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. Speech Delivered by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Opening of the Fifth Meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum at the Level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 1 December 2012, Istanbul
Speech Delivered by H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Opening of the Fifth Meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum at the Level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 1 December 2012, Istanbul

Distinguished Ministers,
Secretary General of the Arab League,
Heads of Delegations,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Istanbul is hosting today for the third time the Foreign Ministers Meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum. We have received representatives of the friendly and brotherly countries of the Arab League in 2008 and 2010 in this beautiful city. On this occasion as well, I warmly welcome you all.

The Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum aims to develop relations between our countries in areas comprising political, economic, cultural, civilizational and social development dimensions.

Cooperation has been an important objective in every period. However, as a result of developments which have occurred in our region during the last two years, it has become all the more necessary for our countries, bound together with fundamental historical and cultural ties and sharing common moral values, to enhance their cooperation. Indeed, this situation points out to a natural process. As history assumes its natural course, our brotherly people will further get closer to each other.

The shaping of the future of our region by our joint initiatives, in line with the expectations of our peoples, is a historical responsibility incumbent on all of us, especially during this period of time.

In order to ensure and sustain peace and stability in our region and enable our people to reach more prosperous conditions of life through economic development, it is necessary to achieve success during this century. The natural resources and manpower we possess and the advantages of our geography should steer us towards cooperation.

Likewise, we should put into practice our moral values which summon us to unity and solidarity and steer us to endeavour. These endeavours will enable us to achieve success. The following verse bestowed to us by the Holy Qur’an, is indeed intended for the whole humanity: “And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives”. I have no doubts that endeavours carried out with conviction will bear fruit.

On the other hand, pending risks are present in the future. Everyone is aware of existent challenges and their significance. What we need to do is essentially to diminish the risks of conflict based mostly on artificial grounds and to steer towards common interests.

With these feelings and thoughts, it is important that we shall demonstrate maximum efforts for the realization of the works we have planned so far and activities to be envisaged in the draft declaration we shall adopt this time.

At this point, I also would like to talk about certain regional issues shortly. We shall have the possibility of discussing regional issues in detail during our meeting.

Distinguished Colleagues,

As you all know, our region is passing through a vital process. During this process, Turkish-Arab solidarity is much more important than any time before. Likewise, we experienced altogether the last example of this solidarity during our visit to Gaza.

The attack on the Gaza Strip, which Israel initiated on 14 November 2012 and cost the lives of many innocent Palestinians, has constituted the latest example of the aggressive policies of this country and brought the region to the brink of a new chaos.

Turkish-Arab solidarity and cooperation will accelerate the settlement of issues in the region and strengthen efforts for the establishment of peace and stability in our region.

The unity that we have demonstrated in Gaza with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Arab League has been one of the most concrete examples of our close cooperation in the last period. Together, we have vehemently condemned the Israeli attacks on Gaza and called for their termination. We have taken initiatives jointly with the international community and the parties in the direction of easing tensions. During the visit of H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, to Egypt, we exerted vigorous efforts to achieve a ceasefire in close cooperation with Egypt and other brotherly Arab countries. With the aim of demonstrating our solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian people, we visited the Gaza Strip together with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Arab League.

We welcome the achievement of a ceasefire and the termination of attacks on Gaza as a result of all these efforts. Now it is time to establish a lasting peace in the region. The precondition for that is the achievement by our Palestinian brothers of their rights which they have been missing for years and the foundation of an independent State of Palestine.

The international community should not allow any more the unlawful, irresponsible and uncompromising conduct of the Israeli Government to jeopardize the region’s peace, security and stability. It is time to give strong reactions to Israel’s policies that are destroying the peace process.

Distinguished Ministers,

On 29 November a historical threshold was crossed in reaching the expected end result for our Palestinian cause. Palestine’s acquiring of “non-member observer state” status at the UN as a result of a voting constituted a victory for the Palestinian cause and everyone supporting this just cause. We have been pleased that this resolution has been adopted by a great majority of the UN members. The international community has taken an important step towards ending a historical injustice by recognizing the State of Palestine at the UN. We warmly welcomed this historical development.

As the international community, our responsibility for the Palestinian people has not ended yet. When the day comes for Palestine to be accepted to the UN as a member, it will be considered that the international community has completely paid its moral, legal and political debt to the Palestinians.

Turkey will resolutely continue its efforts, along with its other international partners, for Palestine to attain its due position in the international arena. It is our sincere desire for the flag of Palestine to fly at the UN with the status of a full member state. And, the support of Turkey will continue until that flag flies.

As of today, one of the most important challenges faced by our region is related to the ongoing humanitarian, political and security issues crisis in Syria. This is a judgment of conscience not only for the Islamic and Arab world, but also for the entire international community committed to universal values.

The Syrian Regime massacres the Syrian people; it sieges the cities with heavy shelling, including its capital and towns. As of today, approximately thirty five thousand Syrians have lost their lives; more than two and a half million people have been displaced and almost five hundred thousand Syrian brothers and sisters had to take refuge in neighboring countries. The number of torture cases and missing persons is unknown. Unfortunately, this tragedy persists before the eyes of the entire humanity.

Bashar Al-Assad’s administration has lost its governing competence and legitimacy and has transformed itself into an armed militia that does not refrain from any ruthless methods in order to remain in power. The severity of the threat posed by the Syrian Regime to its people and the future of its country is escalating every day for the welfare of our region with its actions targeting peace and security beyond its borders as well.

It is crystal clear that change is inevitable in Syria and that the will of its people cannot be suppressed. The Regime will not be able to win the bloody war it wages against its own people. Our duty in the Syrian crisis, which has become a bleeding wound for our region, is to increase the pressure on the Regime. Our unique wish is that the transition period comes to an end as soon as possible, in accordance with the legitimate demands of our Syrian brothers and sisters, and that a democratic, prosperous Syria based on the rule of law where all individuals have equal rights and freedoms without any ethnic and religious discrimination will be established.

Distinguished Participants,

During the Fifth Meeting of the Turkish-Arab Cooperation Forum at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, we will have a comprehensive exchange of views on several issues comprising our common interests and expectations of our peoples, in particular on the issues that I have referred to at the beginning of my speech.

At this point, I would like to express my belief that Turkish-Arab friendship and cooperation will be taken to a higher level as a result of this meeting that we shall hold.

While I wish that our meeting will be blessed with propitious results, I would like to convey my gratitude to you, the distinguished participants.