Turkey, 2009

It is a great

pleasure for me to address and greet the General

Assembly once again from this rostrum in my capacity

as Prime Minister of Turkey on the occasion of the

general debate of the Assembly’s sixty-fourth session.

I would like to congratulate Mr. Ali Abdussalam

Treki on his election as President of the General

Assembly at its sixty-fourth session. I also wish to

express my appreciation and thanks to Mr. D’Escoto

Brockmann for his able and prudent conduct of the

presidency of the Assembly at its sixty-third session. I

take this opportunity also to thank all the Member

States for the high degree of trust and approval shown

to my country in electing it last year as a

non-permanent member of the Security Council by a

wide margin of support.

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The global problems of our age necessitate

solutions on a global scale, and we therefore need to

work in a determined fashion. From wars to economic

crises, from hunger and poverty to terrorism, from

energy security to climate change, the problems of our

world are extremely challenging. However, none of

them is insurmountable.

If we are to resolve these problems, we need a

fair and inclusive global order that is based on trust

and regards diversity as a source of wealth. It is

possible to make the transition from a conception of

the world based on risk and perceptions of threats to

one that is based on trust and solidarity. Indeed, this

has become a necessity for all of us. To do so,

however, we need a new kind of leadership. We can

indeed make the twenty-first century an era ruled by

peace instead of war; trust instead of fear; justice

instead of injustice; tranquillity instead of terror and

violence; and prosperity instead of hunger and poverty.

It is our common responsibility and historic duty to

participate in the construction of such a world,

regardless of our differences of language, religion or

nationality.

Threats such as terrorism and the proliferation of

nuclear weapons have become sources of worldwide

concern. Problems such as hunger and poverty, the

increased frequency of pandemics, food and energy

security, growing xenophobia and radicalism remain

grave challenges. In addition, global warming and the

financial crisis are fundamental issues that demand

substantial solutions.

Against that backdrop, the relevance and

indispensability of the United Nations has become

even more evident. In order to establish a fair and

participatory global order, we must work together to

enhance the Organization’s efficiency. We certainly do

not despair. We maintain our hope that the achievement

of global peace and stability is within our grasp. We

therefore wish to see the United Nations serve as the

voice and spokesperson of the global public

conscience. We believe that a more representative,

democratic, transparent, just and effective United

Nations will be able to make a greater contribution to

global peace and stability.

The United Nations must become a much more

effective institution on such matters as climate change,

sustainable development, the struggle against poverty,

gender equality and the protection of human rights and

dignity, and we fully support reform efforts to that end.

However, there is no doubt that the reform of the

United Nations system will be incomplete if not

accompanied by Security Council reform. I would like

to underscore once again that Turkey is in favour of

enlarging the non-permanent membership of the

Security Council.

Another important aspect of reform that I wish to

underline is the need to improve the United Nations

peacekeeping system. In this context, we want the

views and expectations of the United Nations troop-

contributing countries, in particular, on such issues as

early and effective coordination, capacity-building and

enhanced cooperation with regional organizations to be

taken into full account.

Turkey continues to be a force for peace and

stability in its region. Especially in the course of the

past seven years, we have made every effort to settle

our problems with our neighbours. Thanks to this

approach, which we call a zero-problem policy with

our neighbours, Turkey has made significant progress

in solving outstanding issues with its neighbours and

has greatly improved its bilateral relations.

The problems of our region have global

implications as well. Therefore, our constructive and

peaceful regional policies serve not only our own

neighbourhood but also world peace. However, we do

not consider those efforts to be sufficient. We seek to

move from a relationship of passive good-

neighbourliness to one of active friendship and

cooperation. The positive impact of this approach on

regional and world peace is well appreciated by all our

friends in the East and the West.

Another concrete example of this approach is our

ongoing dialogue with our neighbour, Greece. Another

case in point is our quest to normalize our relations

with Armenia, which has gained fresh momentum of

late and begun to bear fruit.

We also believe that the conflicts and disputes in

the Caucasus, including but not limited to the problems

between Armenia and Azerbaijan, are issues that need

to be resolved. In this regard, we hope that our regional

partners will share Turkey’s vision for region-wide

peace, security and stability. We believe that the

Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform, which

we launched in the aftermath of the crisis of August

2008, can make a substantial contribution to efforts in

that direction.

33 09-52320

Another issue of great interest to us and the world

is Iraq’s territorial integrity, political unity and internal

peace. We attach great importance to the continuation

of the political dialogue process encompassing all

groups in Iraq and the establishment of national unity.

