Alliance of Civilizations, "a unifying point"

VIENNA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday said that the brotherhood process, in a period of getting stronger in Turkey, will be a good role model to a large geography, beginning with Europe.

Speaking at the "Fifth Alliance of Civilizations Forum" in Vienna's Hofburg Palace, Erdogan wished everyone participating in the Forum success.
I am highly pleased to see the Alliance's meeting in 2013 in Europe's historic capital of Vienna, Erdogan stressed.
I am happy to note the progress the Alliance of Civilizations has made since Turkey and Spain took the first step, Erdogan underlined.
"The Alliance has received support from more than 100 countries and organizations. It has reached a unifying point," Erdogan expressed.
"We are presently going through a period in which we need the Alliance of Civilizations, and more dialogue, compromise and tolerance," Erdogan noted.
"We are facing a world in which racist attacks have gained momentum, terror claimed more lives, and religions and sects treat each other with less understanding," Erdogan stated.
"We had two options in facing such a world. We could have sat down to watch all those taking place or had to take a step against such negative developments," Erdogan said.
"No doubt, watching what happened was the easy option. We chose what was difficult and began working. We chose to fight against this negative picture and turn the negative developments into positive," Erdogan underlined.
"As the Alliance of Civilizations, we are aware of how big a threat we are facing," Erdogan expressed.
"We are facing ignorance, intolerance and pre-conceived notions," Erdogan indicated.
"No matter how big the threat may be, we believe by heart that we can eliminate the threat if we work with determination and sincerity," Erdogan said.
"Despite all negative examples, there are nice examples where humans co-exist, live in tolerance and continue to work in unity," Erdogan noted.
"We see with pleasure that those countries which consider differences in culture and religion as richness rather than a reason for conflict reach success in many fields," Erdogan underlined.
"We define such a scenario as unity under pluralism," Erdogan stressed.
"We sincerely believe that by showing the good examples we can change the world for better," Erdogan stated.

"Modern globe did not give a good test on the Syrian issue"
"We consider the European Union's support to Turkey in counter-terrorism crucial for the success of the Alliance of Civilizations," Erdogan said.
"The brotherhood process, in a period of getting stronger in Turkey, will be a good role model to a large geography, beginning with Europe. Likewise, Turkey's EU membership would be a highly meaningful and crucial step for the success of the Alliance of Civilizations," Erdogan stated.
We need to pay more attention to the potential areas of clashes in Asia, Africa, Balkans and the Middle East, Erdogan noted.
"Unfortunately, the modern globe did not give a good test on the Syrian issue," Erdogan emphasized.
"When the number of those killed in the past two years in Syria has reached around 70,000, and when dozens of innocent children, women and civilians get killed in Syria, the world's silence seriously hurts the feelings for justice," Erdogan underlined.
"In a similar fashion, I must state that rising racism in Europe is a serious problem for the Alliance of Civilizations Project," Erdogan said.
"Aside from countries indifferent to Muslim countries, disrespectful attitude towards Muslims living out of certain countries continues to hurt consciences," Erdogan stated.
We witness very frequently the alienation of the 'other' in various countries instead of efforts to understand the culture and beliefs of the 'other', Erdogan stressed.
Just like antisemitism and fascism, Islamophobia must be regarded as a crime against humanity, Erdogan noted.
"Certain politicians' defamation of a religion or a sect by mass communication tools only makes pre-conceived notions bigger and deepens the gap," Erdogan indicated.
"If we evaluate the current developments in Mali as if they were based on religion would be an historic mistake," Erdogan said.
"Members of different religions in Mali are not fighting against each other. There could be acts of terror in Mali but to define such violence as part of a religion would not be correct since no monotheistic religion encourages terror. Islam means 'peace'. We can never accept arguments that a religion of peace, Islam, encourages or approves terror," Erdogan underlined.

