During the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reaffirmed Ankara’s steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause. Speaking at the Turkish House on Saturday, Fidan highlighted the diplomatic efforts of the Turkish delegation throughout the week, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had once again placed the Palestinian plight at the center of international discourse.
Fidan stated that President Erdogan utilized his address to global leaders to draw significant attention to the tragedy unfolding in Gaza. The Turkish delegation actively raised concerns regarding Israel’s occupation policies and the severe humanitarian suffering in the region. According to Fidan, the Turkish President presented a clear vision for sustainable regional peace while warning against the threats posed by unchecked Israeli aggression. He emphasized that Israel must be held accountable for the oppression and massacres it has committed, asserting that the Gaza peace process remains crippled by Israel’s refusal to abide by international norms. Fidan stressed that lasting stability is unattainable as long as unilateral actions and rule-breaking go unpunished.
On the sidelines of the summit, Fidan met with counterparts from signatory states of the Mecca Defence Agreement to discuss collective security and regional deterrence. The top diplomat declared that the Turkish armed forces maintain full operational capability to respond to any regional threats. He also revealed that Pakistan has proposed a candidate for the position of secretary-general for the defence alliance.
Additionally, Fidan reported that President Erdogan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi reached an agreement to deepen security cooperation between Ankara and Baghdad. The Foreign Minister noted that the Sinjar region in Iraq has been cleared of armed groups, including the PKK, and suggested that further significant developments in regional security are expected in the future.
