Erdoğan speaks at UN General Assembly: Netanyahu and his network of murder must be stopped by an alliance of humanity

The 79th session of the UN General Assembly, which brings together leaders and high-level representatives of United Nations (UN) member countries in New York for a week, has begun.

Highlights from the remarks of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who spoke at the session:

"THE UN IS FAILING TO FULFILL ITS FOUNDING MISSION"

I invite other states that have not yet recognized Palestine to stand on the right side of history and do so as soon as possible. We are experiencing the crises that most of my friends here watch on screens moment by moment. Even if some are uncomfortable, even if some target us again, I desire to speak openly about some truths here today in the name of humanity. The UN was established to maintain international peace and security following World War II, in which millions of people lost their lives. However, we see with regret that in recent years, the UN has been failing to fulfill its founding mission. It is increasingly turning into a dysfunctional, idle, and cumbersome structure. We are witnessing that the privilege of international peace and security is too important to be left to the whims of 5 countries. The example of this is the ongoing massacre in Gaza. More than 41 thousand Palestinians have lost their lives. 41 thousand people have been brutally torn from life. No one knows where more than 10 thousand Gazans are. 172 journalists have been killed. More than 500 healthcare workers have been killed. Humanitarian aid workers, more than 210 UN personnel have been killed. They hit 820 mosques and 3 churches. They hit more than 130 ambulances. And they shamelessly challenged the whole world right here, from this podium.

"THOSE WHO SUPPORT ISRAEL, HOW MUCH LONGER WILL YOU BEAR THE SHAME OF WATCHING THIS MASSACRE?"

My friends, the images leaking from Israeli prisons show what kind of oppression we are facing. Gaza has become the world's largest cemetery for children and women. More than 17 thousand children have been targets of Israeli bullets. In Gaza, not only children but also the UN system is dying. Truth is dying, the values that the West claims to defend are dying. I ask openly; oh human rights organizations, are those in Gaza not human? Do the children in Palestine not have the right to read, to live, to play in the street? Are the journalists not your colleagues? What more are you waiting for to prevent the Gaza genocide, to put an end to this barbarism? What more are you waiting for to stop the network of massacre? Oh you who support Israel unconditionally, how much longer will you bear the shame of watching this massacre? While children are dying in Gaza and Lebanon, the international community has failed a very bad test. The Israeli administration, disregarding fundamental human rights, is carrying out ethnic cleansing and an outright genocide against a people, occupying their lands step by step. Palestinians, quite rightly, are exercising their legitimate right to resistance against this occupation. I wholeheartedly salute my Palestinian brothers and sisters who are defending their homeland at the cost of their lives. Countries with influence over Israel are clearly complicit in the massacre with a 'run with the hare, hunt with the hounds' policy. This is inconsistency and insincerity. There is a paper that has been going back and forth since May. Hamas has declared many times that it accepts the ceasefire proposal, but Israel has clearly shown that it is the side that does not want peace by constantly creating obstacles and treacherously killing its interlocutor. In an environment where UN Resolution 2735 is not implemented, coercive measures against Israel should be brought to the agenda.

"NETANYAHU AND HIS NETWORK OF MURDER MUST ALSO BE STOPPED BY AN ALLIANCE OF HUMANITY"

Just as Hitler was stopped by an alliance of humanity 70 years ago, Netanyahu and his network of murder must also be stopped by an alliance of humanity. An urgent and permanent ceasefire must be achieved, and humanitarian aid must be delivered to Gaza without interruption. It is essential that we extend a helping hand to the people of Gaza before the winter season, when conditions will worsen significantly. We also stand with the people of Lebanon. Consciences cannot be at ease until those who massacred 41 thousand people are held accountable for the crimes they have committed.

We are providing and will continue to provide all kinds of legal struggle so that the blood of our daughter Ayşenur Eygi does not remain on the ground.

"THE ECONOMIC AND HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN SYRIA REMAINS DIRE"

In the 14th year of the conflict, Syria is unfortunately still far from stability. The economic and humanitarian situation in the country, which is in the grip of terror and separatist organizations, remains dire. We hope for the advancement of the political process and the achievement of national reconciliation on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We are determined to sincerely maintain our stance in favor of realistic dialogue.

CALL FOR IRAQ

Our neighbor Iraq, while continuing its fight against terrorism, is taking decisive steps toward development, reconstruction, and reintegration with its region. The international community should support these efforts of Iraq. The implementation of initiatives that will benefit the entire region, such as the Development Road Project, is important in this context. The success of all these efforts depends on the elimination of the terrorist threat in Iraq, primarily the PKK.

We believe that taking steps toward reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with our other neighbor, Iran, will contribute to the establishment of an environment of trust and stability in the region.

REGARDING THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

As the war in Ukraine completes its third year, we are still far from establishing a just and lasting peace. As the arms race accelerates, the space for diplomacy is gradually narrowing. We will further increase our support for efforts aimed at ending the war through diplomacy and dialogue, based on Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Again, during this process, we will continue to meticulously implement the Montreux Straits Convention.

ABOUT THE PEACE PROCESS BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA

We support the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia and hope that the efforts will result in good news as soon as possible. We are also taking mutually positive steps in the Turkey-Armenia track. Developments that can be recorded in the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process will also positively reflect on the Turkey-Armenia normalization process.

We play a constructive role for the prosperity and peace of the Balkans, of which we are an inseparable part, and we act in close cooperation with all actors in the region. As a member of the Peace Implementation Council Steering Board, we emphasize the importance of Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty, political unity, and territorial integrity on every platform, and we continue our contribution to Operation EUFOR-Althea.

