UPDATE - Israel's attacks in Lebanon 'unimaginable': Turkish parliament speaker

UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS BY KURTULMUS; CHANGES DECK, THROUGHOUT

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) — Israel's actions against civilians in Lebanon are "unimaginable" and are pushing the situation to a "tipping point," Turkish parliament speaker Numan Kurtulmus told Russian lawmakers on Wednesday.

In a four-day official visit to Moscow, Kurtulmus delivered a wide-ranging speech, touching on regional conflicts, bilateral relations, and global governance reform, to Federation Council, Russia's upper legislative chamber

Kurtulmus warned that Israeli actions further worsen its record of crimes in the region.

"We are obliged to oppose the bloodshed of innocent people in Gaza and to stop Israel's aggressive government and approaches," he said.

Kurtulmus said that a fully sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital would "definitely" be established and that the Israeli occupation would end after the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his "gang" are held accountable for their crimes.

- Sanctions on Russia harm citizens

Kurtulmus emphasized Türkiye's continued efforts to mediate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war from the very beginning.

He underlined that the two countries had almost reached the point of signing a peace deal In Istanbul but "those who benefit from the continuation of this crisis" did not want this to happen.

Calling for a swift return to peace talks, Kurtulmus asserted that it would be "impossible to achieve results" with peace negotiations without Russia.

The Turkish official also criticized unilateral sanctions against Russia, arguing that they primarily harm ordinary citizens.

- Bilateral relations

Kurtulmus emphasized that Türkiye and Russia share perspectives on many global issues.

Highlighting the strategic importance of Türkiye-Russia ties, Kurtulmus voiced confidence that his visit would help develop parliamentary diplomacy between the two nations.

- Reform in world system

The Turkish parliament speaker also advocated for a comprehensive redesign of international institutions, particularly the UN.

"The current global system, with all its institutions and organizations, cannot carry the world," Kurtulmus asserted, calling for a new global financial and political system to meet the demands of an emerging multipolar world order.

- Türkiye's BRICS application

Kurtulmus also praised the upcoming BRICS meeting in the city of Kazan in southwestern Russia as "an important step" in shaping the new world order.

He said Türkiye's potential BRICS membership would be complementary to its existing international commitments, not an "alternative," noting Ankara views its application to join the group as an instrument to enhance Türkiye's foreign policy influence.

Kurtulmus traveled to Russia on Monday for an official four-day visit at the invitation of the head of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko.