SEEKING PEACE NEEDS AN ENTERPRISING FOREIGN POLICY
This week Istanbul will host two separate but related international conferences on mediation. One will be devoted to the state of play in the conflict map and capacity for mediation within the membership of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The second one will adopt a broad scope and discuss the connections between sustainable development, peace and mediation; the ways to increase gender and youth inclusion in mediation processes; and a thought provoking session on the role of big data and artificial intelligence in conflict and mediation analysis. It may be thought that conferences are conferences but the Istanbul Mediation Conferences have proven rather influential in cultivating a shared understanding of issues and an agenda for action in the field of mediation and peaceful conflict resolution. As the host of these conferences and the only country that co-chairs the Friends of Mediation Groups in three distinct important international organizations, namely the United Nations, the OIC and the OSCE, Turkey has the ability to share the findings of these conferences in these international organizations.
The fact of the matter is that humanity is facing a distinct challenge in the 21st century. Just when many people thought that the glass is half full in terms of the achievements in international law, institutions, democracy and the rule of law, accountability, free trade, gender equality and others, the empty half of the glass has begun to reassert itself. The symptoms are known to all of us and need no reminding. Trade wars, new forms of international exploitation, geopolitical competitions, great power proxy wars, disintegrating nation states, terrorism, xenophobia, animosity against Islam, raging inequalities and injustice count among the contemporary trends that make up the glass half empty. The challenges of humanity are eating away the achievements and opportunities of humanity. Which side will prevail? The answer depends on how we respond to challenges, including on how much we humans can work together towards positive outcomes. One point is clear: unless we take initiative and be enterprising and humanitarian, the bad will prevail. Wait-and-see attitude is no longer tenable. Policy options differ from mediation to actual use of force against terrorists.
Take the situation in Syria. Turkey’s enterprising and humanitarian approach cleared a total of 4000 square kilometers from two terrorist organizations, DEASH and PKK/PYD/YPG. Had we not intervened, our people would have been under continued assault from these terrorists and a political solution to the Syrian tragedy would have been unreachable. Turkey is doing utmost to relieve humanitarian suffering, hosting the greatest number of refugees worldwide, spending more than the biggest economy in the world as the world’s top humanitarian spender. Turkey is also brokering agreements that save tens if not hundreds of thousands of lives and promoting a political solution based on the territorial integrity of the neighboring Syria.
I gave the example of Syria for a reason. Syria demonstrates to us once again that prevention is important because once the fire of conflict engulfs a nation, then the only thing that remains predictable is that there will be unpredictable consequences on that state. One generation of citizens will be wasted in one way or the other; the future will also be bleak. Everyone, including those who are thousands of kilometers away will come to suffer, either in the form of terrorist threat, economic shock, irregular migration, or wounded human conscience.
If prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts are of paramount importance, then we must take it seriously. This appreciation is driving Turkey’s efforts in the field of mediation as the co-chair of the UN, OSCE and OIC friends of mediation groups and the host to a capacity building mediation training program and the two mediation conferences that we will organize in Istanbul this week.
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3rd Global Meeting 2-5 November in Alanya
The 3rd Global Journalism Council (GJC) Global Media Meeting will be held in Alanya on 2-5 November with the participation of around 250 journalists from 32 countries.
The 3rd Global Media Gathering, which has become a tradition and the first two of which were hosted by Alanya, consists of a series of events. Nearly 200 journalists from Turkey who are members of GJC and 50 members and guest journalists from 31 countries will attend the meeting, which will also include various trips to the touristic spots of the city for the promotion of Alanya.
HIGH LEVEL PARTICIPATION FROM RUSSIA
The meeting in Alanya will be attended by 10 top journalists from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and European countries as well as Russia. The titles and names of the Russian journalists are as follows:
Tatiana EFREMOVA, senior specialist of the International Cooperation Department of TASS, head of the programmes and projects department of WARP Foundation, Alexander KLEIN, Director of WARP (World Russian Media Council) Foundation, Vladimir MAMMONTOV, Chairman of the Board of Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, Pavel NEGOITSA, General Director of “Moscow Speaks” radio, Alena POTAPKINA, General Director of Rossiyskaya newspaper, Yuliya SHARIFULLINA, senior specialist of the Asia Department of the International Cooperation Directorate of TASS Agency, Lyubov SAKHNO, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the TASS Agency, Head of the Foreign Policy Information Service and the Department for Relations with Foreign Media Organisations; Vladimir GUSATINSKY, Editor-in-Chief of the Finnish Newspaper and Vice President of WARP; Ramina ZEINALOVA, Foreign Affairs Editor of the TASS Agency and Special Rapporteur of the Russian Foreign Ministry; and Jamila ALLAHVERDIOYEVA, Editor-in-Chief of Ezhednevnye Novosibirsk Newspaper.GJC FULL STAFF
Nearly all members of the GJC widespread, local and foreign media assemblies will attend the Alanya meeting. In addition, nearly 60 of the 79 provincial representatives of GJC and nearly 30 of the 65 foreign country representatives will attend. Within the scope of the meeting, before the Workshop that will start in the afternoon of 4 November, the elected boards of GJC will hold their meetings until noon and discuss the professional and sectoral reports that will constitute the agenda of the workshop. In addition to professional problems and solutions, presentations on various topics will be made at the workshop, while sectoral and social cooperation and solidarity opportunities will be discussed with the participation of local and foreign journalists. The guest journalists will stay at the 5-star Eftelia Marin Hotel, located in the Türkler neighbourhood, for 3 nights with the all-inclusive concept.
AWARD CEREMONYOn the evening of 4 November, important local and foreign names from the world of media and politics will attend the gala dinner and award ceremony to be held in the Ballroom of the 5-star Lonicera World Hotel in the Türkler neighbourhood. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu will be the guest of honour at the gala dinner and the Global Achievement Awards will be presented for the third time this year.
HERE ARE THE AWARDS
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (Global Diplomacy Award), Kazakh Cosmonaut Toktar Ebubekirov (Global Science Award), President of the Volleyball Federation Akif Üstündağ (Global Sports Award) on behalf of the Women’s National Volleyball Team, President Prof. Dr. Şeref Ateş (Turkish World Award) on behalf of Yunus Emre Institute, CEO Mammad Gulmammadov (Global Media Award) on behalf of Haber Global, Ali Kemaloğlu (Global Humanitarian Aid Award) on behalf of TURMAKS and Tourism Doyen Hüseyin Baraner (Global Tourism Promotion Award).
DIM A PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY FOR ALANYA
GJC President Mehmet Ali Dim said that the increasing interest and momentum of the traditional Alanya meetings every year is pleasing. Stating that journalists from 32 countries including Turkey will participate in the event in Alanya in accordance with the global and international identity of the Council, he said, “We will also make an important contribution to the touristic image of Alanya, a world brand. It is very honouring that all public and private persons and institutions of Alanya have embraced and supported this organisation. I wish that our Alanya meeting will be beneficial for our council, media community and Alanya. I wish all our colleagues who will contribute and participate a productive and enjoyable journey.”
Source: https://www.gjc.org.tr/3rd-global-meeting-2-5-november-in-alanya/
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THE PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN RECEIVED THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF TÜRKIYE
On October 11, 2023, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Hakan Fidan.
The guest conveyed to the head of state, as well as the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, cordial greetings from the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who addressed wishes of well-being and prosperity to all Turkmen people.
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov conveyed his best wishes to the President of the Republic of Türkiye, expressing confidence that the negotiations and meetings planned during the current visit of the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry to Ashgabat will give new impetus to further bilateral interaction. The head of Turkmenistan also congratulated the minister and the fraternal Turkish people on the upcoming the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye.
As the President of Turkmenistan noted, the Republic of Türkiye is a friendly and fraternal state for our country, and bilateral relations are of a strategic nature. Centuries-old Turkmen-Turkish ties have a wealth of experience, which is confirmed by the high level of interaction in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Cooperation between countries is successfully developing and strengthening on a mutually beneficial basis, both in a bilateral format and within international organizations.
The prospects for increasing cooperation were discussed, where mutual visits of government delegations, as well as regular consultations and meetings between the foreign ministries of the two countries are a significant factor.
The head of state expressed confidence that the upcoming official visit to the Republic of Türkiye will open new pages in the further development of Turkmen-Turkish friendly and fraternal relations.
In the context of a multifaceted bilateral partnership, a special place is given to the trade and economic sphere. In this regard, it was noted that currently the Republic of Türkiye occupies one of the leading positions in the country’s foreign trade turnover.
Our states actively cooperate in almost all sectors of the economy, the head of Turkmenistan stated, emphasizing that there are great opportunities for developing fruitful relations in the fuel and energy sector, in the fields of transport and communications.
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On 6 March 2023, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Lasha Darsalia, held a meeting with the members of Chairman of the International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations Committee of the Milli Majlis, and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, who are on an official visit to Georgia.
Discussions focused on the importance of the strategic cooperation, including the inter-parliamentary Georgia-Turkey-Azerbaijan cooperation.
Special attention was paid to the new regional project on strategic partnership in the field of green energy development and transmission initiated by Georgia.
The parties talked about the complex security environment of the region, existing challenges and the importance of diplomatic efforts. Opportunities of the region and aspects of future cooperation were highlighted. The sides stated that they are ready to make appropriate contributions to ensuring regional peace and stability.
During the meeting, the Turkish side expressed special thanks to Georgia for the invaluable assistance provided to the Republic of Turkey after the devastating earthquake.
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In line with a Government Decree, 1 MLN GEL has been allocated as humanitarian aid to the population of the Republic of Turkey affected by the natural disaster from the Reserve Fund of the Government of Georgia channeled through the Ministry of Refugees from Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Security of Georgia today.
According to the Government Decree, which is signed by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, the allocated financial resources will be used for the procurement of medication, food, clothes, medical equipment and other items, and their transportation to the Republic of Turkey.Press Service of the Government Administration -
40 Georgian firefighters will join the firefighters of the Emergency Situations Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, who participate in the liquidation and rescue measures after the earthquake in the Republic of Turkey.
An additional group has already left from Georgia to the Republic of Turkey.The rescuers will join the group of Georgian rescuers in the city of Adiyaman, where rescue operation is continuously underway, as a result of which one person has been saved.The Georgian rescuers were escorted at Tbilisi International Airport by the head of the Emergency Situations Management Service - Teimuraz Mghebrishvili and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkey to Georgia - Ali Kaan Orbai.The rescue teams were involved in the ongoing rescue operations in Turkey in accordance with the decision of the Prime Minister of Georgia - Irakli Garibashvili.The group of Georgian rescuers is comprised of rescuers, cynology specialists, and rescue dogs trained for eliminating the consequences of earthquake and implementation of various rescue operations.Teimuraz Mghebrishvili, the head of the Emergency Situations Management Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, personally coordinates the rescue activities of the Georgian firefighters.
