Erdoğan: It is unfair that over 190 countries depend on five countries’ whims

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticized the structure of the United Nations in a video message to the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, drawing attention to the crises in Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan. Erdoğan said Türkiye would not abandon diplomacy even during the most difficult periods.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, which began under the auspices of the Foreign Ministry. Saying he was pleased that Istanbul had become one of the centers of diplomacy, Erdoğan said the world was going through a period marked by rising conflicts, escalating tensions and eroding confidence in international law.

Erdoğan described Türkiye’s mediation efforts as follows: "As Türkiye, we have made it our guiding principle never to abandon diplomacy, even at times when the parties are not speaking to each other and hopes are fading. From prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine to our mediation efforts across the African continent, we are working to pave the way to peace today through the gains we have achieved across a broad geography."

"A system dependent on five countries’ whims is not fair"

Recalling that the UN General Assembly had recently convened under the theme "restoring trust," Erdoğan said: "Today, millions of people in Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan and other crisis zones who have placed their hopes in the United Nations are deeply disappointed. The fact is that a system in which the will of more than 190 countries depends on the whims of five countries is neither fair nor capable of fully restoring trust."

"As Türkiye, we do not accept an approach to international politics built on mistrust. We believe that there is always a door open to diplomacy, even in the most difficult disputes," Erdoğan said, emphasizing that Türkiye would continue bringing the parties together for peace, mediating for fair solutions and assuming responsibility.

The conference, held under the theme "Partnerships and New Perspectives for Peace: Mediation in a Changing World," continued with a video message from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and an opening speech by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

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