Turkey, 2012

At the outset, I would

like to congratulate my dear friend His Excellency

Mr. Vuk Jeremić on his election as the President of the

General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session. I believe

that, with his able leadership, he will contribute greatly

to the work of the Assembly.

I want to be frank and speak the language of the

peoples we all represent. Every year, we all gather here

at the United Nations, the embodiment of the human

quest for peace, security and international order. We

exchange views on the daunting challenges that we all

face and express our strong commitment to resolving

them. On many matters, we speak as one, yet we often

fail to act in unity. We express our commitment to

the settlement of frozen conflicts, but there is still no

prospect for a solution to many such conflicts.

For instance, we have time and again declared

our support for a two-State solution to the question of

Palestine and adopted numerous resolutions to that end. However, we still hope that, one day soon, Palestine will

be represented as an equal member in the Assembly.

We also underline the need for a solution to the

Nagorno Karabakh issue in accordance with the

territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Yet there has not

been a single step towards the resolution of that problem

for the past two decades.

In addition, the problem of Cyprus has remained

unresolved for almost half a century. Nearly a decade

has passed since the United Nations settlement plan

of 2004, which the entire international community

endorsed. However, Turkish Cypriots continue to face

isolation and an unlawful and unjust embargo as if it

were a token of appreciation for their support for the

United Nations-led settlement.

My point speaks for itself. We cannot resolve

current problems, and each year we find ourselves

besieged by ever-increasing new ones. Terrorists

continue to strike and take the lives of innocent people,

yet we still have no effective international response to,

or adequate solidarity against, the scourge of terrorism.

Today, some States employ methods of State

violence and brutal oppression with impunity, which

costs the lives of innocent citizens whom they are

obliged to protect. We firmly believe that human life

is sacred and that life is the foremost blessing for any

human being, whoever and wherever they are.

However, millions of people live in poverty

and under oppression. They are deprived of their

fundamental rights and freedoms, suffering under

extreme conditions that no human being should ever

have to live under. To soothe our collective conscience,

we constantly reiterate our pledges to help alleviate

the misery of those people. However, we fall short of

matching our words with deeds.

We live in perpetual hope. After all, as human

beings, we are the children of hope. For us, every

dawn, every sunrise and every spring signifies a new

beginning of hope. We yearn for peace and idealize

peace. It is the essence of our nature.

Humankind expects from us, the leaders of nations,

to move humankind towards real peace. However,

we lag far behind in meeting the expectations of our

nations and of humankind. If it is not for us to provide

relief and give hope to a child living in a refugee camp

or in open prisons in certain parts of the world, then

what is the chance that we will cultivate real peace? When a child opens his eyes to a world of extreme

poverty and oppression in a refugee camp or in the

streets of his neighbourhood, or when a parent leaves

behind a destroyed house, orphans and widows, how

can we prevent them from succumbing to despair and

pessimism? If we cannot regard the rights of a person

in Syria, Palestine, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Rakhine

region or other places as equal to our own, how can we

talk about freedom and justice? If fundamental human

rights are sacrificed for the sake of power politics and

become negotiable in talks among a few nations in

the Security Council, how are we to achieve universal

human rights and security? If we remain incapable of

taking action to preserve the universal principles that

the forefathers of the United Nations set out when

forming this body, how can we demonstrate to people

that the f lag of the United Nations represents hope for,

and a safeguard of, their destiny? If the use of force

is accepted as unlimited; if indiscriminate attacks and

collective punishment become weapons in the hands

of cruel regimes against their own citizens, as we

are currently witnessing every day, day and night, in

Syria; if we fail to hear and rise to join the cry of the

innocent masses, wherever they are; and if we cannot

force such brutal regimes to submit to justice and the

rule of law, how are we to maintain international peace

and security?

A peaceful world, as the founders of the United

Nations envisioned, cannot be established if we remain

ineffective in our work against those challenges. Let

us not forget: our inability to act becomes a tool in the

hands of despots and destructive regimes to demolish

cities, towns and villages, massacre their own citizens

and make a mockery of the civilized world and the

United Nations.

The failure to address humanitarian crises shakes

our collective conscience. Worse, however, inaction

eventually emboldens oppressors and aggressive

regimes and creates evil alliances that perpetuate

and commit crimes against humanity. Let us make

no mistake: mercy shown to an oppressor is the most

merciless act towards people under oppression. If not

now, when are we supposed to act in unity? If not the

United Nations, who is to lead? If not us, then who

will shoulder the responsibility to protect innocent

civilians? Let us now imagine that we are in the shoes

of those people. How can we even dream about a real

future?

We need a strong, efficient and credible United

Nations. To that end, we must first tackle the long-

outstanding issue of reforming the United Nations to

make it fit for its purpose. The working methods and

structures of the United Nations are not commensurate

with the current realities of the world. The Security

Council, with its primary responsibility to maintain

international peace and security, should become

more representative, functional and effective. It has

to respond to the real needs of the world. That is the

only way that it will remain relevant to the enormous

challenges that we all face in the twenty-first century.

