Erdogan: Turkey-US deal impossible if Gaza seen as Israeli territory

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Nov 2023 16:32
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls for a reform of the UN's permanent membership and veto systems.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attends the presentation ceremony of letters of confidence to newly appointed ambassadors at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Turkey on September 27, 2023. (AFP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the United Nations and its Security Council, deeming them ineffective in addressing the mounting humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Erdogan called for a reform of the UN's permanent membership and veto systems, expressing dissatisfaction with the current structure where one member's incorrect actions can hinder meaningful outcomes.

He accused the UN of disregarding the suffering of Gazans and emphasized the need for a more equitable system that doesn't leave the fate of the world in the hands of a few countries with veto power.

"The UN has become ineffective. That is to say, even the UN Security Council cannot achieve any results. If one Council member acts incorrectly then nothing happens," he said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Erdogan stated that any agreement between Turkey and the United States regarding the Gaza Strip is impossible if Washington considers it part of Israeli territory. He stressed that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, and the US must recognize this for any agreement to be feasible.

"The main country that must step up is the United States, which has influence over Israel ... Gaza is the land of the Palestinian people. The United States has to recognize that. If [US President Joe] Biden's approach is that Gaza is not the land of the Palestinian people but the land of the occupying settlers or Israel, then our agreement is impossible," Erdogan added.

Erdogan expressed reluctance to call President Joe Biden, suggesting that the US needs to acknowledge the rightful ownership of Gaza by the Palestinian people.

"US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has paid a visit here [to Turkey]. I believe it is Biden who will now receive us," Erdogan added.

Emphasizing Turkey's regional significance, Erdogan asserted that no regional plan or initiative could proceed without Turkey's participation. He further stressed that Ankara has presented realistic proposals to address the Palestinian issue.

This comes shortly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had a meeting during the 16th Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The central topic of their discussions was the situation in Gaza within the context of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle.

Turkish sources reported that the talks primarily revolved around addressing the humanitarian crisis resulting from ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza, outlining potential steps for resolution.