"Multilateralism in all areas is essential in the global system"

 

Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın made statements and answered reporters’ questions in a press conference at the Presidential Complex following the meeting of the Presidential Cabinet.

In the conference broadcast live, Presidential Spokesperson Kalın said: “In his introductory address to the meeting, Mr. President touched thoroughly upon his G20 programme, and his visits to Japan and China.

“TURKEY-RUSSIA-IRAN TRILATERAL SUMMIT ON SYRIA WILL BE HELD IN TURKEY IN AUGUST”

As you also followed, Mr. President had a busy global agenda at the G20 Summit held last week. He both made presentations on G20’s four main themes during the relevant sessions and held intensive meetings on climate change, environmental issues, trade, economy, finance, migration, refugees and anti-terror fight, and our opinions, as you know, were included in the G20 Final Communiqué.

Mr. President also had a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit. As one of the most important outcomes of these meetings, the next Turkey-Russia-Iran Trilateral Summit on Syria, held previously as part of the Astana Process, will be hosted by Mr. President in Turkey in August, and the Syria issue will be discussed in detail during this summit. The main topic will undoubtedly be Idlib, but other regions in Syria, general security situation, political transition process, the constitutional committee and the return of refugees to their homes will also be on the agenda of the summit. We have started to make our preparations on it, and are working on the dates.

We also agreed with our interlocutors during the G20 Summit to hold the second meeting of the Quartet Summit on Syria, held for the first time in Istanbul last October, in Turkey once again. So, with the participation of Turkish, Russian, German and French leaders, a quartet summit is planned to be held in late August or early September, in other words prior to the United Nations General Assembly. General security issues, in particular Syria, will be discussed during that meeting, as well.

“UNILATERALLY-IMPOSING POLICIES HAVE AN UNDERMINING EFFECT ON SECURITY AND STABILITY”

Another important topic discussed during these meetings and talks was the issue that the global system cannot be sustained and run via unilateral impositions. It is impossible today for the system to be under the tutelage of a country or a group in this global era where everything is intertwined with each other. Unilaterally-imposing policies have an undermining effect on security and stability.

Multilateralism has become an obligation, imposed by the global system, in all areas from trade to economy, from technology to cyber security, from major political and humanitarian issues like migration to diplomacy, culture and humanitarian aid.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance that relevant countries cooperate with each other and increase the coordination between themselves in order for such issues as trade and tax to not be used as the elements of an economic war.

Mr. President had already thoroughly discussed with his interlocutors these issues both at G20 Summit and during his visits to Japan and China. It must be evident that such unilaterally-imposing policies will harm everyone.”