled approach to their respective policies. Establishing a credible global non-proliferation regime will not be possible if we ignore the de facto existence of nuclear weapons in certain countries at the heart of some of the world’s most delicate regions. In this context, I would like to call on all Member States to intensify their efforts to create a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, as was envisaged in Security Council resolution 687 (1991), and as has been repeatedly called for by the General Assembly. We also support the calls made in May at the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons for convening a conference on a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in 2012. I believe that such an initial step would be a sine qua non for all non-proliferation initiatives in the rest of the world. In responding to those security challenges, we should keep in mind that global problems cannot be solved unilaterally, bilaterally or within a small circle of like-minded nations. Therefore, it is more important 25 10-54827 today than ever for us to adopt a multilateral approach to global problems. One such problem is the current global economic crisis. Though we are in a slow recovery, the impact of the crisis is still being felt today. We must draw the proper lessons from it in order to avoid a recurrence of similar shocks in the future. That crisis was caused by the irresponsible acts of some financial institutions in the most developed markets. Ordinary people have paid the highest price for the mistakes of a few in developed nations. The current economic crisis revealed once again the weakness and deficiencies of the existing global and national financial and economic architectures, which lack effective governance and regulations to oversee reckless financial institutions. The Turkish economy, however, has managed to stay on course in spite of the world economic crisis, thanks to previously undertaken comprehensive economic and financial measures. Within the Group of 20 (G-20), we strongly support the efforts of international forums aimed at restoring global growth and streamlining financial practices. We believe that the G-20 should continue to play a central role in putting together the right policies and measures to those ends. The situation of the least developed countries has worsened in the aftermath of the global crisis. Every effort should therefore be made to integrate those countries into the global economy. In that endeavour, we should act according to the principles of free and fair trade and avoid protectionist tendencies. It is with these thoughts that we look forward to the Fourth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, to be organized next year in Istanbul. During the past decade, Turkey’s economic indicators improved, as did its development assistance. Our relatively greater means have enabled us to contribute more to the development of others. Turkey has now evolved into an emerging donor. With the contribution of Turkish-based non-governmental organizations, our overall development assistance exceeds $1.5 billion annually. Through the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency, we allocate that amount to diverse capacity-building projects, in fields such as health, education, agriculture and infrastructure. Developing nations are also more exposed than others to the gravest threats of four interconnected problems: global warming, climate change, epidemics and food security. In recent years, tragedy has struck many nations because of the adverse impact of climate change around the world. Some parts of our planet are experiencing severe drought, while others have been hit by devastating floods. The current plight of Pakistan is a reminder that this has become a pressing issue that calls for urgent remedial action. We must acknowledge that a sustainable environment is an indivisible global public good for humankind. We must therefore assume collective responsibility for preserving it. Billions of lives, not just today but also of future generations, will depend on the actions we take now. The global food crisis is another urgent concern. It poses a worrying challenge to coming generations. These compelling economic, demographic, ecological and biological challenges oblige us to redefine the notion of security. Such issues no longer fall into the category of soft risks, but rather pose a clear and present threat to humankind. In the face of such overwhelming threats, it is time to take global action within the United Nations framework. To that end, I call on Member States to explore the possibility of establishing a global rapid- reaction capability to effectively tackle natural and ecological disasters, food shortages and epidemics. This would also help to maintain international peace and security by mitigating threats that arise from weak governance, the collapse of public order and domestic or inter-State conflict over diminishing natural resources. If we allocate a small fraction of our defence expenditures to financing and establishing a peacekeeping capability, we will have more cost- efficient results in maintaining peace and stability in the world. Moreover, if we could pool some of our defence equipment — equipment that has lost its effective utility in military terms but is still relevant for disaster-relief operations — we could swiftly improve such rapid-reaction capability. Of course, existing regional capacities could be instrumental in this global endeavour. All such resources should be channeled directly to those in need, and not eroded by excessive administrative costs. On the political side of our agenda, there is no shortage of enduring regional issues. Because of time 10-54827 26 constraints, I will touch only briefly on some of them here. Permanent peace in the Middle East is the key to a peaceful and stable future for the world. Unfortunately, the absence of peace there has had serious and adverse strategic consequences for the rest of the world. Turkey has therefore always supported every effort aimed at reaching a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. In this understanding, we appreciate President Obama’s efforts and welcome the direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. We