President Erdoğan held a press conference at the G20 Leaders Summit
Holding a press conference following the G20 Summit in Brazil, President Erdoğan said: “We are witnessing the collapse of international organizations in the face of wars, natural disasters and oppressions that hurt the conscience of all humanity. At the forefront of these organizations is the United Nations Security Council, whose primary duty is to protect global stability and peace.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a press conference following the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Noting that he highlighted the humanitarian development efforts Türkiye undertakes with the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’ during his keynote speech at the summit session held under the motto ‘Building a fair world and a sustainable planet’, President Erdoğan said: “I would like to express the following first of all. Since 2015, Türkiye has been one of the countries providing the largest humanitarian aid in the world in proportion to our national income. We are hosting nearly 4 million displaced people who have fled conflict zones and have taken refuge in our country.”
“WE ARE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES EXTENDING THE GREATEST SUPPORT TO PALESTINE”
Recalling that Türkiye has enabled the delivery of grain to global markets through the Turkish straits with the Black Sea Initiative, President Erdoğan stated: “From Africa to Asia, from Haiti to Afghanistan, wherever there is famine, hunger, disaster, conflict or tragedy, Türkiye is there with all its official institutions and non-governmental organizations, always standing with those in need. Likewise, we are also extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Lebanon struggling to survive amid Israel’s attacks. With the 86,000 tons of aid supplies we have dispatched, we are one of the countries extending the greatest support to Palestine. The aid we have delivered to our brothers and sisters has exceeded 1,300 tons. We also appreciate the fight Brazil, which shares our sentiments regarding the Palestinian issue, is putting up against hunger and poverty. We have joined the ‘Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty’, launched by my esteemed friend Lula da Silva, as a founding member.”
Drawing attention to the lack of cooperation among countries witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic, President Erdoğan went onto say: “In a similar fashion, we are now witnessing the collapse of international organizations in the face of wars, natural disasters and oppressions that hurt the conscience of all humanity. At the forefront of these organizations is the United Nations Security Council, whose primary duty is to protect global stability and peace. The UN Security Council has evolved into an elitist structure that prioritizes the interests of only five permanent members, rather than safeguarding the rights of the 193 member states. This can have no logical, reasonable or consistent explanation in today’s pluralistic world. As I express at every opportunity, the world is bigger than five.”
“AN EFFECTIVE UN SYSTEM LIES AT THE HEART OF OUR EFFORTS AIMED AT BUILDING A FAIRER ORDER”
“An effective UN system lies at the heart of our efforts aimed at building a fairer order, which, in turn, is centered on a Security Council reform. We see that this significant point, which we brought up 11 years ago, is being embraced by increasingly larger circles each passing day. We are being supported particularly by Latin America, Africa and Asia, which are excluded, victimized and ignored by existing mechanisms. The Rio Summit has been a proof of this, indeed. I wholeheartedly believe that the path we embarked on 11 years ago will, sooner or later, lead us to our goal.”
President Erdoğan pointed out that G20, as a global governance platform with its highly inclusive quality, fulfills a major function in bringing shared solutions to international challenges.
“THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN COMMITTING CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY BY BLOCKING HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA”
Noting that he has attended all the G20 summits since 2008, President Erdoğan stated: “I remember no other period when our world has to grapple with more than one war, genocide and humanitarian tragedy concurrently. Particularly in Gaza, the risk of famine has reached the level of catastrophe according to international classifications. 96 percent of the Gazan population, more than 2 million people in other words, have no access to healthy food and water. The Israeli government has been committing crime against humanity by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, which it has turned into an open-air prison. Not only us, but numerous organizations including the UN say so. For the last 14 months, we all have been following with a heavy heart the tragedy of children risking their lives to get a plate of food and a sip of water under heavy bombardment. Over 70 percent of the nearly 50 thousand Palestinians killed in Israel’s attacks are women and children. A significant portion of those murdered in Lebanon are innocent civilians. No matter the cause, history will not forgive those who remain silent in the face of this oppression, this ever-growing brutality.”