I can freely appeal to the Assembly’s conscience,

as Turkey has a solid record — be it in Afghanistan,

Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Libya or Bosnia and

Herzegovina or when it comes to cooperation with

least developed countries, the United Nations Alliance

of Civilizations and the Mediation for Peace initiative,

among other examples.

Allow me now to brief ly touch upon some specific

issues that continue to pose formidable challenges for

the international community.

Let me start by underlining that the recent attacks

against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad — peace be

upon him — and Islam are outright provocations. They

aim to pit nations and peoples against each other. We

deplore in the strongest terms the malicious attempts to

denigrate the most sacred values of Islam or any other

faith. We condemn any type of incitement to hatred and

religious discrimination against Muslims and people of

other faiths.

Unfortunately, Islamophobia has become a new

form of racism. It can no longer be tolerated under

the guise of freedom of expression. Freedom does not

mean anarchy. It means responsibility. The purpose of

Islamophobia is clear and simple. It aims to create an

abstract and imaginary enemy out of the millions of

peace-loving Muslims all over the world. Regretfully,

accepting generalities, stereotypes and prejudice as

truth, many people unknowingly become Islamophobic.

However, no agenda, no provocation, no attack and no

incitement to hatred can darken the bright face of Islam.

At the same time, we condemn all the provocations

and violence that have led to the loss of lives in many

countries, including the death of the United States

Ambassador in Libya. I express our sincere condolences

for all who have lost their lives. Violence against

innocent people cannot be justified under any pretext. Any such activity, no matter whom it is carried out by

or for what purpose, is a betrayal against the soul, spirit

and letter of Islam.

However, the recent events are testament to a more

serious problem that should concern not just Muslims,

but the adherents of all faiths and religions. The

alarming increase in the number of acts that defame

religions, and thereby people who adhere to them, now

have serious implications for international peace and

security. The time has therefore come to establish the

denigration of any religion and its followers as a hate

crime. We have to take swift measures. We cannot, and

we shall not, leave our future vulnerable to the reckless

provocations of all sorts of extremists.

We need to craft a universal policy and a legal

instrument that, while protecting free expression, also

ensure respect for religion and prevent intentional

insults against anyone’s faith. The solution should not

be arbitrary. It has to focus on those who defame a faith

with the intention of inciting discrimination, hostility or

violence. We have to find a balance between protecting

the rights of an individual or group to free expression

and protecting the right of another individual or group

not to become the target of hatred or of emotional,

incited or psychological violence.

Therefore, from this rostrum, I would like to make

a strong appeal to the members of the international

community to set up all the necessary instruments

to combat all hate crimes, including the denigration

of religions and defamation of their followers. The

United Nations must lead that effort and should provide

the international legal framework to that end. We are

resolved to actively pursue this objective and to work

diligently with like-minded nations and international

organizations to ensure that we take a united and

effective stance against Islamophobia and all forms of

hate.

Moreover, we are well aware of the need to ensure

the safety, security and protection of diplomats. In

the past four decade, the Turkish nation has lost 33

diplomats to terrorist acts by the Armenian Secret

Army for the Liberation of Armenia. We encourage

the United Nations to focus on a new understanding

of, and international instrument for, the protection of

diplomats.

As a mockery of the values we all share, the people

of Syria have continued to suffer under the brutality

and tyranny of the regime in Damascus for the past 18 months. The numbers speak volumes. More than 30,000

people have been killed so far, approximately 300,000

Syrian refugees have f led to neighboring countries,

including Turkey, and more than 1 million people are

internally displaced.

Unfortunately, this humanitarian tragedy has

become just a statistic for many. What has the

international community done to stop this carnage?

Literally nothing. We have yet to see a single effective

action to save innocent lives. It is a great disgrace

to witness that today, after 20 years, the ghosts of

Srebrenica and Halabja continue to haunt us, this time

in the cities of Syria.

One can argue about the reasons for the failure of

the Security Council to stop the violence of the Syrian

regime. However, there can be no legitimate explanation

for the failure of the Security Council to reflect the

collective conscience of the international community.

It has to uphold its primary responsibility to maintain

international peace and security. It is the inability of the

Council to act that continues to encourage the Syrian

regime to kill ever more people.

If the Security Council does not follow the

conscience of the international community, as reflected

by the resolutions adopted by a more than two-thirds

majority of the General Assembly, who will respond to

the cries of the Syrian people? For how long will we,

the international community, allow this humanitarian

tragedy to continue?

The responsibility to protect the people of Syria

is our fundamental duty. No political differences,

no balance of power politics and no geopolitical

considerations should prevail over our conscience and

our concern for the destiny of the Syrian people.

