Speech Delivered by H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Luncheon for the Candidacy of Turkey to the UN Security Council for the Term 2009-2010 (19 April 2006, Ankara Palace)
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Charges d`Affaires, Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the outset, I would like to welcome and thank all of you for accepting my invitation to join this luncheon today.
Turkey, a founding member of the United Nations, has a record of staunch and dedicated participation in a wide spectrum of UN activities. She has committed herself to upholding the noble goals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations as the Organization moves forward in its quest for global peace, stability and prosperity. Enhancing the primacy of multilateralism and the central role of the UN in the international system is an important component of our foreign policy.
It is in this vein that Turkey has decided to put forward its candidature for one of the two non-permanent seats allocated to the Western European and Other States Group at the UN Security Council for the term 2009-2010. Turkey`s contributions to the maintenance of international peace and security, her provision of development and humanitarian aid and her regional role as a bulwark of stability make her amply qualified. It is my sincere belief that with Turkey represented on the Security Council, the UN would be better equipped to deal with the numerous challenges before us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The current international security environment is, in many respects, far from being stable. It has been going through a process of rapid and comprehensive change; especially so since the beginning of the 1990s. We are faced with new kinds of threats and challenges which are unpredictable and asymmetrical. Foremost among them are terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means, drug trafficking, organized crime and all forms of extremism. Bad governance poverty, economic disparities, environmental degradation, the spread of infectious diseases and such provide a dire atmosphere which requires our urgent and collective attention.
In such an atmosphere, the definition of security needs to be broadened. This brings us to the concept of comprehensive security. We are fully aware that this task cannot be carried out without securing a strong unity of will among nations based on a common understanding of the value of peace and security. The United Nations emerges as the most prominent forum in which this endeavour can and must be undertaken.
Dear guests,
Turkey continues to make a substantial contribution to various international peace-keeping and peace building activities. Since the end of the Second World War, thousands of Turkish troops have served under numerous UN, NATO, EU and other missions across a vast geography, starting with our substantial contribution during the Korean War, leading to the ongoing ISAF operations in Afghanistan.
With over three hundred civilian police currently deployed in UN peacekeeping missions throughout the world, Turkey is among the Organization`s leading contributors of civilian police officers. Turkey also makes a considerable contribution to the EU`s police missions. Let me also add that, to date, Turkish troops have the unfortunate distinction of ranking second in terms of the number of casualties suffered in the service of world peace under the UN flag. However, Turkey`s contributions to international peace and security will continue despite the losses of life in the line of duty, not to mention the heavy financial burden.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We have always promoted the idea that the fight against terrorism could not be successful without international cooperation and still strongly maintain this position. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Turkey joined in the international coalition against terrorism and has given its full support to all the endeavours to that effect. We regard the United Nations as the main forum for forging the framework of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
As a leading country in the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime, Turkey, for a long time, has also been voluntarily contributing to the budget of the Terrorism Prevention Branch of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention in Vienna. We believe that UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC), in coordination, can create a good synergy for strengthening international cooperation in preventing and combating such cross-border crimes.
Distinguished guests,
A closely related concern for all of us is the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery. Given Turkey`s strategic geographic location, we need to remain extremely vigilant that the weapons of mass destruction do not end up in the hands of terrorist, extremist or organized crime groups. Therefore, non-proliferation, arms control and disarmament are important components of our foreign policy. As a result, Turkey is a party to all major international non-proliferation instruments and export control regimes, and shares the objective of universal adherence and effective implementation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We all agree that there is no security without a firm commitment to broad and inclusive process of human development. Turkey aims at putting particular emphasis on development issues in the Security Council Agenda. As agreed in the UN Millennium Summit, the States have pledged to increase efforts towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In line with the first goal - that is, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger - and the eighth goal - namely, developing a global partnership for development - our country strives for the enhancement of "human development" at the global level.
