Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visited New York on 21-24 April 2018 to attend the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, being held on 24-25 April 2018, and to have various bilateral meetings.

On Monday, April 23rd, Minister Çavuşoğlu met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders of Belgium. At the meeting, Minister Çavuşoğlu and his Belgian counterpart Reynders exchanged views on cooperation in combating terrorism, and developments in Syria. Minister Çavuşoğlu also emphasized the rising presence of PKK terrorists in Belgium.

On the same day, Minister Çavuşoğlu attended the UN Security Council meeting on “Youth, Peace and Security” and delivered a speech. Minister Çavuşoğlu underlined the importance of protecting the youth from terrorist organizations and radicalization.

Minister Çavuşoğlu also had his first face to face meeting with Germany’s new Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Minister Çavuşoğlu attended 23 April National Sovereignty and Children’s Day celebrations organized at the Turkish Consulate General in New York.

Minister Çavuşoğlu visited the construction site of the new Turkish House, groundbreaking ceremony of which was attended by President Erdoğan in September 2017, and received information about the construction work.

On Tuesday, April 24th, Minister Çavuşoğlu and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had a meeting. At the meeting, Minister Çavuşoğlu and UN Secretary General Guterres exchanged views on Syria and the Cyprus issue.

On the same day, Minister Çavuşoğlu attended the UNGA High-Level Meeting and delivered a speech. Minister Çavuşoğlu underlined the importance of UN reform and the need to have a more transparent and representative UN Security Council to achieve international peace and security.