Speech by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to the Istanbul Conference on Democracy and Global Security

Dear attendants,

At the beginning of the new millennium, terrorism which became the most important agenda of the world has become the base of democracy and global security policy not only of Turkey but also of all countries of the world.  
Today, I wish I could be together with you and share my ideas with you also.  But I am talking to you from another part of the world, a part which is different from the country that you are in, from America. 

Turkey, who has to exhibit and apply a stable growth at the hottest and most strategical area of the world and a vision which is parallel to her increasing importance at the world politics has the opportunity and possibility to transfer the expertize that it gained on fighting against terrorism in the last 25years and to pronounce the addition that it could make to the peace of the world. 

I hereby greet you with emotions from the heart.  Istanbul democracy and security conference thus should be evaluated as a convenient base for this strategic approach and target.  These kind of international organizations to contact all corners of the world, melt with other countries of which our diplomatic relationships were not strong enough, to promote Turkey as a global power will be made in this year like in the future years with the solidarity and additions of friendly countries and allies.  

We believe that in the name of Turkey we will return from this new beginning with new and intimate friendships, new cooperation possibilities and new earnings.  All of our effort is for bringing Turkey as a global power which fits her greatness, her historical buildup and humanity enrichment.  Turkey has succeded in something, she could meet together democratic and islamic culture.  Succeeding in that is very important for Turkey.  The subject which is insisted on is that.  At this point, Turkey is ready to do what is on behalf of her.  If there has been a sensible development in the relations of Turkey with her neighbors it has been on that.  We are a country in a position to gain friends not enemies.  We take the steps we make in this direction.  We are determinate to develop this either.  Turkey is devoted to the same ideals with the countries in the world who have reached democracy.  As being the countries who share the same vision, we believe that our relationships will continue in the future as they do today.  With this conference hereby, we believe that our mutual relationships, especially cooperations which exist in the fields of fighting against terrorism and global security will be developed and new partnerships will be maintained.  The century of which we are in gives a great hope  from the viewpoints of peace, security, disarmament as well as of democracy, good administration and global security and respectfulness to human rights.  However all terrorist attacks in the world like the one at September 11th and which first targeted Bali, Istanbul and lastly Madrid not only changed our senses of threat but also shadowed on that this century will be more hopeful.  Development of mass destruction weapons and the risk that these can be obtained by terrorist networks forms the other dimensions of the threats which are directed towards international security.  Besides regional clashes and conflicts which spread all over the world also shadows the hopes that this new century will become a confidence age between nations.  Conflicts at a wide region from Middle East and Iraq to Caucasses and Afghanistan produces a non-trustable surrounding for the nations and the international community at this region which has high political, economical and social prices.  Turkey is on one of the most important strategic crossroads of the world today.  Turkey who is at a very close point to many clashing points which still continue today and potential threats which are on the top of the agenda wants the foundation of peace and stability at a larger region and the domination of reconciliation culture and common values that we share with her stable democracy and dynamical economy.  Our records of peaceful solution of the problems and of terminating conflict sources which threat international peace will be useful in providing common goods such as establishment of peace and stability in Balkans, Caucasses and large Middle East regions.  Turkey, has a great potential to make a bridge between Europe and Middle East and Far East.  Let me comprehend the situation as a bridge between civilizations and cultures not as a bridge geographically.  Turkey is an example country which can undertake the duty of a bridge either at the Middle East or at the Far East points.  You should have no worries about that.  We have a serious stability in this matter.  Turkey has an excitement towards undertaking this duty on this matter.  I underline the necessity again that not I but us logical way of thinking has to be dominant against terrorism.  For this reason a common struggle platform should be produced against terrorism.  Turkey is ready to be a part of this.  If the world, using a monopoly logic fights against terrorism and says that I can solve this, it is not possible to solve this for any country, no matter which one it is.  Because is a phenomena which is not certain that where, when, why, who, how it will hit.  In this way, providence of cooperation on the subjects of intelligence information and an approach with a thinking away from different benefit considerations is essential.  Turkey intimately wants democracy, global security and peace at all over the world and for everybody.  She is in determinacy to perform the duty on behalf of her in the most active, effective and common way.  She has done till today, is doing and will do.  We will continue our efforts on performing our duty as a reconciliator in the Middle East in its most ideal form, bringing reconciliation to clashes and voicing loudly the need of peace in the world.  Terrorism is terrorism everywhere, it is bad and harmful everywhere, it threatens all humanity, threatens economies because this does not have any religion, nation, race and land.  This is a phenomeny which is not certain who, where, how, when it will hit.  All nations should be in solidarity against that.   As I also expressed before all countries should establish a common struggle platform.  We have to succeed in this.  As Turkey, we had many victims of terrorism.  We have victims of terrorism till 1990.  This still continues.  There are negativities that this results in our country, we are in a great struggle to overcome these negativities also.  We should not forget that terror which threatens us today will threaten someone else tomorrow.  This is also a truth.  Here a great task is ahead of you, my valuable friends.  Against the terrorist organization as how the necessary struggle is made against by the security forces, military and police till today, they will give the same struggle from now on till it ends.  Terror is not only Turkey's but all world's problem.  World countries should bring struggle against terrorism in a common case.  We are ready to give our own addition to that.  Mustafa Kemal Atatürk has a world, "Peace in the country, peace in the world", this is still a target for us.  We are very sensitive towards terrorism because we paid a big price.  During 90's we had around 40 thousand victims of terrorism.  In the terrorist actions of November 15th and 20th, we had victims of terrorism not only of our country but also of foreign mission chiefs of our citizens or not.  These are very serious sources of sorrow for us.  I present my love and respect to all of you.  I wish that a beneficial and productive conference to be made.