Turkey actively participates in the international efforts for debt relief and the eradication of poverty, which stems from the unequal distribution of income among countries. The total Official Development Assistance (ODA) provided by our country in the year 2004 amounts to 340 million US Dollars. Furthermore, Turkey is committed to do her share in addressing the needs of the Least Developed Countries. In this respect, Turkey is a donor country for the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, established by the IMF in 1999. Turkey supports the international efforts with respect to the improvement of infrastructure and harmonization of transport regulations concerning the Landlocked Developing Countries, and also the efforts regarding the sustainable development of the Small Island Developing Countries. Turkish International Cooperation Agency is the legal entity that provides technical assistance to the countries of the Central Asia, the Caucasus the Balkans and Africa. In addition, Turkey has declared 2006, as the "Year of Latin America", and 2005, as the "Year of Africa", with a view to contributing to the international efforts to alleviate the hardships faced by the least developed countries.
Turkey is also a global provider of significant humanitarian aid and technical assistance. In a globalized world, disasters, no matter where they occur, have adverse effects on all human beings both spiritually and materially. In this new environment, humanitarian aid has thus emerged as one of the major pillars of international relations. Solidarity and collaboration are essential components of this interaction. In the year 2005, the value of Turkish cash and in-kind humanitarian assistance exceeded 232 million US Dollars, reaching 25 countries in different continents. This amount does not include those provided by the Turkish NGOs, including the Turkish Red Crescent Society.
In Africa, in 2005 and in the first three months of this year, Turkey became one of the major donors in the struggle against acute food crisis, reaching 15 countries of the continent mainly through World Food Program.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan in October 2005, Turkey pledged assistance worth 150 million US Dollars. The actual assistance is soon to surpass 200 million US Dollars. Turkey is proud to be among the top three countries providing comprehensive assistance to the earthquake-stricken regions in Pakistan. We will continue to help alleviate the sufferings of the destitute and rebuild their future to the extent possible.
Turkey was also among the first countries in extending a helping hand and providing comprehensive aid to the survivors of the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami in Southeast Asia. Turkish Government donated 5 million US Dollars through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to the countries affected by the disaster.
Turkey has subsequently provided emergency relief material at a value of 1.6 million US Dollars. Turkish people widely supported nation-wide fundraising campaigns and thus, 44 million US Dollars were collected. These donations are being utilized in the disaster-stricken countries in concrete projects for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
Turkey also donated 1 million US Dollars in-cash to the ``Organization of the Islamic Conference Alliance for Tsunami Child Victims`` in June 2005.
Distinguished guests,
We all know that in today`s world, to accomplish steady and unfettered development, one needs to have secure and diverse sources of energy. Recent developments prove that dependency on the Middle East and Caspian oil and natural gas will continue to grow in the decades to come. The recent natural gas crises in our region have demonstrated once again the vulnerability of the world energy market. Thus, diversification of energy sources as well as supply routes has become all the more important.
In this context, with its geo-strategic position neighboring oil and gas rich regions, Turkey has been developing major projects to diversify energy routes and resources and to strengthen its role as an energy hub, aggregator and transit country in the region.
Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,
The need for a true dialogue among different cultures continues to appear high on the international community`s agenda. Indeed, the troubling events of recent years have made it imperative that we engage in a meaningful and operational dialogue. The latest cartoon crisis which engaged the whole world, for instance, served as a stark reminder of this fact.
Given its historical relations and cultural ties with a wide geography, Turkey is uniquely placed to contribute to a better mutual understanding among societies. Indeed, the rich perspectives which we have cultivated by being part of different geographies and providing home to various cultures throughout history, enables us to act as an interface that facilitates harmony among religions and cultures.
Our achievements in creating a vibrant society enjoying democracy in a multi-cultural environment prove that diversity is richness and that unity in diversity is both possible and desirable. With these advantages in mind, we try to help build a culture of reconciliation and compromise in our region and beyond. We are committed to spreading universal values to a broader geography.
This is why we pioneered in establishing the OIC-EU Joint Forum in 2002, and now co-sponsor the Alliance of Civilizations initiative under the aegis of the UN Secretary General with a view to promoting dialogue and cooperation among different cultures and religions. Our efforts in this direction will continue unabated, and our membership in the UN Security Council will certainly give further impetus to these endeavours.
Therefore, it is my sincere belief that Turkey is very well qualified to serve on the Council. However, Turkey has not been represented on the Council since 1961 and, after such a long interval, this should now be addressed. The Turkish Government attaches utmost importance to this candidature. In this framework, I would like to request your personal involvement to secure your government`s valuable support to Turkey`s candidacy to the UN Security Council. I am more than confident that with your contribution and assistance we will be able to reach our long standing objective.
Thank you.