"UN needs urgent reform"
"The Alliance of Civilizations was one of the most meaningful efforts in order to end pre-conceived notions and to close the gap," Erdogan said.
We must consider it as our duty to use this opportunity and to leave a better world to future generations, Erdogan expressed.
"I would like to call on the whole world from Vienna at this Alliance of Civilizations meeting. I would like to ask as the Alliance of Civilizations if the UN Security Council represented the whole world or not. Do the permanent members of the UN Security Council represent the whole world? We can only see three continents at the UN Security Council: Asia, Europe, Africa. Aside from these, the world is not represented here. From a religious perspective, do these five members represent all faith groups in the world? No. Do the temporary members have a value at the UN Security Council? No. Everything depends on the words of the five permanent members. Accordingly, we have a problem here," Erdogan said.
"If we are talking about the Alliance of Civilizations, we must establish alliance between the permanent members of the UN Security Council. There is no alliance here. If one of the members say 'no', the issue gets into a deadlock. Why can we not solve the Syrian issue? The Syrian issue can not be solved when two permanent members say 'no'. Was not the UN established to facilitate peace in the world? If the UN was indeed founded for world peace, it needs urgent reform. It is the countries of the world who must make this reform by giving hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder," Erdogan stated.
Erdogan's remarks received applause for a long while.

Palestine's gaining observer member status at UN General Assembly
Reminding that Palestine's gaining observer member status at the UN General Assembly was an historic achievement, Erdogan thanked all countries who supported Palestine at the UN General Assembly.
"This was a breaking point for world peace. The UN General Assembly deserved this. Despite many things, 138 countries voted in support of Palestine's new status," Erdogan noted.
"For the first time in the history of the Alliance of Civilizations Forum, two high level representatives are together in Vienna. My dear friend Sampio became the Alliance's first high representative five years ago. I salute your efforts to bring the Alliance to this point. I thank you for carrying forward the Alliance," Erdogan expressed.
"I wish the new high representative Al Nasser success in his new post. As in the past, Turkey will provide all assistance possible to the Alliance of Civilizations," Erdogan said.
Erdogan concluded his remarks by thanking all those who made contributions to the Alliance, including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and present UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Besir Atalay, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz, Turkish Minister of Family and Social Policies Fatma Sahin and Turkish EU Minister Egemen Bagis also attended the Forum.

Turkish PM: 'Alliance' of civilizations should meet the case

Erdogan on Wednesday said, "If we are representing the alliance of civilizations, we have to do what is necessary in regards to the Syria issue. We don't say clash of civilizations, we say 'alliance'. Therefore, we should take the necessary steps."
Erdogan attended the joint press conference headed by Secretary General of the UN Ban Ki-moon where Vice Chancellor of Austria Michael Spindelegger, UN Alliance of Civilizations high representative Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, former representative Jorge Sampio and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo were present.  
Erdogan touched on the well-timed and meaningful topic of the 5th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Vienna which was "Responsible Leadership in Diversity and Dialogue." 
Erdogan stated that he was very pleased with the alliance of civilizations gaining initiative qualification in dialogue between cultures and civilizations.
"Diversity and dialogue are key concepts for living together in peace. The situation of Syria is quite obvious. We can't leave this issue aside. 70 thousand people including women and children have died. Approximately 700 to 750 thousand people have sought refuge in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. Only nearly 250 thousand people live in tents and container cities in Turkey. We are left alone in carrying the burden ourselves. If we are representing the alliance of civilizations, we have to do what is necessary in regards to the Syria issue. We don't say clash of civilizations, we say 'alliance'. Therefore, we should take the necessary steps," said Erdogan.
Upon being asked, "Should dialogue with Assad regime take place or should the opposition be supported," Erdogan said, "Unfortunately, until now, we can't say that the international society has taken care of their share in the Syria crisis. The burden is on the shoulders of two or three countries. However, the struggle of the opposition is worth praising. This struggle is preparing the base for the Syrians in their democratic strive. Some countries say that who would replace Assad when he is gone. As I always say, great incidents or revolutions give rise to great leaders or sometimes leaders create great incidents."
"Assad, the oppressor, and his supporters will eventually leave. We have to support Syrians for the sake of humanity," added Erdogan.
Erdogan also touched on the incidents in Somalia, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar and said, "If we ignore all these, humanity will lose forever. Therefore, members of the Friends Group as well as NGOs, academicians and young people should take on responsibility in these issues."