Erdogan: Turkish diplomacy is witnessing its most successful phase

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that Turkish diplomacy is witnessing its most successful phase.

This came in a speech delivered by Erdogan on Saturday during his participation in the opening of the new legislative year in the Turkish Parliament in the capital, Ankara.

Erdogan pointed out that humanity is going through a painful era ravaged by epidemics, wars, crises and instability.

And he indicated that the world is drifting towards a great whirlpool that threatens social peace and the will of peoples for coexistence and democratic gains.

He continued, “Turkey, located at the crossroads of three continents, is the country most affected by these developments, so it does not enjoy the luxury of closing off, isolating itself from the outside world and watching events in its region.”

He stressed that Turkey is striving hard to assume its responsibilities towards its friends, brothers and citizens in light of these facts.

The Turkish President indicated that his country is adopting a constructive and active policy in solving global and regional problems.

“I say it with great pride, Turkish diplomacy is witnessing its most successful phase,” Erdogan said.

He added, “Just as we do not seek tension, we also do not succumb to pressure.”

He continued, “We strongly defend Turkey’s rights and interests in all fields with an honorable, patient, firm and wise stance. Turkey has become a diplomatic power whose ideas and recommendations are taken into consideration on the international scene and provides solutions to problems as a mediator and facilitator.”

He pointed out that Turkey has one of the 5 largest diplomatic networks in the world through 255 representations abroad.

Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, Erdogan stressed that his country’s stance on the crisis is the latest example of Turkey’s foreign policy that puts peace, stability, and humanity at its center.

He stressed that his country chose the option of peace, dialogue and just rule in the war that broke out between its two neighbors, and that it seeks to end the war instead of fueling it.

Regarding the Ukrainian grain shipment agreement, he said that the agreement concluded as a result of Ankara’s efforts is “one of the biggest successes achieved by the United Nations with an unshakable reputation.”

Last July 22, Istanbul witnessed the signing of the “Document on the Safe Shipping Initiative for Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports” between Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and the United Nations.

The agreement included securing exports of grain stuck in the Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea (Eastern Europe) to the world to address the global food shortage crisis, which threatens a humanitarian catastrophe.

Erdogan touched on the prisoner exchange process between Russia and Ukraine mediated by Ankara, stressing that the process moved Turkish diplomacy to a much different level.

On September 20, Erdogan announced a prisoner exchange between the two countries mediated by Turkey, and told reporters in New York that the exchange was an “important step towards ending the war between the two countries.”

He expressed his pleasure to see the level achieved by Turkish foreign policy during the discussions he held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

And he indicated that heads of state and government expressed their thanks and appreciation to Turkey for its role in the prisoner exchange process.

He indicated that they personally witnessed that the steps taken by Turkey on the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, the issue of migration, humanitarian aid, combating terrorism and maintaining peace were appreciated by the whole world.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the atmosphere of normalization is gaining ground in Turkey’s vicinity in the Middle East.

He continued, “Our relations with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel are developing on the basis of common interests, and a similar process is taking place with Egypt.”

He concluded by saying, “I would like to reiterate the importance we attach to the Palestinian cause and that we always stand by the Palestinian brothers.”