ADDS MORE STATEMENTS BY TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER
By Zehra Nur Duz and Seda Sevencan
ANKARA (AA) – Double standards of some international major powers on different issues, as well as their disregard for international law were exposed by panelists at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF), the Turkish foreign minister said on Sunday.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the ADF, which was held in southern Türkiye this weekend, Hakan Fidan said there are serious efforts underway to reach a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Türkiye supports views that established practices of the international community regarding Gaza should now be set aside in favor of taking unilateral action, Fidan noted.
"Delivering aid to Gaza while waiting for someone's permission now means being complicit in the slow and silent deaths of more than two million people," he added.
Israel has launched a deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border incursion by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7. The ensuing Israeli bombardment has killed 30,410 people and injured 71,700 others with mass destruction and shortages of necessities.
Israel has also imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza Strip, leaving its population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.
The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
- US visit
Fidan recalled an agreement reached between Ankara and Washington in Oct. 2021 during a meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Joe Biden to establish a strategic mechanism between the two countries.
The Turkish foreign minister said a trip to the US is planned for next week at the invitation of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to attend a meeting as part of the Türkiye-US Strategic Mechanism.
Underlining the significance of his visit to the US, he said both sides will review bilateral relations on various issues in Washington.
On Oct. 31, 2021, Erdogan and Biden met in Rome and agreed to establish a strategic mechanism that promotes high-level dialogue and addresses issues on which Türkiye and the US do not fully agree, as well as issues on which they are working together.
- Russia-Ukraine conflict
Speaking about the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, Fidan said: "Conflicting sides now believe it is time to initiate a dialogue for a cease-fire," adding, "This does not imply recognition of the occupation."
“Türkiye believes it's time to separate recognition of occupation and sovereignty issues from the issue of cease-fire,” he added.
This year, nearly 4,700 people from 148 countries participated in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, the minister said.
This year's forum was attended by 19 heads of state and government, two presidents of autonomous administrations, 64 ministers, including 52 foreign ministers, one speaker of parliament, 20 parliamentarians, and 20 foreign deputy ministers, he said.
Some 57 high-level representatives of international and regional organizations also participated in the forum, he added.