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
  1. Ministry
  2. List of Former Ministers of Foreign Affairs
  3. Ahmet Davutoğlu
  4. Speeches of the Minister
  5. Speech Delivered by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting, 28 September 2012, New York
Speech Delivered by Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey at the Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends Ministerial Meeting, 28 September 2012, New York

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

Esteemed High Representative, President Sampaio,

Distinguished Ministers,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to be with you again in New York.

I highly value the Group of Friends meetings on the occasion of the General Assembly. It gives us the opportunity to exchange thoughts and ideas on the developments relating to the Alliance and helps us channel our views to the High Representative.

Important developments have taken place since our last meeting in September 2011.

First, the Annual Forum in Doha was a notable success. It has opened new avenues and horizons to the Alliance by establishing a crucial linkage between the AoC’s objectives and the Millennium Development Goals. We are now poised to better explore and fathom the importance education, gender equality and sustained development bears for the good governance of cultural diversity. The results of this endeavor promise to be far-reaching indeed.

Second, we hosted in Istanbul the Alliance’s first Partners Forum. The outcome has been very pleasing.

The Partners Forum was set to be a turning point for the AoC. It was the first true and concrete test for the Replenishment Mechanism ingeniously devised by the High Representative to enable our Alliance to overcome its chronic financial troubles.

The momentum we generated in Istanbul, I am sure, will grow further in Vienna where, I understand, a pledging session will be held within the ambit of the Annual Forum.

It is essential for all of us to support the Alliance not only in words, but also in deeds and financial resources.

Let us all bear in mind the fact that the AoC was conceived as a marketplace for ideas and a meeting platform for projects. The Alliance has very aptly fulfilled our expectations in that regard. But only a fraction of the ideas, projects and programs that came about thanks to the AoC could be implemented.

This has been due to the lack of financial resources. If we cherish the Alliance, then we must make sure that we also endow it with the necessary resources—particularly when it has very well served its purpose to stimulate the production of highly promising projects.


We need to make sure that the Alliance’s achievements so far are firmly consolidated. This is crucial for enabling the Alliance to better reach out to new regions and geographies, chiefly towards the East and South.


Excellencies,

Dear Friends,

In my remarks here last year, I had referred to the important current of political and social transformation that is taking place in the Middle East and North Africa.

This process which is widely called the “Arab Spring” continues unabatedly. In certain countries, it has already started bearing fruit. Those countries have given democracy and democratic principles good tilled soil to germinate.

Alas, there are still places where this unstoppable current is countered with fierce but desperate and ultimately futile resistance. In Syria, the will of the people shall be done. There is no escape. Opposition to and continued denial of the Syrian people’s legitimate rights and aspirations result only in unnecessary bloodshed.

The Alliance of Civilizations is uniquely placed to contribute to the peaceful transition to democracy in all countries undergoing such transformation. This is valid not only for the Middle East, but for the entire globe.

Through the noble values and principles it represents, the Alliance can continue to serve as a beacon to those countries which need a solid compass to look for in their quest for democracy and human rights.

We are prepared to support the Alliance in every way possible in such a dignified endeavor.

Dear Friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One last point I wish to address relates to certain negative developments that have taken place in the very recent past. These developments consisted of an utterly despicable act of provocation and a violent reaction thereto. Turkey unequivocally condemns all assaults on sacred values. Such disgraceful abuse of an essential human right does absolutely nothing to advance the cause of human rights and dignity. Having said this, I will add that we also condemn in the harshest manner the violence that took place. Turkey is aware of the effects of both terrorism and provocation. We therefore know only too well the importance of not giving way to either of these two ills.

On this particular matter, the Alliance is uniquely placed to help alleviate the tensions. I appreciate the manner in which it reacted. The answers given to the Alliance’s call to condemn the provocation should be carefully analyzed and followed up in order to shed light on how to prevent and contain such provocations in the future.

Dear Friends,

I would be amiss if I concluded without pronouncing loudly our sincere appreciation to the High Representative and all he has done for the Alliance.

President Sampaio, if we are gathered here today within the ambit of the Alliance of Civilizations as a large family full of hope and ideals, we owe it in great part to the visionary, determined and inspiring leadership you have provided to the Alliance. We are grateful for all you have done for the Alliance of Civilizations.

Thank you.