We are successfully continuing the KFOR command we assumed last year and support the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue process. We want to see the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean as a region of stability and prosperity where the legitimate interests of all relevant parties are respected. Developing cooperation, especially on issues such as the delimitation of maritime jurisdiction areas according to international law, freedom and safety of navigation, and maritime trade, is in the common interest of the entire region.

Turkey is ready for constructive cooperation on every issue, especially energy and the environment. We expect the same approach from our neighbors.

"I INVITE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RECOGNIZE THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS"

The key role of Turkey, which has the longest coastline in the Eastern Mediterranean, is undeniable. Turkey has rights in its declared continental shelf in the north and west of the Island of Cyprus, and the Turkish Cypriots have rights around the entire Island. 50 years have passed since the Cyprus Peace Operation, and 61 years have passed since the emergence of the Cyprus issue as a result of the Greek Cypriots usurping the partnership state. Since that day, peace and tranquility have prevailed on the Island.

The side that has always shown sincere will for a just, lasting, and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue has always been the Turkish Cypriots and Turkey. The federation model has now completely lost its validity. There are two separate states and two separate peoples on the Island. The sovereign equality and equal international status of the Turkish Cypriots, which are their acquired rights, must be re-registered, and the isolation must end. Today, I once again invite the international community to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and to establish diplomatic, political, and economic relations.

We provide active support for the establishment of stability in Libya and the preservation of the country's unity and integrity.

We call on all states to stand sincerely by Libya during this sensitive period and to contribute to building trust between the parties.

We must make more efforts to end the conflicts in Sudan. It is our collective responsibility to deliver humanitarian aid to millions of Sudanese displaced by the conflicts.

Africa has great potential with its young and dynamic population, rich natural resources, and fertile vast lands. Based on the principles of equal partnership and mutual respect, we support the peace, stability, and development efforts of the Continent with the peoples of Africa. We will continue to be in full solidarity with our African brothers and sisters.

We are deepening our engagement with regional organizations such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association, primarily ASEAN, and the Pacific Islands Forum. We keep our will to develop our relations with BRICS, which brings together emerging economies, alive.

We share a deep-rooted history with Central Asian countries; we are further strengthening our cooperation on bilateral and multilateral grounds.

Our Organization of Turkic States is gradually turning into a center of attraction. With the contributions of observer members Hungary and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, the Organization is becoming an exemplary model of cooperation. As the Turkic world, we will further consolidate our unity and solidarity.

Within the framework of respect for China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we are in close dialogue with China for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Uyghur Turks, with whom we have strong historical, cultural, and human ties.

We are striving to carry the friendly ties we have established with all countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to a more advanced stage.

We are obliged to work together to eliminate global injustice. The understanding of “leaving no one behind” of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is a guide for these efforts. The activities of Turkey, which is one of the countries that provides the most aid in proportion to its national income, contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We support efforts that will ensure fair, inclusive growth and development in all international platforms, especially the G20, of which we are a member. We believe that all nations should benefit equally from the transformative power of groundbreaking advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence. The United Nations Technology Bank for the Least Developed Countries, which we host, is a concrete manifestation of our efforts in this direction.

However, the “cyber terror attacks” carried out against Lebanon last week also showed how these technologies can turn into a deadly weapon.

We approach climate change with a similar perspective. Look, no country can shoulder the process of emission reduction and climate change adaptation alone. The most important issues for developing countries are finance, technology transfer, and capacity building. I believe that the COP29 Climate Summit to be held in Baku will contribute to the solution of these issues. With the vision of a more sustainable and cleaner world, we have carried the Zero Waste Movement, which we launched under the auspices of my wife, Emine Erdoğan, to a global dimension with a resolution unanimously adopted at the UN General Assembly with the co-sponsorship of 105 countries.

I invite all countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to be partners in our movement.

"ISLAMOPHOBIA AND XENOPHOBIA ARE WRAPPING THE WORLD LIKE IVY"

We see that Islamophobia, xenophobia, and racism are wrapping the world like a poisonous ivy. There is almost not a single day that we do not witness attacks on mosques and our holy book, the Quran. In the middle of Europe, people's homes are set on fire, their lives are targeted, and their most fundamental rights are blatantly usurped because of their ethnic and religious identities. No one can ignore this growing danger any longer.

As envisaged by the draft resolution adopted on March 15, 2024, we expect the appointment of a “Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia” at the United Nations as soon as possible.

"The disgrace staged at the opening of the 2024 Olympic Games has revealed the dimensions of the threat we face as humanity"

I would like to draw your attention once again today to a danger that I brought to the agenda at this podium last year. Attacks on the institution of the family, which is the main pillar of society, are intensifying. The disgrace staged at the opening of the 2024 Olympic Games has revealed the dimensions of the threat we face as humanity. A sports event watched by hundreds of millions of innocent children and people of all ages and faiths has been used as a tool for genderless propaganda, and in a very ugly way at that. Those bad scenes have deeply wounded not only the Catholic world, the Christian world, but also Muslims and everyone who respects the sacred. The issue of genderlessness is no longer a “choice” but has turned into a global imposition, literally a war against the sacred and human nature. Everyone who speaks out or shows the slightest reaction against this destruction project is silenced and targeted by lynching campaigns. At any cost, Turkey is determined to break this siege and resist this climate of fear. For this purpose, we have become a member of the United Nations Group of Friends of the Family. Hopefully, in solidarity with other member countries, we will not refrain from defending the family, the human, and human nature. I invite countries that share the same concerns with us to lend a shoulder to this struggle.

With these thoughts, I wish the 79th General Assembly to be auspicious for all of humanity.

I greet you all once again with love and respect.

Stay in good health…