In recent years, Turkey has adopted a more proactive approach towards the UN. Closely following the UN’s agenda, Turkey strives to engage in the work of the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies to the extent possible. In doing so, Turkey benefits from its membership to different groups as well as regional and international organizations, and makes every effort to play a constructive and reconciliatory role on current issues.
Turkey has also been taking an interest in global issues which are prominent in the UN’s agenda, even though they do not necessarily fall within the traditional domain of Turkish foreign policy.
Within this framework, the progress achieved in terms of economic growth and development in recent years, new outreach policies towards the African and Latin American countries, flourishing relations with those countries in remote geographies preceding and during Turkey’s membership to the UN Security Council, the accession process to the European Union, membership to the G-20 as well as Turkey’s increasing official development aid to those countries in need have all provided significant opportunities to further enhance Turkey’s contributions to the UN development agenda. Consequently, the 4th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries held between 9 and 13 May 2011 in Istanbul has enabled Turkey to clearly demonstrate its support and contributions to international development cooperation. As the host of this Conference, Turkey has assumed the responsibility to draw the attention of the international community to the challenges faced by the LDCs in the next decade, as an advocate for the LDCs.
Turkey is emerging as a center for international organizations, including the UN. The Regional Bureau of Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) was recently inaugurated in this city. In line with the strategic partnership developed between Turkey and the UNDP, Istanbul also hosts now the UN International Center for Private Sector in Development.
Turkey’s membership to UN Security Council, the most important forum to achieve and maintain international peace and security, during the term 2009-2010, provided new and further opportunities in the international arena and the UN.
Turkey has always been one of the most prominent defenders of the principles and goals stipulated in the UN Charter, and has supported the resolution of international disputes through multilateral cooperation. Throughout this term of membership in the Security Council, which came after nearly half a century, Turkey participated in the work of the Council and made its contributions on a multitude of issues most of which are already on its own foreign policy agenda, enriched both in depth and scope in recent years.
Turkey’s contributions to the peace-keeping operations is one of the tangible examples. Turkey is taking part in 10 UN peacekeeping operations all around the world with a significant number of military and civilian personnel.
Turkey is determined to support the UN in every possible way and wishes to enhance its contributions to international peace, security and stability as well as to further its efforts towards the strengthening of fundamental principles and values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Thus, Turkey has announced its candidacy for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council Candidacy for the term 2015-2016.
For more information about Turkey’s candidature to the UN Security Council: www.mfa.gov.tr/candidacy-of-the-republic-of-turkey-to-the-united-nations-security-council-for-the-period-2015-2016.en.mfa
The 67th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly was held in New York between 25 September - 5 October. Turkey was represented by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs at the General Assembly. At the margins of the General Assembly, Foreign Minister Davutoğlu participated in various thematic and regional meetings and held bilateral talks with a large number of heads of state, foreign ministers and representatives of international organizations.
For Minister Davutoğlu’s address to the 67th session of the UN General Assembly:
http://www.mfa.gov.tr/addressing-the-un-general-assembly-foreign-minister-davutoglu-urged-the-international-community-to-act-in-unity-and-solidarity.en.mfa