A clear manifestation of this importance is the

neighbouring countries process regarding Iraq, which

was initiated by Turkey.

In this connection, I also wish to emphasize the

significance of the strategic dialogue mechanism set up

between Turkey and Iraq, which is important in terms

of both the fight against terrorism and other aspects of

our bilateral relations. We are fully committed to

maintaining and further developing this process.

Another area to which Turkey is sensitive is the

Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In our view, the resolution

of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, based on the vision

of two States existing side by side in peace and

security, is an indispensable element of regional and

global peace. The achievement of Palestinian national

unity will expedite the establishment of an independent

Palestinian State. Turkey has always stood by the

Palestinian people and will continue to do so.

I wish to draw the Assembly’s attention to the

following facts. The aggression against Gaza carried

out at the end of 2008 quickly turned into a human

tragedy and resulted in the deaths of nearly

1,400 people, most of whom were women and children,

as the result of phosphate bombs. Over 5,000 people

were injured and the infrastructure of Gaza was

completely destroyed. Even United Nations buildings

in Gaza did not escape this destruction. Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon personally witnessed the

devastation and voiced his reaction. The 575-page

United Nations report on Gaza (A/HRC/12/48),

released on 15 September 2009, clearly confirms this

fact.

It has been eight months since the declaration of

the ceasefires that ended the hostilities in Gaza and the

adoption of resolution 1860 (2009). Similarly, six

months have elapsed since the Sharm el-Sheikh

conference, at which the international community

pledged billions of dollars for the reconstruction of

Gaza. However, I regret to say that the human tragedy

in Gaza continues.

People are living in tents and cannot find

drinking water. In the face of this situation, are we

fulfilling our humanitarian responsibility? What can

the United Nations or the Security Council do? What

measures have the United Nations and the Security

Council really enacted? We really must think about that

because the promises made in Gaza have not been

fulfilled.

As at the time of aggression, Gaza has once again

been left to its own devices in the aftermath of the

heavy destruction it suffered. Currently, the

importation of construction materials to Gaza is not

permitted; only food and medication are allowed to

pass through, and the suffering of the people of Gaza

continues.

We demand that these obstacles be immediately

lifted and normalcy restored to Gaza for the sake of the

peace and security of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The Palestinian question cannot be resolved solely by

satisfying the demands of one party alone. The security

of the Palestinians is as important as the security of

Israel. The Palestinian people’s quest for freedom and

peace is as legitimate as Israel’s quest for stability.

The settlement of the Palestinian question, which

is one of the greatest obstacles to regional and global

peace, will be possible only when everyone is treated

fairly and equitably. On every possible occasion,

Turkey has stressed that it is not possible to turn a

blind eye to the appalling conditions in Gaza, and we

will continue to make that point. It is our common

humanitarian and moral responsibility to ensure that

the tragedy unfolding in Gaza is brought to an end and

that an atmosphere of lasting peace is created in the

region.

It is extremely important that the international

community remain engaged in this matter and inject

new vigour and momentum into efforts to resolve the

problem. We call on all parties concerned not to remain

indifferent to this question and not to condone further

suffering.

We also believe that the resumption of the Israeli-

Palestinian talks, which have been disrupted by the

Gaza conflict, is of the utmost importance. We hope

that the peace process will be revitalized as quickly as

possible. To date, Turkey has made every possible

effort to contribute to the peace process in the Middle

East. The indirect negotiations between Syria and

Israel, which we hosted in 2008, are a case in point.

Depending on the mutual desire of both parties, we are

ready to resume our active role in the future.

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We have always said that our neighbouring

country Syria is a very important country in our region

and is in a position to play a key role in the search for

regional peace, security and stability. Lebanon, too, is

of critical importance to regional stability. Turkey has

expended intensive efforts to ensure that a

comprehensive political compromise prevails in

Lebanon. We will continue to strongly support

Lebanon’s stability in the future.

We also believe that the dispute over our

neighbour Iran’s nuclear programme, which has long

preoccupied the international community, should be

resolved through dialogue. Turkey defends the right of

all countries to benefit from the peaceful use of nuclear

energy. On the other hand, we also call on all countries

to act responsibly and to bear in mind the serious

consequences of the proliferation of nuclear weapons

for the whole world. In that spirit, we supported the

adoption of Security Council resolution 1874 (2009),

on North Korea’s nuclear test last May.

We also closely follow the situation in

Afghanistan and developments in Pakistan. We support

the struggle against extremism by the peoples of

Afghanistan and Pakistan, with whom we enjoy

historical and brotherly ties. We are maintaining our

infrastructure investments in order to help those two

countries achieve the prosperity they deserve. The

ministerial-level meeting of friends of a democratic

Pakistan that we convened in Istanbul in late August is

an indication of the importance we attach to Pakistan’s

stability and prosperity.

I would like to take this opportunity to announce

that, in addition to becoming the lead country on

Afghanistan in the Security Council in 2010, we shall

also assume the chairmanship of the Council’s

Counter-Terrorism Committee. Our strong support for

efforts to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan

and to combat terrorism will continue unabated during

the course of our performance of those duties on the

Council.

The Balkans is another region that we follow

closely. We believe that the integration of the countries

of the region into Euro-Atlantic institutions is

important. That perspective should be maintained.

Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern

Cyprus support efforts to find a comprehensive

solution on the island. The basis upon which such a

solution should be built is right here under the roof of

the United Nations. If all the parties to the current

negotiations were to act constructively, it would be

possible to reach a comprehensive solution by the end

of 2009. We believe that the Secretary-General should,

as he did in 2004, play a role in bridging the

differences on which the parties themselves cannot

agree.

It should be our common objective to submit the

solution to be reached to a referendum in the spring of

2010, at the latest. However, at this juncture, I would

also like to stress that, if a solution cannot be found

due to Greek Cypriot intransigence, as was the case in

2004, the normalization of the status of the Turkish

Republic of Northern Cyprus will become a necessity

that can no longer be delayed. It is therefore essential

to realize that negotiations cannot be sustained

ad infinitum, that the current window of opportunity

cannot remain open forever, and that efforts must be

deployed to ensure the success of the process.

I would also like to take this opportunity to

emphasize once again that a comprehensive solution to

be achieved on the basis of established United Nations

parameters, which will secure the founding of a new

partnership in Cyprus, will enjoy the open support of

Turkey as a guarantor Power. A fair and lasting

solution in Cyprus will make a major contribution to

the transformation of the eastern Mediterranean into a

zone of peace, stability and cooperation. I call upon

everyone to do their utmost to help achieve that goal.

In the meantime, the Turkish Cypriot side is still

subject to unfair measures of isolation, despite the fact

that in 2004 it accepted all the sacrifices that the Annan

plan entailed. It is not fair to expect the Turkish side to

pay the price for a lack of a solution. The lifting of

such restrictions on Turkish Cypriots will not only

remove an unjust practice, but also accelerate the

process of resolution.

Turkey continues to participate actively in

peacekeeping operations around the world under the

umbrella of the United Nations, NATO, the European

Union and the Organization for Security and

Cooperation in Europe. We also strongly support least

developed and developing countries in their struggle to

resolve development problems.

In addition, as a party to the Kyoto Protocol,

Turkey is ready to live up to its responsibilities with

respect to a vital issue that concerns the future of our

world. We support the determined efforts being made

35 09-52320

by the Secretary-General in the process of devising a

new climate change regime.

I should also like to draw the Assembly’s

attention to another very important issue that poses a

threat to our world. We should not forget that each

culture and civilization flourishes through the

inspiration provided by the successes of other cultures

and civilizations. As a matter of fact, our common

values today, as well as our science, law and art, have

been influenced not only by the ancient Greek and

Roman civilizations, but also by ancient Eastern

civilizations. From Al-Khwarizmi, the father of

algebra, to Al-Farabi, who laid the foundations of

music; from Ibn Sina, who ushered in a new era in

medicine, to Sinan the architect, who produced the

finest engineering examples of his time, many Turkish

and Islamic scholars, men of learning and artists have

made significant contributions to the progress of

humankind.

It is therefore essential to regard and understand

diverse cultures not as the other, but as individual

elements of humankind’s cultural inheritance, as well

as to inculcate that spirit in new generations. That is

the philosophy that underlies the Alliance of

Civilizations, which has become a United Nations

initiative that has strengthened its institutional

structure under the co-sponsorship of Turkey and

Spain. I have no doubt that the Alliance will make a

significant contribution. We should ensure that it has a

meaningful place in the Organization, as it can make

important contributions to shaping a global civilization

based on universal values centred on democracy, the

rule of law, good governance, human rights, gender

equality, young people and media.

In conclusion, I would like to express my hope

that the sixty-fourth session of the General Assembly

will serve the best interests of all humankind, as well

as the interests of peace.