Current international system needs to be restructured: Erdoğan

Duvar English

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has called for change in the international system, while reiterating his previous criticisms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

"The fate of all mankind, including the Islamic world, has been left to the mercy of 5 UNSC members. The Islamic world does not have the right to freely make a decision about its own future and implement it," Erdoğan said in a speech at the 35th Session of the Ministerial Meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC) in Istanbul on Nov. 27.

"This unjust system, established by the victors of the Second World War, cannot continue forever. It is no longer an option but an obligation to restructure the international security architecture in accordance with today’s conditions. An order that protects the powerful instead of who is right can by no means produce prosperity, peace and serenity," he added.

Saying that the UNSC must be restructured in line with the distribution of the world population and religions, Erdoğan voiced his famous slogan, "The world is bigger than five."

“A United Nations, which have not been able to find a solution to the sufferings in Bosnia, Rwanda and Iraq in recent past, and in Syria, Palestine and Myanmar today, cannot resolve the problems of mankind," he said.

During his speech, Erdoğan commented on the current events in the Muslim world, while also slamming Israel.

"No organization, including the United Nations Security Council, hears the cries of the kids recklessly killed while playing on Gaza beach. We see similar sufferings and tragedies wherever we look from Somalia to Afghanistan, from Arakan to Turkistan and Libya. When it is Muslims who are killed, those who are oppressed and suffering are seen not as living people but merely as photos," the President said.

Erdoğan also said that Israel is not respecting Palestinians’ right to life, property and work.

“Those who are trying to turn Jerusalem, which is a sacred city for three religions, into a center of their beliefs by looting it are making a big mistake,” he said, adding that Western countries are "spoiling Israel knowingly or unknowingly," which fuels tensions.

“Turkey is resolute to continue defending the rights of our Palestinians brothers and sisters in all platforms,” Erdoğan said.

Speaking about the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that left at least 26 people dead and 600 others injured in Albania, Erdoğan called on Muslim countries to help the earthquake-hit country.

“I believe that we need to stand by Albania,” he said.

“Our aid convoys are being sent one after another. The aid trucks will also reach Albania today,” he added.