Turkish president calls for 'UN reform process'

By Merve Aydogan

ANKARA (AA) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday called for a "comprehensive United Nations reform process" in an article he penned for the Foreign Policy magazine.

Speaking about the ongoing humanitarian crises across the world, Erdogan said: "The list goes on, but it is clear that the United Nations, which was intended to be the beating heart of humanity, has no pulse."

He urged global leaders to up their game.

"At a time when global leadership is desperately needed, it is crucial to improve the United Nations rather than destroy it."

"If the global powers won’t help, the rest of the international community must take matters into its own hands and launch a comprehensive UN reform process," the president said.

He recalled that Turkey is hosting 4 million refugees -- 3.5 million of them Syrian nationals, adding: "Although Turkey is no military or economic superpower, it has emerged as a global leader by becoming part of the solution in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere."