Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan: The Gaza Strip is devastated and practically uninhabitable
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan: The Gaza Strip is devastated and practically uninhabitable
"The Gaza Strip has now been wiped off the face of the earth and is largely uninhabitable," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that achieving a negotiated solution based on the protection of Ukraine's legitimate interests is a priority, and said: "However, this does not mean recognition of the occupation. It is time to separate the issue of sovereignty from the ceasefire in order to stop this war on the European continent in the 21st century."
Minister Fidan took part in the 9th session of the Trilateral Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where he arrived to participate in the meeting, he took part in the 11th annual meeting of the Azerbaijani summit on the theme "Correcting a divided world." He addressed the participants of the Global Baku Forum.
Fidan noted that in this period, when the global system is on the verge of great changes, and crises and wars have reached an unprecedented level, despite the fact that the rules-based international order should lead to fair and effective solutions, the system and the great powers do not offer solutions to problems and follow their own plans.
Minister Fidan, after the Second Karabakh War in 2020, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev suggested that the path to real peace and stability could be paved by the countries of the region, and not others, and formed by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Iran and Georgia.Noting that a "Platform for regional cooperation has been created to establish permanent peace and stability in the South Caucasus" in the 3+3 format, he said that this year they will hold a third summit in Turkey
."Turkey has taken a principled position since the beginning of the war"
Noting that it is necessary to reach a negotiated solution to the war in Ukraine, Fidan said: "Turkey has taken a principled position from the very beginning of the war. We support Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity politically and practically, including in Crimea."
In addition, Hakan Fidan stated that they had given diplomacy a chance and made efforts to mitigate the effects of the war, and said that regional groups were guided by this goal.
Stating that the Black Sea Grain Initiative is an important example in developing regional solutions to the globalization of regional deadlocks, Fidan stated that the Mine Action Task Force is another recent regional initiative.
Fidan noted that Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania, as NATO allies, will contribute to maritime and energy security in the Black Sea, and said: "It is obvious that there is a need for new regulation to ensure the safety of commercial shipping in the Black Sea."
Noting that such a mechanism should be based on new realities "on the ground," Fidan said that Ukraine and Russia should also have support.
Fidan said that Russia and Ukraine are evaluating the possibility of creating a new security structure and that "he can say that an agreement can be reached."
Minister Fidan stressed that this new mechanism will contribute to global food security, as well as tensions in the Black Sea.
The Russian-Ukrainian war
Noting that the war in Ukraine has been going on for the 3rd year, but they do not think that it will end in the near future, Fidan said that the heavy human losses and physical damage caused by the conflict on both sides led to a stalemate.
Fidan stated that, given the increasingly devastating effects of the war, "neither the two sides nor the world can afford a war that will last forever."
Stressing that there is an obvious need to create a space for diplomacy, Fidan noted that calling for negotiations does not mean asking Ukraine to submit or surrender.
Fidan said it was just a "call to accelerate the inevitable" and "find a solution at the negotiating table," adding: "Prolonging the war will further undermine stability in our region and beyond."
Minister Fidan said: "The priority is to achieve a negotiated solution based on the protection of Ukraine's legitimate interests. However, this does not mean recognition of the occupation. In order to stop this war on the European continent in the 21st century, it is time to separate the issue of sovereignty from the ceasefire."
"The Gaza Strip has been wiped off the face of the earth and is largely uninhabitable"
Noting that in October he told his colleagues at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) that instead of waiting for others to solve their own problems, member states should take matters into their own hands this time, Fidan said: "Otherwise Israel will make us forget about this oppression by committing even more brutal atrocities to make us forget about this oppression."
Fidan stated that the Contact Group, which was established by the extraordinary summit of the OIC and the League of Arab States, demonstrated a position of regional responsibility, and recalled that as 7 countries they were instructed to act on behalf of the Muslim world and intervene in the ongoing tragedy in Palestine.
Thanks to the group's strength, the overwhelming majority of the international community now advocates "an immediate ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian assistance and a two-state solution," Fidan said, adding that intensive diplomatic efforts have not stopped Israel's war crimes in Gaza, and that there are "more than 31,000 martyrs, mostly women, in Gaza today." children and the elderly."
Minister Fidan said: "The Gaza Strip is now destroyed and practically uninhabitable." said.
Stressing that the blockade of humanitarian aid at the Rafah border gate serves the interests of Israel and its supporters, Fidan said that their duty is to honor the sacrifices and the indescribable pain that the Palestinians have to endure.
Fidan stated that this problem cannot be solved until the two-State solution with a full-fledged Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders is implemented, and recalled that in the past it was impossible to reach a final solution because Israel did not do so. They adhere to the concept of two states, so this time they put forward a proposal for a guarantor mechanism.
Territorial affiliation and Libya
Noting the importance of major countries and international players in the region taking responsibility for monitoring, verification and, if necessary, fulfilling the obligations of the parties under the final agreement with such a mechanism based on regional responsibility, Fidan said that his proposals in this direction were positively received by his regional and international interlocutors, and Turkey is committed to this issue and He stated that he was ready to take responsibility.
Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey's views on regional responsibility are not limited to these three major international conflicts, and recalled that Turkey ensured calm on the ground during the Syrian crisis and was among the guarantor countries of the Astana Platform.
Minister Fidan said: "Turkey is committed to developing regional responsibility through contacts at the highest level in order to achieve a sustainable political solution based on stability, territorial integrity and unity in Libya. In this sense, the strategic imperative is to move the process towards free, fair and credible elections based on consensus."
"Any connection plan excluding Turkey and our region is doomed to failure"
Hakan Fidan stated that although Asia is on the way to becoming a geopolitical center again, they have "institutionalized ties with their historical homeland" and said that the Organization of Turkic States stands today as a full-fledged international organization and is constantly expanding integration and cooperation in various fields.
Noting that Turkey's regional real estate policy also covers energy and communications projects, Fidan recalled that they support initiatives such as TANAP, TAP, the Trans-Caspian Corridor, the Central East-West Corridor and the Iraq Development Project.
"Recent international events have proved once again that any connection plan excluding Turkey and our region is doomed to failure," he said.
Fidan stressed that they follow the strategic priorities of the region, and not the priorities imposed by the world hegemonic powers.
Minister Fidan answered the questions
Minister Fidan took part in the 9th session of the Trilateral Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, where he arrived to participate in the meeting, he took part in the 11th annual meeting of the Azerbaijani summit on the theme "Correcting a divided world." Addressing the participants of the Global Baku Forum, he answered the questions.
Fidan called Azerbaijan a "rising star in the Caucasus" and stated that they are proud to observe this country in terms of growth rates and the economic stability it brings to the region.
Noting that Azerbaijan has begun to play a very important role in the Caucasus in recent years, Fidan said that it has become the center of regional diplomacy and regional projects.
Fidan stated that Turkey cooperates with Azerbaijan on many issues, such as the economy, railway and energy projects.
Recalling that last year he took part in the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Shusha, Azerbaijan, Fidan said that this year he took part in the 29th session of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. He recalled that Azerbaijan will host the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29).
Minister Fidan drew attention to the fact that many international events are held in Azerbaijan.
Fidan stressed that Azerbaijan plays an important role in Europe's energy security, and noted that Europe is striving to get closer and establish better relations with Azerbaijan on this issue.
"If our security concerns are neglected, it will create some problems."
Stating that the European security architecture is now included in the EU's form, Fidan explained that the EU and NATO have an increasingly overlapping agenda.
Minister Fidan continued his words as follows:
"What does this mean for Turkey? Turkey has been excluded from the European Union for some time. There are no prospects on the horizon for becoming a member of the European Union, but we are a member of NATO. Almost all EU members are members of NATO. Thus, the European Union began to play a dominant role in NATO, which is understandable, but countries like Turkey, Norway and Canada, you know, we are not members of the European Union, but we are members of NATO, and we have our legitimate security concerns. If the priorities of the European Union dominate the NATO agenda and our security concerns are ignored, this will create a small problem."
Fidan said that they have brought these issues to the attention of their allies in Europe and North America, and that he believes that one of the most important challenges in NATO and the European security architecture is how to align the security interests of the EU with NATO.
Stating that now it seems that these two elements have become almost equivalent, Fidan said: "There is no debate on this issue, but in fact NATO has a different mechanism of interpretation and control, and to a large extent the American armed forces contribute and lead it.
" "The PKK/YPG is supported by some NATO countries"
Stating that they had raised two issues in connection with the admission of Finland and Sweden to NATO over the past two years, Fidan said: "First, if you look at the physical security and territorial integrity of Turkey, you will see that there is a great threat on the other side of our borders. PKK/YPG, PKK in Iraq and its continuation YPG in Syria are supported, strengthened and deployed by some NATO countries. The United States is doing this openly, and several other NATO countries are also helping the United States."
Minister Fidan also said: "Some NATO countries are teaming up with non-NATO members, non-state elements, terrorist organizations and solving the problem they call the "fight against terrorism," but at the same time it poses a great threat to my national security. This is what we have put on the agenda.".
Regarding the second issue, Fidan noted that, as members of NATO, they faced a number of restrictions in the field of defense industry, announced and not announced by some NATO countries, and that they brought this issue up for discussion.
Fidan stated that they also discussed the security of the Black Sea and pointed out the importance of preventing the growing militarization of the Black Sea.
However, pointing out that the militarization of the Black Sea after the Russian-Ukrainian war created big problems, Fidan said that the cessation of grain supplies, especially from Ukraine, had a negative impact on the whole world, especially in the Global South and some African countries.
In this context, Fidan stressed that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, especially the whole world, is very sensitive to food security and is making every effort to ensure that the grain deal between Ukrainians and Russians was concluded, and said: "We succeeded, but it took some time."
"Our number one priority in Libya is to prevent a new conflict,"
Fidan said that Libya is another important issue on their agenda.
Stating that Turkey's most important priority in Libya is to prevent a new conflict, Fidan said: "This is our number one priority. For this reason, our presence, contacts and work are always focused on preventing a repeat of the conflict."
Stressing that they cannot allow the country to remain divided into East and West in Libya and unite unilaterally in favor of one of the actors, Fidan said that in this regard, like Turkey, they stand in solidarity with the legitimate government in the West, but they are also developing relations with the East.
Fidan said that in recent years they have normalized relations with Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region, and they have used this normalization to make a positive contribution to Libya.
Stating also that they had met with the relevant countries, Fidan said they discussed what they could do to contribute to the establishment of peace in Libya and the unification of the country.