Summary Turkiye’s Erdogan calls for UN Security Council reform, wider recognition of Palestine and increased pressure on Israel over Gaza.
NEW YORK – (Reuters) – Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that the UN had become unable to fulfil its duty of preserving peace and called for reform of the Security Council.
Erdogan has for years called for a more comprehensive and inclusive structure at the Security Council.
“Let's recognise that a system in which the will of more than 190 countries is subject to the whims of five countries is neither fair nor capable of fully establishing trust,” he said.
“The United Nations, established 81 years ago to maintain peace and security, has become unable to fulfil this mission, or rather it has been made unable to do so,” he added.
Erdogan also condemned the situation in Gaza, saying “no one who holds humanity, compassion and mercy in their heart, with a sense of justice and conscience can turn a blind eye” to what was happening there.
“(Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas has been unable to take his place in this hall for two consecutive years. This injustice against our Palestinian brothers and sisters wounds the consciences,” Erdogan said.
He urged countries that do not recognise a Palestinian state to review their position and called on all nations to increase pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza, which he called “our time's most inhumane, most embarrassing concentration camp”.
NATO member Turkey has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel and its war on Gaza, saying its attacks amounted to genocide. It has repeatedly urged international measures against Israel. Israel denies accusations of genocide.
Family and children
Erdogan also condemned what he called “global gender-neutralisation policies”, saying they had turned into a campaign targeting families and children.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Erdogan said the trend could be countered by protecting the traditional family formed by a man and a woman.
His comments came a week after Turkish authorities launched sweeping raids and arrests targeting LGBTQ+ groups under an operation dubbed “My Family is Safe”, which the government says is aimed at protecting children and family values.
Eighty-two people were jailed pending trial, while more than 100 protesters were also detained.