More important, the situation in Syria has evolved

into a real threat to regional peace and security. The

Syrian regime deploys every possible instrument to

turn the legitimate struggle of the Syrian people into

a sectarian war, which will engulf the entire region in

flames. Unfortunately, the longer the regime is allowed

to wage its campaign of violence, the harder it will be

to prevent such a dreadful eventuality.

It is high time that the Security Council take

action, as the Assembly called for. There has to be a

solution to ensure the immediate safety and security of

the Syrian people. There has to be a solution for a sound

transition process that paves the way for the creation of a new and democratic Syria. The regime in power

has to step down and allow an interim Government to

lead the country to free and fair elections. The Syrian

people need our united support and solidarity in their

struggle for their future and their right to a legitimate

and representative Government.

The Turkish nation stands by its brethren, the

Syrian people, in their legitimate struggle. We now care

for 90,000 displaced Syrian refugees in Turkish homes.

Let me underline once again that, since the beginning

of the conflict, we have never hesitated, nor will we

ever, hesitate to be at the side of our Syrian brothers and

sisters in their most difficult hour.

Another tragedy that has long been taking

place before our eyes in the Middle East is that of

Palestine. This is the fourth General Assembly session

where we continue to stress the unacceptability and

unsustainability of the situation in Gaza. However, to

date, there has been no progress. As a result, in the

fourth year of the unlawful blockade by Israel, the

people in Gaza, children in particular, continue to live

in despair, desolation and fear.

Many decisions and resolutions have been adopted

at the United Nations calling for the lifting of that

unlawful blockade. However, Israel persists in its illegal

policy to this day, thereby causing misery and anguish

in Gaza. In fact, we see the same attitude by Israel in all

of the occupied Palestinian territories. Despite insistent

calls by the international community, it carries on with

its illegal settlements in Palestine, and thus deliberately

undermines the prospects of a peaceful two-State

solution.

Indeed, when President Mahmoud Abbas spoke in

the Assembly last year (see A/66/PV. 19) and declared

the right of Palestine to be recognized as an independent

State, I remember seeing the whole Assembly in a

standing ovation. But as of this day we have yet to see

the State of Palestine as an equal member of the General

Assembly, with the f lag of the independent Palestine

f lying. How can we convince the Palestinian people

that the international community is serious about a

two-State solution when no United Nations resolutions

have helped their cause for an independent State of

Palestine? However, we will one day see the f lag of

Palestine in the Hall. Turkey will certainly support the

Palestinian people in their quest for statehood, dignity

and peace.

While the whole world’s attention is rightly focused

on the Middle East, we should not forget that there are

serious human tragedies taking place elsewhere as

well. We do not have the luxury to turn a blind eye to

any human suffering.

As I personally witnessed during my visit in June, the

people of the Rakhine region, especially the Rohingya

Muslims, are in desperate need of humanitarian

assistance. The democratization process under way in

Myanmar provides us with a window of opportunity, as

the Government has repeatedly stressed its readiness to

cooperate with the international community to ease the

suffering of those people.

Before concluding my remarks, I wish to touch

upon yet another long-standing conflict that also

requires immediate practical steps towards a fair

and lasting solution. I am referring to the problem of

Cyprus. Unfortunately, the new round of talks started

in 2008 are at a stalemate, with no end in sight, due

to Greek Cypriots’ intransigence and lack of political

will. Today, despite half a century’s experience and a

body of United Nations work, there is still not a clear

prospect for a solution.

The Turkish Cypriots have so far proven their firm

commitment to a negotiated solution, but remain subject

to an inhumane and unlawful embargo. That is simply

unfair. They should not be forced to play this game for

an indefinite period without a clear perspective and

timeline for a solution.

The international community must not remain

indifferent to what is happening in Cyprus, either. After all, the continuation of the problem creates additional

risks for the stability of the region. Moreover, the

unilateral exploration of oil and natural gas by the

Greek Cypriots around the island further intensifies

those risks.

Under those circumstances, the United Nations

must do more than what it is currently doing. The

Security Council in particular has to facilitate a solution

rather than merely sustaining the status quo. A change

of mentality is essential. There should be a distinction

between those who seek and aspire for a solution and

those who reject it. It is no longer enough to pay lip

service to a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation. It is time

to act before it is too late.

In conclusion, I wish to go back to what I said at

the beginning of my remarks. We are at the end of the

opening of yet another session of the General Assembly.

We have all expressed our desire for and commitment

to a more peaceful and prosperous world. However,

positive change can only be realized if our actions

match our words and promises. Every attempt to

achieve our objective for real peace, every moment we

spend to uphold rightness and justice and every effort

we make for freedoms and human rights will provide

greater comfort for those who struggle to have a say in

their destiny. A while ago, I asked if not now, when?

This year, let us make a difference and let us hope that

we will not repeat the same question next September in

the Assembly.