Stating that the profound concern voiced about the dangerous escalation in Lebanon as well as the call for removing the obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza have been taken note of by G20 leaders, President Erdoğan said: “This needs to be understood for good. We don’t have any problem with any country, people or faith. Our problem is with the massacre and murderers. Our problem is with those seeking the safety of their country and citizens in shedding the blood of more innocent people. Our problem is with those who drag our geography into chaos and instability with their occupation and invasion policies.”
“RECOGNITION OF THE STATE OF PALESTINE BY MORE COUNTRIES IS ESPECIALLY VITAL AT THIS TIME”
Highlighting Türkiye’s decision to intervene in the case filed at the International Court of Justice to ensure that the genocide inflicted upon the Gazan people for 14 months does not go unpunished, President Erdoğan underlined that states with conscience must take coercive measures against Israel, which cannot be stopped by the international system, on the basis of international law.
Noting that Türkiye’s letter urging for the cessation of weaponry and ammunition supplies to Israel has been adopted as a United Nations document with the joint signature of 52 countries and two international organizations, President Erdoğan added: “Recognition of the state of Palestine by more countries is especially vital at this time.”
“I HOPE THE NEW U.S. ADMINISTRATION WILL TAKE BOLDER AND MORE SUPPORTIVE STEPS TOWARDS PEACE”
Stressing that Türkiye, in addition to its aforementioned efforts in the Middle East, continues to lend support to diplomatic initiatives that aim to end the war in Ukraine through a permanent and fair peace in a format whereby both parties are represented with an equal status, President Erdoğan said: “As a matter of fact, a historic opportunity emerged with the Istanbul process in the initial months of the war. This opportunity, however, couldn’t be seized. The price for this was paid with nearly half a million deaths by our two neighbors, and with an energy and food crisis by all humanity. There is no winner in a war and no loser in a peace. The time that has passed since confirms the validity of our observation. Türkiye, as has been the case since day one of the war, stands ready to assume any sort of facilitating role between the parties. We possess more than enough will and capability to do this. I hope and wish that the new U.S. administration will take bolder, more prudent and more supportive steps towards peace in both of the conflict zones. I would like to emphasize that we don’t approve of the steps that would hinder peace and escalate the war.”
“TÜRKİYE WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE BOTH IN G20 AND MIKTA”
Further stressing that the Turkish economy continues its growth trend in a stable manner despite the troubles and conflicts in its region, President Erdoğan added that Türkiye has entered a period of continuous actions and projects with the general elections held last year.
The economic programme implemented right after the elections has removed uncertainties in economy, added President Erdoğan, noting that the wounds the disaster of the century on February 6, 2023, caused in people’ lives and in economy have been healed rapidly.
Underscoring that Türkiye, with its enterprising foreign policy centered on peace, justice and the common values of humanity, will continue to play an active role both in G20 and MIKTA as well as other multilateral platforms, President Erdoğan said: “With the belief that a fairer world is possible and with the responsibility of leaving our children a more prosperous world, we will speed up our efforts.”
Asked if Türkiye accepts BRICS’ partnership offer, President Erdoğan said: “Our relevant friends and teams are now working on the BRICS issue. We will submit our response to the BRICS presidency when our ongoing works come to a certain level.”
Responding to a question about Russia’s adoption of the nuclear doctrine, President Erdoğan said: “We cannot proclaim that there is a positive aspect to a war in which nuclear weapons are utilized. The missiles Ukraine has used recently show what extent the situation has reached and what extent it can reach. Despite all the negative developments, we as Türkiye maintain our stance and hope for the events to take a turn towards peace. We continue to recommend peace to the parties.”
“WE HAVE CUT OFF ALL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL”
In answer to a question as to whether Türkiye would continue to exert pressure on Israel, President Erdoğan said: “First of all, as you know, we have cut off all commercial relations with Israel. Even though some political parties in Türkiye say strange things, we have cut off all relations with Israel. As regards the Israeli president’s trip to Azerbaijan for the COP summit, we didn’t allow him to use our airspace. There are other means, other opportunities. We told him to use them. I don’t know for sure whether he was able to do so. Yet, we, as Türkiye, must take a clear stance on certain issues, and we will do so.”
