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. Statement by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at the OIC Extraordinary Session of the Expanded Executive Committee Meeting, June 6, 2010, Jeddah
Statement by H.E. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, at the OIC Extraordinary Session of the Expanded Executive Committee Meeting, June 6, 2010, Jeddah


Mr. Chairman,
Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Colleagues, Dear Brothers,
Selam ı Aleykum,


On behalf of the Turkish Government and people, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the staunch support and solidarity that has been demonstrated by the brotherly member States of the OIC in the wake of the barbaric aggression of Israel that targeted the Freedom flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in Gaza. We are deeply moved with these sincere displays of genuine friendship and brotherhood.

This aggression constitutes one of the most shocking incidents we have seen in a very long time. An incident in which all the established norms of civilized conduct among nations and the basic principles of international law pertaining to the freedom of navigation in high seas, as well as international human rights law and humanitarian law have all been defied and trampled underfoot in the most flagrant manner.

Dear Brothers,

The multinational civilian flotilla was composed of unarmed civilians from 32 countries carrying humanitarian aid. The sole aim of this international humanitarian mission was to provide highly needed relief to the people in Gaza who have been under inhumane Israeli blockade for 4 years.

The Israeli Defense Forces attacked the vessels in international waters 72 nautical miles off the coast of Israel. The vessels were carrying basic food stuff, medicine, construction and other materials that are essential for sustenance. Nine Turkish citizens were killed and many others were injured as a result of the brutal attack of the Israeli soldiers. It is the first time in the history of the Republic of Turkey that its citizens have been murdered by soldiers of another country.

Furthermore, Israel boarded the vessels without permission and forcefully directed them to the Ashdod Port. It detained the passengers in Israel and didn’t provide them with access to communication. Thus, Israel’s action included all the features of banditry, piracy, premeditated murder and hijacking simultaneously. In short, it was “state terrorism”; it cannot be justified under any circumstances.

Distinguished Colleagues,

Turkey condemned this horrendous attack in the strongest terms. We are determined to take all necessary measures at national and international levels to hold Israel accountable for this severe crime and not to allow it to escape with impunity this time.

In this respect, we demanded that Israel promptly release all the passengers and crew of the flotilla and hand over the wounded and the bodies of the deceased. We also demanded an apology and the conduct of an independent investigation. Last but not least, we demanded the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Due to our resolute stance and thanks to the solid support of the international community, and especially of the brotherly countries most of which are represented here, Israel had to hand over our citizens and other passengers from 32 countries within 24 hours.

Moreover, we called the United Nations Security Council to an emergency meeting on May 30th, which resulted in the adoption of a Presidential Statement condemning Israel and calling for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards.

The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has also taken up the matter and decided upon the establishment of an independent fact-finding commission to investigate the incident.

I am pleased to report that there is satisfactory progress on both counts. We hope and expect that Israel does not obstruct these efforts. Any such attempt will be further proof of their guilt and endorsement of their barbaric actions.

The Ministerial Council of the League of Arab States also had an emergency meeting on June 2nd, 2010, and adopted a resolution expressing strong support and solidarity with Turkey and calling for concerted action to put Israel to account in all legal means.

Mr. Secretary General,
Dear Brothers,

This single incident constitutes a “defining moment” in the history of the region. This is why I stated on various occasions that it has become our “September 11,” meaning that it would have a profound impact on our regional and global outlook and nothing will ever be the same any more.

We can no longer afford remaining silent in the face of injustice and blatant violation of human dignity. The unmistakable message that the people aboard the Freedom Flotilla engraved in our hearts and minds was that no blockade or wall could resist indefinitely against the resolute and collected will of those in pursuit of justice and peace at all costs.

No state can be above the law. Israel must be put to account for its unlawful and unacceptable behavior. It can’t be “business as usual” anymore. Actually, the outpouring expressions of condemnation from all around the world herald this new era. We should capitalize upon this momentum and increase our collective efforts to build a more just, equitable and cohesive regional and global order based on human dignity, rule of law and peaceful coexistence.




Dear Brothers,

This aggression also brought to the surface what has been clear for a long time. The unjust blockade of Gaza is not sustainable, and Israel’s reckless policies to enforce it pose a grave threat to regional peace and stability.

Today, as the OIC member countries, let’s commit ourselves once again to work together to achieve the lifting of the suffocating embargo on the people of Gaza and to press for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict in all tracks within a defined time frame.

Mr. Secretary General,
Distinguished Colleagues, Dear Brothers,

At this critical juncture, our collective organization, the OIC, which is the second largest organization after the United Nations, should rise to the challenge and prove its relevance in regional and global affairs once again.

Therefore, continued engagement of the OIC in this matter, in close coordination within such international organizations as the UN Security Council and the Arab League, would be essential. In this framework, I support the ideas and proposals made by Secretary General H.E. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu to be reflected in the final communiqué.

We should send out a strong and unequivocal message to the world expressing our solidarity in standing by the Gaza people. We should also stress our firm determination to hold Israel accountable for its horrific deed and to prevent the recurrence of similar acts of violence that undermine peace and stability in our region.

Turkey will continue to pursue its stated objectives in this matter in close cooperation and coordination with the OIC.

Thank you very much.