Statement by H.E. Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the 59th Plenary Meeting of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, 20 November 2015, New York Statement Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Türkiye, at the National Launch of the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan 2015-2016 (3rp), 19 March 2015, Ankara Address by H.E. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at Somalia’s New Deal Compact Ministerial High Level Partnership Forum, 19 November 2014, Copenhagen Statement Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey at the Conference on the Syrian Refugee Situation - Supporting Stability in the Region, 28 October 2014, Berlin Statement by H.E. Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Sixth Global Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, 29 August 2014, Bali Speech Delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Naci Koru In The Symposium Entitled “Peace In The Balkans And Turkey: Cultural And Commercial Diplomacy”, 28 May 2014, Istanbul Opening Remarks by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Naci Koru at the 20th International Junior Diplomats Training Program, 5 May 2014 Speech Delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Naci Koru at the Gallipoli Symphony and the Gallipoli Photograph Exhibition, 28 April 2014, Ankara Statement by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Informal Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP), 18 February 2014, Bucharest Speech Delivered by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Ambassador Naci Koru on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, 27 January 2014, Istanbul Statement by Ambassador Naci Koru Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs On the Occasion of the 68th Anniversary of the United Nations, 24 October 2013 Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the International Symposium Entitled " Asia's Rise On the Global Landscape: Perspectives from Turkey, Japan and Malaysia", 23 October 2013, Istanbul Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the International Symposium Entitled " Asia's Rise On the Global Landscape: Perspectives from Turkey, Japan and Malaysia", 23 October 2013, Istanbul Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the "New Deal for Somalia - Brussels Conference", 16 September 2013, Brussels Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the Southeast European Cooperation Process (SEECP) Foreign Ministers meeting, 31 May 2013, Ohrid Address by Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the Members of Chicago Council on Global Affairs, 17 April 2013, Ankara Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Workshop Entitled “Rethinking Turkey’s Current Role and Engagement in The Balkans”, 16 April 2013, Ankara Address by Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to Turkish Honorary Consuls in North and South America and Australia, 15 April 2013, Ankara Opening Remarks by H.E. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the International Junior Diplomats Training Program Address by H.E. Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey at the ACD Ministerial Meeting, 29 March 2013, Dushanbe Address by Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Senior Faculty Members, 26 March 2013, Ankara Address by H.E. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the MUNESCO 2013 Conference, 21 March 2013, Ankara Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the 20th Annual Turkey-EU Conference of Journalists, 11 March 2013, İstanbul Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Meeting Entitled “Turkish-Russian Relations in the Post-Cold War Period: Current Dynamics, Future Prospects”, 19 February 2013, Ankara Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Meeting Entitled “Arabs and the World, a Future Perspective”, 12 February 2013, Kuwait Address by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the “UK Joint Services Command and Staff College” Participants, 5 February 2013, Ankara Opening Remarks By Mr. Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Antalya International Security and Cooperation Conference by the Atlantic Council of Turkey, 14-15 December 2012, Antalya Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Bosphorus Regional Cooperation Summit Organized by the International Cooperation Platform (ICP), 13 December 2012, İstanbul Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey on the occasion of Permanent Neutrality Status Day of Turkmenistan and the 5th Anniversary of the Foundation of the UNRCCA, 11 December 2012, Ashgabat Speech Delivered by Ambassador Naci Koru, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Caspian Forum, 6 December 2012, İstanbul
  1. Deputy Ministers
  2. Speeches of the Deputy Minister
  3. Statement by Ambassador Naci Koru Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs On the Occasion of the 68th Anniversary of the United Nations, 24 October 2013
Statement by Ambassador Naci Koru Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs On the Occasion of the 68th Anniversary of the United Nations, 24 October 2013, Ankara

Mr. Resident Coordinator,
Excellencies, Ambassadors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Members of the Media,
Distinguished Guests,

It is a distinct pleasure to join you to mark the 68th anniversary of the United Nations Organization. I would like to thank His Excellency Kamal Malhotra for hosting this reception on the occasion of the United Nations Day.

I would also like to take this opportunity to renew our appreciation for the valuable work undertaken in Turkey by the United Nations. The UN Country Team deserves our praise.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since the end of the Cold-War, we have been witnessing the emergence of a new geo-political landscape hosting many risks and opportunities that would define the future of our globe. As part of historic transformations in the Middle East and North Africa, our region is currently going through an era of profound change and we find ourselves at the epicenter of this change.

Like the rest of the world, Turkey’s own future rests on the course and direction of the events that were to take place in this strategic milieu. In view of this evolving process where there is a significant level of volatility, Turkey has set its priorities on the basis of a realistic assessment of its long-term interests, international commitments and increasing capabilities. In fact, given the current state of global and regional affairs, our foreign policy activism is a necessity as much as a choice.

Today, the dynamism in Turkish foreign policy is mainly based on our achievements in Turkey as well as the historic changes in the international setting. We pursue a multidimensional, multilayered and proactive foreign policy for generating peace and stability in our region and beyond.


Distinguished guests,

Turkey has always advocated multilateralism for the resolution of international conflicts. We have supported the United Nations as the main platform in this respect. Founded in an effort to prevent the recurrence of the destructive consequences of the Second World War, the United Nations remains the only truly universal and legitimate forum with the potential to address the challenges facing the international community.

Since its foundation, the United Nations has assumed important responsibilities in a wide spectrum of areas, including peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and humanitarian issues as well as environment.

Meanwhile, the circumstances in the world today are no longer the ones when the United Nations was founded. The evolution is constant, and the need to adapt the United Nations to changing circumstances has become a priority.

With this understanding, we firmly support the reform efforts aiming to render the UN more representative, democratic and effective in order to have the proportionate capability to cope with the contemporary challenges.

Proud to be among the founding members of the United Nations, Turkey has been enhancing its humanitarian and development assistance in many parts of the world. Turkey became the fourth-largest donor last year. The total number of Syrians in Turkey has exceeded 600 thousand out of whom more than 200 thousand are staying in 21 camps in Turkey. Our spending in this regard has exceeded 2 billion USD.

Making Istanbul a regional center for the United Nations is an important dimension of our policy with respect to the UN. Significant steps are taken in this direction. We are currently hosting the Regional Office of the UNFPA and International Center for Private Sector in Development of the UNDP in Istanbul. In addition to these, the agreement to open the UNDP’s Regional Centre for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States in Istanbul was signed last month during the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly. We also welcome the decision for the establishment of UN Women’s Europe and Central Asia Regional Office in Istanbul. We are working together with the United Nations to ensure that these two new offices will become operational soon. We would like to see other UN agencies in Istanbul as well.

There are so many areas where Turkey takes a leading role to contribute to peace, security and prosperity in the world. Let me cite a few examples.

The Alliance of Civilizations initiative, which we have undertaken with Spain under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, seeks to enhance inter-cultural dialogue.

“Mediation for Peace Initiative”, which we are spearheading together with Finland, aims at raising awareness of the importance of mediation as an effective means of conflict prevention and resolution.

Turkey will assume the G-20 Presidency in 2015 and be a member of the Troika as of December 2013.

In 2016, we will be hosting the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul.

Last but not the least; in order to be able to make a greater contribution to the international efforts in all these fields, Turkey has declared its candidacy to the UN Security Council for the term 2015-2016. We are greatly encouraged by the strong support of a very high number of countries. If elected, Turkey will follow a principled stance, and strive to effectively reflect the international community’s conscience to the Council’s work, as it was the case during our Security Council membership in 2009-2010.

With these observations, allow me to greet the 68th anniversary of the United Nations Organization and offer my best wishes to you all.