hope that this new engagement can take us closer to a viable and fair settlement. On the other hand, it will be very difficult to make progress towards permanent peace unless we put an end to the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza. In this context, the attack in May of the Israeli armed forces on the international humanitarian aid convoy on the high seas resulted in grave civilian casualties and was an unacceptable act, in clear violation of international law. In the light of international law, Turkey expects a formal apology and compensation for the aggrieved families of the victims and the injured people. Therefore, we attach particular importance to the work of the panel of inquiry and the fact-finding mission. We are pleased to have received the report (A/HRC/15/21) of the fact-finding mission established by the United Nations Human Rights Council. The report offers a solid legal framework for establishing the facts of the incident. We also look forward to the successful completion of the work of the panel. As for Iraq, the elections of 7 March marked a new period for the people of that country. Nevertheless, the post-election political stalemate is aggravating the security situation and hindering the launch of a comprehensive reconstruction programme. We sincerely hope that the new Government in Iraq will reflect the balance that emerged at the elections. The new Government must be inclusive, effective and democratic. In the aftermath of the withdrawal of foreign combat troops, we also urge all neighbours of Iraq to act responsibly and support the territorial integrity, political unity and sovereignty of Iraq. We must all help the Iraqi people in their quest for a better future. Our contributions to international efforts in the search for an urgent and peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue will also continue. This controversy can be resolved only in conformity with International Atomic Energy Agency norms and obligation under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and in respect for the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. In this vein, the Tehran Declaration and the July gathering in Istanbul provide a window of opportunity to be seized. We believe that there is no alternative to diplomacy. As a Balkan country, Turkey attaches cardinal priority to the peace, stability and economic development of the Balkans. In recent years, we have actively engaged in result-oriented initiatives in the Balkans by intensifying our high-level bilateral visits to Belgrade and Sarajevo. Moreover, the launching of trilateral cooperation mechanisms with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, on the one hand, and with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, on the other, was of historic significance. Through these mechanisms, we are trying to create a new atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation among those nations. I believe that the integration of the western Balkan countries into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures would be a decisive final step for the resolution of conflicts in the region. As for the Caucasus, we remain committed to pursuing our efforts in search of a comprehensive and sustainable peace in the region, while respecting the principle of territorial integrity. In recent years, we have all seen how frozen conflict can easily turn into active clashes in the region. Given this context, we attach particular importance to the peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Any failure in Afghanistan will certainly have unpredictable consequences for the international community. Therefore, Afghanistan deserves our close attention and sincere commitment. Afghanistan is going through a historic process of transformation. As military operations continue, there must be a simultaneous and growing emphasis on civilian efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people. Turkey’s commitment to Afghanistan is open-ended. We will continue our assistance as long as the Afghans require it. Supporting Pakistan’s democracy is also of singular importance, not only in and of itself, but also to the stability of the region as a whole. In the wake of the terrible disaster caused by the floods, it is critically 27 10-54827 important to support the people and the democratic Government of Pakistan in healing their wounds. Africa is another region that requires the international community’s collective responsibility and action. The burden of resolving the overwhelming problems of that continent cannot be placed on the shoulders of Africans alone. It is in this understanding that Turkey has devised a comprehensive policy that includes effective political, social and economic measures to help address the challenges that Africa faces. On the Cyprus issue, our long-standing commitment and full support of a just and lasting settlement remains unchanged. We share the vision of the Secretary-General that a settlement will be within reach before the end of this year, but this process should not be open-ended. A positive outcome emerging from these negotiations would rapidly transform the eastern Mediterranean into a pillar of peace, stability, cooperation and welfare in the European Union. The Turkish Cypriots have shown that they are in favour of a settlement, as clearly manifested in the 2004 referendum, but they continue to suffer unjustly from the absence of a settlement. I would like to repeat the call made by the Secretary-General to the international community to take the necessary steps to eliminate the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots and enable their integration into the greater world. In conclusion, I wish to reiterate our view that the United Nations can and should play an even larger role in chartering a better future for humankind. It is up to us, the Member States, to provide the United Nations with the necessary political support and concrete tools so that it can fulfil that role. I assure the Assembly that Turkey, for its part, will continue to lend its full support and cooperation to the United Nations in our quest to leave a much safer, more prosperous, cleaner and healthier world to our children.