UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY TURKISH PRESIDENT, EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Esra Tekin and Yasin Gungor
ISTANBUL (AA) — Türkiye's president on Tuesday expressed his hope that once in office US President-elect Donald Trump's administration will take steps for world peace.
"I hope and wish that the US administration takes bolder, more prudent, and more supportive steps on the path to peace," Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a news conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he was attending a summit of the G20.
The conflicts in Ukraine and Middle East have acquired center stage since Trump's win in the Nov. 5 US presidential election. In his victory speech, the Republican, who will take charge in January 2025, said he will “stop wars.”
Erdogan lamented that the UN Security Council had turned into "an elitist structure that prioritizes the interests of its five permanent members over the rights of all 193 member countries."
Türkiye has been a leading voice in calling for comprehensive reforms at the UN, and central to this push for reform is a demand for changes to the Security Council, which President Erdogan has famously criticized with the slogan “The world is bigger than five.”
"In today's pluralistic world, this cannot be justified in any reasonable, logical, or consistent way," he said, adding that the need for reforming the current global system on a fair and inclusive basis was underlined during the session on Reforming Global Governance Institutions at the summit.
Erdogan said international organizations have failed “in the face of wars, natural disasters, and injustices that make the conscience of all humanity ache."
He said regions such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia are marginalized and victimized, and whose voices and demands are ignored by the current mechanisms.
Turning to Israel, which has killed nearly 44,000 people, most of them women and children, in Gaza since last October and also continues attacks in Lebanon, Erdogan said: "With the endorsement of Western powers, the human toll of the state terrorism that Israel is inflicting upon our region is intensifying with each passing day."
"No matter the cause, history will not forgive those who remain silent in the face of this oppression, this ever-growing brutality," he added.
Reiterating the importance of more countries recognizing Palestinian statehood, he said it is "especially vital at this time."
Türkiye has always been standing by those in need with “all its official institutions and civil society organizations,” Erdogan said, adding that it is also “extending hand” to people in Gaza and Lebanon, “who are fighting for survival in the face of Israeli attacks."
He said that due to "our initiatives, robust references to Gaza have been included in the G20 leaders' declaration." In their final declaration, leaders of the Group of 20 major economies called for “comprehensive” cease-fires in Gaza and Lebanon, while also stressing the need for cooperation on climate change and poverty reduction.
Reaffirming Türkiye’s support for people in the blockaded enclave, who have been facing relentless Israeli attacks for 14 months, Erdogan said: "Even if we stand alone, as Türkiye, we will continue to stand by the oppressed."
Drawing attention to the risk of famine in Gaza, Erdogan said Tel Aviv is committing crimes against humanity by blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, “which it has turned into an open-air prison.”
The Turkish president said he also reiterated his call for a lasting cease-fire in Lebanon during the summit.
Türkiye has no problem with any nation, country, or religion, but "with those who drag our geography into chaos and instability with their occupation and invasion policies."
He underscored the need for responsible states to impose coercive measures based on international law against Israel. "The world has not yet taken the stance we expected against Israel's oppression; as Türkiye we persist in this struggle hand in hand with our friends," Erdogan said.
The Turkish leader also hailed Brazil’s stance on fight against hunger and poverty, saying Türkiye joined to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty as a founding member.