Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

Despite various shifts and changes over the centuries, the core functions of diplomacy persist in the 21st century. However, the “ground” and “table” of diplomacy are now broader and more multi-layered—Turkish diplomats are among the pioneers of this new diplomacy.

In places where war, coups, failing states, suffering, oppression, and bloodshed are taking place, Turkish diplomats perform their duties uninterrupted and are devoted to protecting Turkish interests. They are in constant negotiations in capitals, international organizations, and the tables of various processes.
We have developed comprehensive consultations and cooperation methods including bilateral, trilateral, quadrilateral, and other sorts of multilateral mechanisms. We are going to make more use of those not only on political but also technical levels. We continue to make a substantial contribution to regional and global stability and order through diplomacy.
Turkey is the leading country in mediation initiatives in three different international organizations. We will devote even greater attention to resolving disputes and frozen conflicts in the upcoming period.
This year, a Turkish Ambassador was elected as the Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine. Likewise, two very competent Turkish women were elected to important international organizations—one as a judge to the European Court of Human Rights and one as a member of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO). We reassumed the chairmanship of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process, which was brought to life under our leadership. Moreover, Turkey will also be assuming the presidencies of the D-8 (Developing Eight) Organization for Economic Cooperation, Southeast European Cooperation Process, and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.
Before handing it over this year, we performed our three-year long chairmanship of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) with the goal of revitalizing the outdated structure of the organization. Our chairmanship had an impact, and we dynamized the OIC. To name a few results of our chairmanship, we developed the Islamic Development Fund, the Center for Police Cooperation, the Contact Group of Friends of Mediation, the Women Consultative Council, and the Istanbul Arbitration Center. Regarding the Palestine cause and attacks on Jerusalem, we convened two Extraordinary OIC Summits and three Extraordinary OIC Executive Committee meetings at foreign minister level. With these meetings, we enabled the Islamic world to speak with one voice. We defended the rights of Muslims worldwide, just as we did after the attacks on mosques in New Zealand.
Turkish diplomacy is also highly active in the development of our foreign economic and commercial relations. The amount of FDI, which was USD14.6 billion from 1984 to 2002, reached USD210 billion from 2003 to 2019. We concluded or are in negotiations for free trade and preferential trade agreements with many countries.
Turkey’s interests at home and abroad require working efficiently and in a focused manner. We introduced a “3+2″ principle of effectiveness to diplomacy. We strive for effectiveness at the local, regional, and global levels, plus, on the ground and at the table.
In a geography surrounded by warfare, turmoil, proxy wars, sanctions, and unbridled ambitions, is there any other democracy that has managed to become one of the top-20 global economies, all thanks to her own efforts and assets? Can anyone imagine achieving this without being active both on the ground and at the table? This is our story, and our foreign policy reflects our very own story.
Turkey is a member of NATO and the Council of Europe. We are a part of the European legal and security system. We are both the west and the east, the north and the south. Our state and nation stand tall and strong as the guarantor of regional peace and prosperity.

*Sourced from the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs.