UPDATE 2 - Istanbul grain deal one of UN’s greatest achievements: Turkish president

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT; ADDS DETAILS

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA (AA) – The Istanbul deal to resume Ukrainian grain exports has been one of the UN’s greatest achievements in recent years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

“As a result of our intense efforts with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, we have ensured that Ukrainian grain reaches the world via the Black Sea,” Erdogan said in his address at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

“This agreement, which is of critical importance in maintaining global grain supplies, is one of the greatest achievements of the UN in recent years.”

Türkiye, the UN, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to restart grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which were paused after the Russia-Ukraine war began in February.

A Joint Coordination Center with officials from the three countries and the UN was set up in Istanbul to oversee the shipments.

Since the first vessel sailed under the deal on Aug. 1, more than 160 ships have carried over 3 million tons of agricultural products through the grain corridor.

Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye will continue its efforts to end the war with an agreement “based on Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence.”

“Together, we need to find a reasonable, fair and viable diplomatic solution that will give both sides an honorable exit from the crisis,” he said.

He called on the international community to “sincerely support” Türkiye’s efforts for a lasting peace between Moscow and Kyiv.

“It is imperative that we restructure the UN, in line with its embracing characteristic, as an organization that can generate solutions for a fairer world order, and where common will is embodied on behalf of all humanity,” Erdogan said. ​​​​​​​

The president also said the reforming of the UN Security Council as a “more effective, democratic, transparent and accountable" structure and functioning will be a milestone for peace, justice and welfare of all humanity.

“To keep our common duty in this regard alive, we will continue to stress at every platform that ‘the world is bigger than five’ and ‘a fairer world is possible’,” Erdogan said.

- ‘Greece turning Aegean Sea into graveyard of refugees’

The Turkish president called out Greece for its “persecution” of migrants in the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.

“While we are struggling to prevent the deaths of more babies like Aylan, Greece is turning the Aegean into a graveyard of refugees with its unlawful and reckless pushbacks,” said Erdogan.

The refugee crisis cannot be solved by placing innocent people seeking a better future in concentration camps or leaving them on boats to die, he added.

Aylan Kurdi was 3-year-old Syrian refugee whose body washed ashore a Turkish beach in 2015, with a photo of him becoming the defining image of the refugee crisis.

“It is high time for Europe and the United Nations to put an end to these atrocities that are tantamount to crimes against humanity,” he said.

Ankara and global rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing asylum seekers back into Turkish waters and denying them entry, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable migrants, including women and children.

“We expect Greece to shun its politics of provocations and heed our calls for cooperation,” Erdogan said.

He also urged the international community to make efforts to end the oppression of Turkish Cypriots, and to officially recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as soon as possible.

Besides its inhumane pushbacks of irregular migrants, Greece also pursues “discriminatory and oppressive policies” against the Muslim Turkish minority, he added.

Türkiye hopes that Greece will stop these problematic actions and that international organizations, particularly the EU, will stop turning a blind eye to its “inhuman and unlawful practices,” Erdogan stressed.​​​​​​​

- ‘Türkiye cannot remain indifferent to PKK’

About the Syrian crisis, Erdogan reiterated the importance of finding a lasting solution in line with the legitimate expectations of the people and based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

“The continuation of the deadlock increasingly threatens both the security and stability of our region and the territorial integrity of Syria,” he said.

Ankara cannot be expected to remain indifferent to the PKK and its offshoots which carry out terrorist attacks on Türkiye, its security forces and civilians, and threaten Syria’s territorial integrity, Erdogan said.

“We invite those who try to legitimize this terrorist group with cheap tricks like changing names to immediately halt arming and supporting terrorists, and correct their mistakes,” he added.

Ankara is ready to work with anyone who wants to contribute to the security and welfare of the region by cooperating with Tükiye, instead of terrorist organizations and “cruel” regimes, the president stressed.

“We strongly state that we are capable of taking all kinds of measures against terrorism and that we will never hesitate to do what is necessary against terrorist organizations,” he added.

Erdogan said Türkiye also puts effort for peace and stability to prevail in another neighboring country, Iraq.

“We want political unity and reconciliation in the country on the basis of Iraqi identity. Only in this way is it possible to sustainably increase the welfare in Iraq and prevent the abuses by terrorist organizations.”

- Ankara supports 2-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict

Erdogan reiterated that Türkiye strongly supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which Ankara considers essential for the establishment of permanent peace and stability in the Middle East.

“There is no other possibility for a fair, lasting and comprehensive solution other than establishing an independent and sovereign Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital,” he said.

It is essential to respect the historical and cultural identity of Jerusalem, to stop the illegal settlement activities in the occupied lands, and to ensure the security of life and property of the Palestinians, the president added.

“We are determined to continue to develop our relations with Israel for the sake of peace, stability and the future of ourselves, this country, the Palestinian people and the region,” Erdogan said.