Honorable Ministers,

Esteemed Undersecretaries,

Distinguished Representatives,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to welcome you all to Istanbul and Turkey. 

It is a great pleasure and privilege for us to host such a high-level and important meeting in Turkey. The goal of this meeting is, on the one hand, to promote and deepen cooperation between Turkey and the Pacific Island States, and on the other hand, to establish a common spirit of friendship.

Before I expand on how we approach some issues that are dear to you all, I would like to say a few words about Turkish foreign policy.

The primary aim of Turkish foreign policy is to help secure a peaceful, stable, prosperous and cooperative regional and international environment that is conducive to human development within and around Turkey as well as in other parts of the world. Peace and stability are no doubt indispensable for economic development and prosperity. You will certainly acknowledge that rapid and radical changes are taking place around the world, which have a direct impact on all of us. In this context, it is obvious that at the outset of the 21st century, there still exist serious destabilizing factors in our overburdened planet, and vast discrepancies in welfare persist among states, which are in my opinion, the failure of our contemporary civilized world. In order to eliminate this negative outlook, Turkey attaches utmost importance to the achievement in full of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the year 2015 as defined by the United Nations.

Turkey pursues a proactive foreign policy that employs a broad spectrum of peaceful means. These entail, inter-alia, full integration with the European Union, taking the lead in regional cooperation processes, promoting good neighbourly relations and economic cooperation, extending humanitarian aid and assistance to the less fortunate, participating in peace-keeping operations, and contributing to the peaceful settlement of disputes as well as post-conflict reconciliation and reconstruction efforts.

It is within this general framework that we are looking to foster ever deepening relations with your countries too.

Dear Colleagues,

As a corollary of Turkey’s active and multi-dimensional foreign policy, and in view of the growing economic and political significance of the Asia-Pacific region, we have adopted a new approach in our relations with the countries of the region. This approach, broadly defined as “opening-up to the South Asian, Far Eastern and the Pacific countries”, has gained considerable pace and depth in recent years. Thus, in the medium-term, we expect to see its positive results and ramifications to the benefit of all the parties concerned.

Due to widely different characteristics of the countries in this vast geography, we pursue country-specific policies that take into account special needs and requirements of individual countries rather than a uniform approach. The main elements of our approach include, among others, completion of the legal infrastructure for bilateral relations, adoption of joint action plans with concrete projects and establishment of consultation mechanisms.

Parallel to our efforts at the bilateral level, Turkey also desires to develop its ties with the regional organizations that are active in your part of the world. It is within this context and in recognition of the wide-ranging opportunities for a mutually beneficial cooperation that we have now convened this meeting.

This opportune moment will help us to enhance our understanding of the region with a view to solidifying our political, economic and social ties with the Pacific Island States. It will also be a clear testimony of our long-term commitment to the region with which we enjoy shared interests and common positions on many key international areas.

In this context, we are ready to explore ways and means of developing our cooperation in all fields and in international fora which we believe will be to our mutual benefit.

Dear Colleagues,

Turkey is today the 17th largest economy in the world with a Gross Domestic Product of 659 billion US Dollars.  Gross Domestic Product per capita is now 9.333 US Dollars. The annual volume of foreign trade has approached 300 billion US Dollars.

Thanks to the economic stability that we have maintained since 2001, Turkey has become one of the most attractive Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) destinations in the world. FDI inflows reached 22 billion US Dollars last year.

These figures of course were thanks to the radical economic transformation program that we have embarked on following the economic crises of 2000 and 2001.

The whole Asia-Pacific region is the magnet of huge FDI inflows and the fastest growing market in the world.  In that respect, we commend the average growth rate of % 4-5 in the Pacific Islands, achieved in recent years.

We believe that with their rich mineral resources, unique geographic features, and competitive export portfolios, the Pacific Island States are more and more taking bigger roles in the global economy.

For this reason, Turkey included the Pacific Island States in her recently launched ‘Strategy for Development of Commercial and Economic Relations with Asia-Pacific Countries’.

Our Strategy stands on three pillars: and these are namely,

1.         ‘the establishment of effective channels at the governmental and business levels’,

2.         ‘cooperation for self-reliance and sustainable development’, and

3.         ‘cooperation in the international fora to tackle global issues’.

The geographic distance and lack of familiarity with each other have, unwittingly, placed certain constraints on exploring prospects and opportunities with the Pacific Islands.

Therefore, the first pillar is for Turkey and the Pacific Islands to engage in closer bilateral dialogues at the governmental and business levels so that we can provide a secure environment for our business communities to launch bold initiatives on their own.

To this end, we should put more effort into negotiating economic cooperation agreements, exchanging business delegations, and promoting national representation at regional trade fairs.

Secondly, we are well aware of the determination of the Pacific Island States in further reducing poverty, empowering their private sector, and having less dependence on the large economies of the region.

We believe that, by engaging in business in Turkey, the Pacific Island States may have better access to the European, Middle Eastern and Central Asian markets. Furthermore, closer relations between our business communities in key sectors such as tourism, minerals, transportation, finance and agriculture may help them to enhance their self-reliance and contribute to sustainable development. 

In this respect, we are ready to share our experiences with the Pacific Islands in key sectors.

Thirdly, ‘cooperation in the international fora to tackle global issues’ is in fact a natural outcome of closer and friendly relations we may nurture in the economic field. 

The more we engage with each other in the economic field the more our futures become linked. And the more our futures become linked, the closer we have to work together to face common challenges such as poverty, unemployment, energy security and climate change.

It is high time for us all to start working out new opportunities to shape our common future.

To do this, we need to maintain and increase our government-to-government dialogues. And most importantly, we need to make sure that our business communities have the opportunity to exchange visits and ideas.

Dear Colleagues,

Cooperation in international fora is a very important field for developing our relations further.

Our country has declared its candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for the period of 2009-2010. In this regard, we appreciate the valuable support of your countries that have been declared to us on various levels and occasions.

As a candidate for Security Council membership, we are conscious of the needs and problems that your countries in the Pacific region face.

We are aware that, climate change is becoming one of the most complex and pressing issues facing the world today. Leaving out nuclear wars, there is no challenge other than climate change which will have global catastrophic effects and consequences. Climate change threatens our environment, future socio-economic development, well-being of human beings and undermines social welfare and equity. It is potentially the greatest challenge to global stability and security.

As one of the founding members of the United Nations, Turkey believes that this most prestigious world organization has a very critical role to play in addressing this primary challenge of the 21st century. 2007 was an extraordinary year in terms of raising the political profile of climate change both in the public opinion as well as on the global political agenda. In this respect, my country profoundly appreciates the leadership and initiatives of the Secretary General of the United Nations in bringing this critical issue to the agenda of the UN family as the first priority matter. 

No state, whether developed or developing, can be immune from the impacts of global climate change. Addressing this complex issue requires international cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral level. I would like to reaffirm that our country is ready to give her full support for the global efforts under the framework of the United Nations.

The 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made it clear that small island states are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of global warming.

We are deeply concerned about the fact that sea-level rise and the increase in frequency and intensity of hurricanes, cyclones, floods and other extreme weather patterns as well as deglaciation and water scarcity, threaten the sustainable development, livelihoods and the very existence of some Pacific Island States.

In recent years, Turkey has taken several important steps in adapting itself to adverse effects of climate change at the national level with mainly its national resources.  The Government has made serious efforts to introduce and implement adaptive measures ranging from effective water management and irrigation to national and international afforestation campaigns.

The challenges of climate change inevitably necessitate quick and effective response mechanisms to alleviate its often dreadful consequences. Today, an efficient humanitarian relief operation is vital not only in saving more lives but also in creating a sustainable environment following a disaster. Here, I would like to underline that, Turkey’s largest humanitarian organization, Kızılay, the Turkish Red Crescent, with its 140 years of experience in directing and coordinating humanitarian relief operations, is ready to work with the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of  climate change.               

In the afternoon session of our meeting, the representatives of the relevant Turkish authorities will provide information on their activities as well as on possible areas of cooperation. My Government sincerely hopes that this meeting will form the basis of our cooperation in these fields. We are ready to work with your countries to cope not only with this threat but also with other major challenges.

Let me underline our position on a matter which, I believe, is also a great concern to all of us. As a country surrounded by sea on three sides with a coastline of 8.000 km, we as Turkey know very well the importance of making a sustainable income on fishery. We are deeply worried over the depletion of fish stocks. We are together on this issue. If we want our coming generations to be able to fish, we have to close ranks and put the focus on international cooperation. To this end, we will not spare any effort.

Your Excellencies,

Distinguished Participants,

Turkey’s efforts to advance its relations with the countries of the Pacific Region with a view to fully realizing the existing potential for a mutually beneficial partnership are obvious and determined.

We believe that the Turkish-Pacific Cooperation Initiative, which we have launched today, presents a suitable framework for a comprehensive and action-oriented dialogue between Turkey and the Pacific countries on the basis of equality, common interests and mutual benefits.

We are following with keen interest the substantial achievements of the Pacific Islands Forum and its associated agencies over the last 37 years since it first met in Wellington in 1971, its contribution to the development of a Pacific regional consciousness and endeavor, and consolidating its position as the pre-eminent political grouping in the region.

In order to boost up its relations with the Pacific Islands Forum member countries, Turkey intends to become a Post-Forum Dialogue Partner. This enhanced relationship will ease Turkey’s cooperation incentives to efficiently reach the Pacific countries, and to promote the socio-economic well-being of the peoples of the Pacific region in line with the Pacific Plan.

Distinguished Colleagues,

We highly appreciate the participation from the Pacific Islands Forum Member States at such a high level. This level of participation is a reflection of the political support provided by your countries.

Today we will sign two Joint Communiqués with a view to establishing diplomatic relations between my country and the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Cook Islands. We regard this as an additional positive step forward towards deepening and strengthening the relations between Turkey and the Pacific Islands Forum member countries. We sincerely hope that similar steps with Kiribati and Niue will soon follow suit.

As you may recall, we made available a fund of 15 million Dollars for the implementation of projects in the LDCs, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. We pledged an additional amount of 5 million Dollars, during the last year’s conference on the LDCs in Istanbul, to finance projects in the Least Developed Countries which also include 5 Pacific Island States as well.

I am happy to announce here that, in addition to all these funds, the Government of Turkey has decided to allocate 5 million Dollars specifically for the Pacific Island States. This fund is designed for the implementation of small and medium scale development projects in the Pacific Island States through the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TIKA).

We are pleased to see that some of the Pacific Island States have already started utilizing these funds. We look forward to cooperating with all of you on your development projects.

Today, we are witnessing the beginning of a new process. I am confident that ensuing achievements to be realized following this meeting where we will create the pillars of a highly promising relationship, will bear fruit for our future generations.

Thank you.