80th United Nations General Assembly

Mr. President, dear state and government presidents, dear general secretaries, esteemed delegates, on behalf of myself and my nation, I extend my warmest greetings to you. I hope that the United Nations 80th General Assembly will be a means of good for all humanity. I am very happy to address you once again from this chair, which represents the common conscience of humanity. Mr. Yang, who has completed his presidency, congratulates you. I wish Mr. Berbock success in completing this task. At the very beginning of my speech, during a period when Palestine was recognized by the country in increasing numbers, I would like to express the sadness that I hear from the president of Palestine, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, who cannot be among us today. Today, we are also here to be a translator for the Palestinian people who want to be silenced with our own citizens. I thank all the countries that announced that they would recognize the Palestinian state. I call on the states that have not yet made this decision to take action as soon as possible. Mr. President, esteemed members, The UN Charter was signed 80 years ago in San Francisco and entered into force on October 24, 1945. I would like to remind you of the first words of the first article of the UN Charter here. The purpose of the United Nations is to protect international peace and security. Yes, while we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations in this hall, there are grave incidents in many parts of the world that will cast a shadow on the first words of the first article of the UN Charter. In particular, there has been genocide in Gaza for more than 700 days. While we were in a meeting, civilians were being massacred in Gaza at the moment. The number of civilians killed in Gaza has exceeded 65,000. It is not yet known how many funerals there have been. There are more than 20,000 children who have died. For the last 23 months in Gaza, every hour, a child has been brutally taken from life. These are not numbers, friends. They are all one life, one innocent person. At the moment, people are being killed not only with weapons, but also with hunger weapons. In the 21st century, 146 children, 428 people died of hunger under the guise of the civilized world, and the number is increasing day by day. Now I'm going to show you a photo that shows the daily life in Gaza. The first photo, as you can see, is a woman with a gun in her hand. Please, let's all put our hands on our conscience and answer. Can there be a reasonable reason for such brutality in 2025? But this shameful sight on behalf of humanity has been repeating every day in Gaza for 23 months. Two and a half million Gazans living in 365 square kilometers are displaced every day and forced to migrate to another region every day. The health infrastructure of Gaza has completely collapsed. Doctors were killed or taken into custody. Ambulances were shot. Hospitals were bombed. It collapsed. Treatment is not possible. Operation is not possible. It is not possible to find medicine. Friends, as Tayyip Erdogan, I say with a burning heart and a crying heart. The innocent children who are not yet 2-3 years old, unfortunately, have become the extraordinary photograph of Gaza today. Which conscience can stand this? Which conscience can remain silent? Will there be peace in a world where children die of hunger and drug addiction? We are all parents. We have children and grandchildren whom we care for. Here, in America, in Europe, all over the world, if a child gets a small thorn in his hand, the parents' hearts burn. But in Gaza, children's hands, arms, legs are amputated without anesthesia. No one should be sorry, but this is the tip of humanity. In the last century, we have not seen such brutality in human history. Everything is happening in front of our eyes. The genocide in Gaza is being broadcast live on social media at all times. Israel has deliberately killed 250 journalists working for the international press in Gaza so far. It has banned all entries to Gaza, but it still could not hide the genocide. I wholeheartedly support the Secretary General, Mr. Utaresh, who draws attention to the ongoing genocide in the Palestinian territories. I congratulate him once again for his courage. However, the United Nations has unfortunately not been able to protect its own employees in Gaza. 500 people who were running for help in Gaza have been killed. And 326 of them are UN personnel. Mr. President, dear members, Look, genocide is a barbaric concept that is used for the public protection of people, just like the Holocaust. However, today, not only people are being killed in Gaza, but also animals are being targeted and killed. Agriculture, gardens, trees, vines are being destroyed in Gaza. Waters are being destroyed and polluted in Gaza. Buildings, houses, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, historical buildings are being consciously destroyed in Gaza. The land of Gaza is no longer useful for people, animals and plants. Here is another photo for you. Now I ask you, what does this photo in your hand have to do with the search for security? This is called hostility to life. Isn't it hostility to life? I say this openly from this chair. There is no war in Gaza. There is no talk of two sides in Gaza. On the one hand, there is a regular army with the most modern, most deadly weapons in Gaza. On the other hand, there are innocent civilians and innocent children. We are not fighting this terror. This is an occupation that has been carried out in advance of the October 7 incident. Abduction, exile, genocide. More precisely, it is a policy of mass slaughter. Today, Gaza is being destroyed with the excuse of Hamas. At the same time, West Sharia, which Hamas does not rule, is being invaded step by step. Innocent civilians are being massacred with executions. Moreover, Israel is not limited to Gaza and West Sharia. It threatens regional peace by organizing attacks on Syria, Iran, Yemen and Lebanon. Recently, Israel attacked Qatar, which held a meeting for ceasefire negotiations. The attack on Qatar has shown that the Israeli administration has completely lost control. It has also been understood that Netanyahu has no intention of making peace or saving the hostages. Not only his neighbors, but all countries in the Middle East are facing the relentless threats of the Israeli government. Let's be aware of this. Because of Israel's increasing aggression, especially in Europe, the values ​​emerging after the Second World War in the West have been severely damaged. The most basic human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of expression and protest, women's rights, children's rights, democracy, equality, justice, etc. have been abolished. At this point, we all have to see the following truth. Dear friends, The Israeli administration, which acts in accordance with the agreements made with Qatar, aims at regional peace and the common gains of humanity with a progressive policy. The Holy City of the Three Heavenly Religions, which is the common heritage of humanity, is the direct target of this radicalism. This state of jinn, which disturbs the conscience of the Musawwir, which disturbs the conscience of the Musawwir, and which is the cause of anti-Semitism in the whole world, cannot continue any longer. The ceasefire must be established as soon as possible in Gaza, the attacks must stop, and humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter without hindrance. It should be ensured that the members of the Soy Kırım cadre are held accountable for international law. God willing, this will definitely come true. Everyone who does not raise their voice against the barbarism in Gaza is a partner in the responsibility of this brutality. From here, I call on all the heads of state and government with sincerity. Today is the day. Today is the day to stand upright in the name of humanity with the Palestinian victims. While your people react to the barbarism in Gaza, come and show your courage step by step. Fulfill your duty of humanity against Gaza, where children raise children. With this in mind, I call on all the heads of state and government with sincerity to support the innocent people of Gaza, to support the academicians, artists, politicians, activists, students, and I send my warmest greetings to all the Palestinian defenders. Distinguished delegates, For 13 years, I have been telling you about this chair, the oppression and clashes in our neighbor Syria. Just as we are raising our voices for the innocent people of Gaza today, for 13 years, we have been paying attention to the cries of the Syrians. Here, their voice has become their breath. The oppression that caused millions of people to leave their homeland has now become history with the 8th December Revolution. Our Syrian brothers opened the doors of a new era on the 8th December. I believe that the Syrian people, who won the struggle against a bloody regime, will achieve the victory they achieved by paying great prices. We will support the vision of Syria, where there is no type of terror, where security is established, where peace is established, with all our abilities. As stability is established in Syria, without a doubt, all neighboring countries, all our regions, I would like to thank my brothers in Korfez for their contributions to the recovery of Syria. We will continue our cooperation with all regional and international actors who share the same principles with us. Dear friends, We hope that the nuclear file on our neighbor Iran will be resolved as soon as possible through diplomacy. It should not be forgotten that our region cannot afford another crisis. The stability, security and welfare of our neighbor Iraq are extremely important for the safety of our region. We pay great attention to strategic moves that prioritize collective welfare, such as the development path project. In the north, between Russia and Ukraine, which are both our neighbors, we host them with great concern for the Istanbul process. Thanks to direct talks, we have helped many prisoners and refugees. We tried to determine the modalities of peace negotiations between the parties. Do not forget, We will continue to make efforts for ceasefire in the coming period, with the slogan that there is no one who wins the war and loses a just peace. The parties were encouraged from the very beginning for the establishment of peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We are pleased with the steps taken between the two countries on August 8. President of Azerbaijan Mr. Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Mr. Pashinyan, and American President Mr. Trump, who contributed to the process, are congratulated here once again. On this occasion, I would like to express that the normalization process between our country and Armenia is progressing in its own direction. We continue our efforts to resolve the conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia within the scope of the Ankara process, which is another intermediary activity. I hope that the parties will quickly conclude this initiative with success. Dear delegates, We have been literally implementing the Montreux Treaty, which is the guarantee of security in the Black Sea, for 89 years. We want to see the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean as a stable and prosperous basin for the legitimate interests of all parties. We are ready for constructive cooperation on all issues, including energy and the environment. We expect the same from our neighbors. On this occasion, I would like to emphasize here that projects that exclude Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean will not be successful. In the west of the island of Cyprus, there are legitimate rights of the Turks of Cyprus in the areas around the island where Turkey's rights and authorities are located. The Eastern Mediterranean Conference, which we proposed earlier, will contribute to the creation of a common ground. The solution to the Cyprus issue has been tried many times before, but it cannot be based on the federation model consumed by the Greek side due to disagreement. There are two separate states and two separate peoples on the island of Cyprus. The Turks of Cyprus have equal rights on the island and will not accept to be minorities. The international community should end the unjust isolation that the Turks of Cyprus have been exposed to for half a century. I call on the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to establish diplomatic, political and economic relations. Mr. President, Dear Members, In the coming period, we expect a new beginning and a vision in Turkey-EU relations. This vision should not save the day, but should be a vision that redefines the horizon and shapes our shared future. For this, it is important for the European Union to be as ambitious and determined as we are. As a country that provides clear security, we continue to contribute to NATO, AGIT and the European Union's operations and missions. We will gather the NATO summit in Ankara in 2026. We strengthen our relations in many areas, including trade, investment, energy and the defense industry. The peace, stability and prosperity of our sister countries in Central Asia is indispensable for us. Our Turkish State Organization is moving beyond being a regional roof and becoming a global actor. We are working hard to maintain peace and stability in the Balkans, where our root human ties are. The Balkan Peace Platform, which we launched in July, is the latest example of our efforts in this direction. We will once again take on the task of the KFOR Command in October this year. It is our basic desire for the administration in Afghanistan to display an understanding that takes into account the surrounding society. It is our basic desire for the international community not to leave the Afghan people alone in the process of re-gathering. As Turkey and the Turkish nation, we will always continue to be with our Afghan brothers. Dear friends, we consider the preservation of peace and stability in South Asia to be extremely important. We are pleased with the ceasefire between Pakistan and India in April. We value cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism. We support the resolution of the Kashmir issue with dialogue based on the UN Security Council decisions and the expectations of our Kashmiri brothers. Our relations with the African continent are strengthening year after year, from education to health, infrastructure to trade. We continue our humanitarian aid activities while providing all kinds of support to Somalia's fight against terrorism. We are extremely saddened by the ongoing conflict in Sudan for more than two years. The cessation of bloodshed in Sudan and the establishment of sustainable peace are the common responsibility of the international community. Our efforts in this direction will continue. We are extremely saddened by the ongoing instability and conflicts in the Great Lakes region for years. The conflicts in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo must be resolved as soon as possible. We support the efforts to facilitate the inter-African and Qatar relations. We are concerned about the increasing terrorist activities in West Africa and the Great Lakes. We will continue our efforts to bring peace and stability to the people of this region, where our historical ties are. Our relations with Asian countries in Turkish foreign policy, which we have carried out with a 360-degree approach, are of great strategic importance. As part of our Asia initiative, our engagement with regional institutions, especially ASEAN, is deepening. We pay great attention to developing our relations with Latin America and the Caribbean region with a spirit of partnership and a win-win approach. We are determined to carry on our friendly ties with all the countries in the region. Honorable Delegates, The breakdowns in international trade, rising protectionist tendencies and supply chains are leading to fundamental changes in the world economy. We support the reform of international trade based on the rules set by the World Trade Organization for successful competition with the existing tests. We find it indispensable to achieve cheap, safe and sustainable energy access, especially for the development goals of developing countries. We are advancing the East-West Joint Corridor project, which is of strategic importance and extends from China to Europe. We contribute to the development of world trade with our modern transportation infrastructure and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars line. With the aim of building a future that respects nature, we are steadily moving towards the goal of emitting zero emissions by 2053. It is a privilege for us to see that the zero-emission movement, which is under the protection of my wife Emine Erdogan, is becoming a wave of awareness that reaches more people and hearts all over the world every year. In this process, the fulfillment of the responsibilities of developed countries has become a duty beyond preference. As one of the countries with the most development aid in the world, the United Nations is making efforts to achieve sustainable development goals. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that while we are dealing with geopolitical tests, humanity is witnessing an extraordinary leap in artificial intelligence. No society should be deprived of the transformative power and blessings of these emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence technologies should not be used as a new tool of domination, but as a means of humanity. The United Nations, the Technology Bank, plays a critical role in closing the digital and technological gap. We believe that the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Digital World, which we will soon sign with universal consensus, will create a global awareness in this area. We look forward to your strong support for our efforts. On the other hand, racism, xenophobia, and even the extremism of Islam today threaten the culture of living together. These trends have become necessary for humanity. It is important that the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Moratinos, the High Representative of the Association of Cultures, is appointed as a special envoy to fight Islamophobia. As I stated here last year, the family institution is under threat as it has never been before. Defending the family consisting of men and women means defending humanity, nature, life, and the future at the same time. As Turkey, we will continue to defend the family against increasing attacks. Dear delegates, The foundations of the United Nations, which were established so that humanity would not experience another war disaster, are full of values that will keep the light on the dark period we are in. Our support for the United Nations 80 initiative, which the Secretary-General, Mr. Guterres, started with the aim of making our organization effective and efficient, is complete. I hope that this initiative will succeed as a process that will further strengthen all activities of the United Nations. In this process, we are ready to provide strong support with action from our vision of making Istanbul a center of the United Nations. Taking the steps to turn the United Nations into a spirit of establishment in the 80th year is the common responsibility of all of us. We will continue to say that the world is bigger than five until a system with a strong right, not a strong right, is established. Our duty is not to leave the system, but to repair it and make it work again. No doubt, a more just world is possible. Turkey will continue its struggle for the establishment of a more just world with patience. I wish you all love and respect. Stay healthy.