Erdoğan speaks at G20 Summit: We are hosting 4 million people: Reaction to the United Nations

AKP Chairman and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made important statements at the G20 Summit in Brazil. Regarding Israel's attacks on Gaza, Erdoğan said, "There is no winner in war."

Highlights from Erdoğan's statements are as follows:

"Within the scope of the G20 Summit, we met with the heads of state and government of more than 35 countries, including those invited by the term president, and representatives of international organizations. As in previous years, Turkey has actively contributed to G20 activities this year as well.

The three priorities that Brazil has very accurately determined for its 2024 term presidency—fighting hunger, poverty, and inequality; energy transition and sustainable development; and the reform of global governance institutions—are issues that we also follow closely.

"WE ARE HOSTING 4 MILLION PEOPLE"

In my main address at the summit, which was held under the theme of building a fair world and a sustainable planet, I drew attention to the humanitarian development activities that Turkey carries out with the motto of leaving no one behind. First of all, I would like to state the following. As Turkey, we have been one of the countries providing the most humanitarian aid in the world relative to national income since 2015. We are hosting approximately 4 million displaced people who have fled conflict zones and taken refuge in our country.

"WE HAVE ENSURED THE DELIVERY OF OVER 33 THOUSAND GRAIN PRODUCTS TO WORLD MARKETS"

With the Black Sea initiative, we have ensured the delivery of over 33 thousand grain products to world markets via the Turkish Straits. From Africa to Asia, from Haiti to Afghanistan, wherever there is famine, hunger, disaster, conflict, or tragedy, Turkey is there with all its relevant official institutions and non-governmental organizations. It is always by the side of those in need. We are also extending a helping hand to our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Lebanon who are struggling to survive in the face of Israeli attacks.

"WE ARE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES PROVIDING THE MOST SUPPORT TO PALESTINE"

With the 86 thousand tons of aid we have sent, we are one of the countries providing the most support to Palestine. The amount of aid we have delivered to our brothers and sisters in Lebanon has also exceeded 1300 tons. We appreciate the struggle of Brazil, which shares the same sentiments as us on the Palestinian issue, against hunger and poverty.

"THE UNITED NATIONS HAS TURNED INTO A STRUCTURE SERVING 5 COUNTRIES"

We are participating as a founding member in the global alliance against hunger and poverty initiated by my dear friend Lula. In the summit's session titled 'Reform of Global Governance Institutions,' the necessity of reforming the current international system on a fair and participatory basis as soon as possible was emphasized. We witnessed the collapse of inter-country cooperation to a large extent during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we are witnessing the bankruptcy of international organizations in the face of wars, natural disasters, and persecutions that prick the conscience of all humanity. At the forefront of these organizations is the United Nations Security Council, whose primary duty is to maintain global stability and peace. Instead of observing the rights, laws, and concerns of the 193 member countries of the United Nations, the Security Council has turned into an elitist structure that prioritizes the interests of only 5 permanent members and serves these 5 countries.

"WE ARE RECEIVING SERIOUS SUPPORT FROM LATIN AMERICA, AFRICA, AND ASIA"

There can be no reasonable, logical, or consistent explanation for this in today's pluralistic world. As I express at every opportunity, the world is bigger than five. Once again, the war between Russia and Ukraine in a region very close to us has struck this truth in the face of all humanity. As Turkey, at the center of our efforts aiming to build a fairer order is an effective United Nations System, and at its focus is the Security Council Reform. We see that this important observation, which we first voiced 11 years ago, is being embraced by wider masses every day. We are receiving serious support, especially from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, which the current mechanisms exclude, victimize, and turn a deaf ear to their voices and demands.

"THE RIO SUMMIT HAS VIRTUALLY PROVEN THIS"

The Rio summit has virtually proven this. I sincerely believe that the path we opened 11 years ago will reach its destination one day, whether today or tomorrow. Dear members of the press, the G20, as a global governance platform with high representational quality, has an important function in terms of bringing common solutions to international challenges. I must say this here with all my sincerity.

"MORE THAN 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA CANNOT ACCESS HEALTHY FOOD AND WATER"

Look, I do not remember another period in which a leader who has attended G20 summits without fail since 2008 has seen our world struggling with more than one war, genocide, and humanitarian drama at the same time. Especially in Gaza, the risk of famine has reached a catastrophic level according to international classifications. 96% of the Gaza population, in other words, more than 2 million people, cannot access healthy food and water. The Israeli government is committing crimes against humanity by also blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which it has turned into an open-air prison.

