Statement by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Expanded Extraordinary Meeting of OIC Executive Committee, 12 August 2014, Jeddah Statement by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu at the Meeting of Turkey-CARICOM Consultation and Cooperation Mechanism, 18 July 2014, İstanbul Speech of H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Conference on “International Development Cooperation: Trends and Emerging Opportunities -Perspectives of the New Actors”, 20 June 2014, Istanbul Address by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at the 41st Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, 18 June 2014, Jeddah Speech Delivered by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu at the Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement, 28 May 2014, Algeria Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 4th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, 21 May 2014, Shanghai Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Meeting of Group of Friends of the UN Alliance of Civilizations, 2 April 2014, New York Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the OIC Executive Committee Meeting on the Latest Developments in the Central African Republic, 20 February 2014, Jeddah Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Geneva II Conference, Montreux, 22 January 2014 Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, at the 16th Session of the D-8 Council of Foreign Ministers, 19 December 2013, Islamabad Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 29th Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, 12 December 2013, Yerevan Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization, 26 November 2013, Tehran Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 12th Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Member States, 25 November 2013, Manama Address by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, at the High Level Segment Meeting During the 64th Excom Meeting of UNHCR, Geneva, 30 September 2013 Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations, 27 September 2013, New York Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the meeting entitled “LDC Graduation: The Way Towards MDG Acceleration, Sustainable Development and Structural Transformation”, 27 September 2013, New York Fourth Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum Opening Speech by H.E. Ahmet Davutoglu Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, 27 September 2013, New York Address by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 22nd Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, İstanbul, 29 June 2013 Speech Delivered by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, at the 28th Ministerial Meeting of BSEC, 21 June 2013, Odessa Address by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at the OIC Donor Conference in Support of The City of Al-Quds, Baku, Azerbaijan, 11 June 2013 Speech delivered by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on Mali, 13 May 2013, Jeddah Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Somalia Conference, 7 May 2013, London Address by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Third Ministerial Conference of the Istanbul Process, 26 April 2013, Almaty Address by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at the Third Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention, 9 April 2013, The Hague Statement by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 24th Summit Meeting of the League of Arab States, 26 March 2013, Doha Speech Delivered by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, in the University of London School of Economics and Political Science, 7 March 2013, London Address by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the UN Human Rights Council, 25 February 2013, Geneva Statement by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Ministerial Meeting Preparatory to the Twelfth Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, 4 February 2013, Cairo Speech Delivered by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, at the Ministerial Meeting of BSEC,15 December 2012, İstanbul Opening Remarks by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum, 14 December 2012, Abu Dhabi
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  5. Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, 3 November 2010, İstanbul
Opening Statement by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan, 3 November 2010, İstanbul

Dear Colleagues, Ministers,

Esteemed Representatives of

International Organizations,

Distinguished participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

                                     

It gives me great pleasure to address such a distinguished audience and distinct honor to co-chair today the Fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul with my brother Minister Dr. Rassoul.

At the outset, let me welcome my dear colleagues the Ministers, the Esteemed Representatives of international and regional organizations, Heads and all the members of delegations participating in RECCA.

I would like to start by extending my sincere appreciation to the Afghan delegation, which includes several high level officials who have contributed to the organization of this conference.

Excellencies, Distinguished participants,

It is a great privilege for Turkey to host this Conference on Afghanistan.  We attach major importance to regional cooperation initiatives. As you know, considerable progress has been achieved in the trilateral process between Afghanistan-Pakistan-Turkey.  The Istanbul Summit of last January on Friendship and Cooperation in the “Heart of Asia” gave a new impetus to the regional cooperation efforts.   

The Fourth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan is a follow-up to and builds upon the success of the previous three Conferences held in Kabul, New Delhi and Islamabad. Periodical conferences as such give us the opportunity to take stock of what we have achieved and what is to be done in the future. Therefore, I believe that our deliberations today will shed light on the course of our joint efforts towards the future of Afghanistan and the region as a whole.

It is a source of happiness to observe that, despite multiple challenges there has been substantial progress with apparent key achievements since the First RECCA Conference held in Kabul in 2005.  In the last five years three conferences have been organized and the goals set in these conferences have been largely met .  All  countries of the region as well as international partners are fully committed to a stronger regional cooperation which they see as an indispensable pillar in addressing the challenges in Afghanistan and beyond.

There is no doubt that, a stable, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan would immensely contribute to the economic  prosperity of the region.  Regional cooperation is one of the leading instruments to accelerate rapid economic development and thus secure peace in Afghanistan.

On this occasion, let me commend Afghanistan on the successful completion of Presidential and Provincial Elections in 2009, as well as on the recent holding of its second parliamentary elections,   whereby an overwhelming majority of the Afghans have exercised their democratic rights in such challenging circumstances.   

Located right in the heart of Asia, Afghanistan is a land bridge between the Far East, Central and South Asia and the Middle-East  where cultures, populations and languages are profoundly intertwined.  Therefore, it can play a crucial role in the production, transmission and distribution of energy resources, movement of people, transportation of goods, development of  commerce and joint investments. Taking into account the unique position of Afghanistan, we all need to address the challenges by means of our joint and coordinated efforts within a regional framework.

The Kabul Conference, emphasizing the leadership and ownership of Afghanistan,  marked a new phase in developing a comprehensive approach which takes into consideration  the correlation between security, counter-narcotics, return and reintegration of Afghan refugees and IDPs, and regional economic cooperation.

With this understanding, we should all strongly encourage the regional countries to take the  lead in implementing the deliverables of the Istanbul Statement on Friendship and Cooperation in the “Heart of Asia” which offers a viable vision for regionally owned enhanced cooperation.

On this basis, it is of utmost importance that initiatives should stem from the region itself.  By joining the common will and efforts of  countries in the neighborhood, issues can be tackled better in a result-oriented framework.  The regional countries, besides addressing the common challenges, must look for opportunities in forging economic and cultural ties as well as in developing projects which will create an environment of mutual trust and understanding. This is the key to an enhanced interaction and cooperation at the regional level.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Promoting regional cooperation can only be achieved by removing barriers to trade and investment as well as facilitating free movement of goods and people throughout the region.  Creating new employment opportunities and permanent jobs should be one of our priorities. Notwithstanding the notable projects for the development of infrastructure that are already underway, unemployment, inadequate health services and energy shortages remain among the foremost real-life challenges that our Afghan sisters and brothers face.   

A more effective employment of Afghan companies and personnel in our assistance projects will not only promote the development of the local economy but will also pave the way for capacity-building in Afghanistan.

We are here today in Istanbul, to commit ourselves to future action  within the framework of recommendations elaborated  by this Conference’s Working Groups on “Infrastructure”, “Economic Development”, “Trade, Transit and Cross-border Cooperation” and  “Human Resources Development”. We look forward to turn these recommendations in our final Declaration into deliverables.   

The assistance programs and projects offered  by Governments can yield fruitful results only by the active participation of the private sector.  In recognition of the importance of regional business networking and linkages, a “Business Forum” is also being held today in Istanbul.  I would like to express our special thanks to the Afghanistan Investment Promotion Agency,   The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) for organizing this event on the sidelines of  our Conference which brings  together the representatives of the regional countries’ chambers of commerce and industry, investment agencies, private sector institutions and companies. I am convinced that the Business Forum will pave the ground for fresh initiatives and joint investments for the benefit of Afghanistan and the region at large in the period ahead.  

Academics from RECCA participating countries also met yesterday on the margins of this Conference to bring a genuinely intellectual added-value to our efforts in the furtherance of regionally-owned cooperation with a particular focus on the economic dimension. The Academic Platform for Afghanistan was a significant step towards adding an intellectual perspective in support of enhanced regional cooperation without which enduring peace and stability cannot be attained.

In concluding my statement,  I would like to underline the importance of monitoring and evaluating deliverables which are under consideration in this Conference. In that regard, we should all encourage the Centre for Regional Cooperation in Kabul to closely follow up the implementation of the goals set in this Conference.

Thank you for your attention.