"HISTORY WILL NOT FORGIVE THOSE WHO REMAIN SILENT IN THE FACE OF THIS BRUTALITY IN GAZA"

It is not just us saying this; the United Nations and many organizations are saying it too. For 14 months, we have all been following with broken hearts the dramas of children who risk their lives to reach a bowl of food or a sip of water under heavy bombardment. More than 70% of the nearly 50 thousand Palestinians who lost their lives in Israeli attacks are women and children. A significant portion of those massacred in Lebanon are also innocent civilians. The humanitarian cost of the state terrorism that Israel is fueling in our region with the support of Western powers is increasing day by day. For whatever reason, history will not forgive those who remain silent in the face of this oppression and this brutality, the intensity of which is increasing. As Turkey, we express at every opportunity the need for an urgent and permanent ceasefire to end the genocide in Gaza and the massacres in the West Bank and Lebanon.

"WE HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ANY COUNTRY"

We repeated this call at the G20 Rio summit as well. As a result of our initiatives, strong expressions regarding Gaza were included in the G20 leaders' declaration. In addition to deep concern about the dangerous escalation in Lebanon, the call to remove obstacles to the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza was recorded at the leaders' level. This must be understood once and for all. We have no problem with any country, any people, or any faith. Our problem is with the massacre and the perpetrators of the massacre. Our problem is with those who seek the security of their country and citizens in shedding more innocent blood. Our problem is with those who drag our geography into chaos and instability with their occupation and invasion policies. With this understanding, we decided to intervene in the case filed at the International Court of Justice to ensure that the genocide inflicted on the people of Gaza for 14 months does not go unpunished.

"IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT THE STATE OF PALESTINE IS RECOGNIZED BY MORE COUNTRIES"

At the point we have reached, it is essential that coercive measures based on international law are applied by responsible states against Israel, which the international system cannot stop. Our letter demanding the cessation of arms and ammunition shipments to Israel has been published as a United Nations document with the joint signatures of 52 countries and 2 international organizations. It is very, very important, especially in this period, that the State of Palestine is recognized by more countries.

"THERE IS NO WINNER IN WAR, NO LOSER IN PEACE"

While doing these in the Middle East, we also support diplomatic initiatives where the parties will be represented on an equal footing for the war in Ukraine to result in a fair and lasting peace. In fact, a historic opportunity was seized with the Istanbul process in the first months of the conflicts. However, this opportunity could not be utilized. The bill for this was paid by all of humanity with the energy and food crisis, and by both our neighbors with a death toll reaching half a million. There is no winner in war, no loser in peace. The time that has passed has confirmed the validity of this analogy. Turkey is ready to undertake every kind of facilitating role between the parties, just as it has done since the first day of the war. It has more than enough will and capability to do this.

"WE HAVE ENTERED A 5-YEAR PERIOD OF UNINTERRUPTED ACTION"

I hope and desire that the new American administration will take bolder, more prudent, and more supportive steps on the path to peace in both conflict zones. I would like to emphasize here that we do not find steps that will block the path to peace and fuel the war to be correct. Dear members of the press, despite the troubles and conflicts around us, the Turkish economy continues its growth trend steadily. With the general elections held on May 14-28 last year, we entered a 5-year period of uninterrupted action. With the economic program we implemented immediately after the elections, we eliminated uncertainties.

"OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS HIGH INFLATION"

We are rapidly healing the wounds caused by the disaster of the century, the earthquake we experienced on February 6, 2023, in the lives of our people and in our economy. Last month, we handed over the keys of our 130,000th earthquake house to our disaster victims. By the end of 2024, we will finish the construction of 200,000 houses, and by the end of next year, a total of 453,000 independent units, including 417,000 houses. We have spent 71.5 billion dollars so far to erase the traces of the earthquake. By closing 2023 with a growth rate of 5.1% in the economy, we continued our process of uninterrupted growth for 14 years. In the first half of 2024, our growth was 3.8%. Like the whole world, our biggest concern is high inflation. We, like everyone else, have been negatively affected by the inflationary pressure that has seen the peaks of the last 60-70 years in many places, including America and Europe. Our disinflation process began as of June 2024 and will continue in 2025.

Our Central Bank's reserves have approached 160 billion dollars. These positive developments in macroeconomic indicators have also positively affected the investors' view of our country; while our credit rating has increased, our country's risk premium has fallen faster than our peers."

News Source: 12punto