T.C. Daimi Temsilciliği
UNESCO - Paris
Haziran 2015
ADDRESS BY H.E. AMBASSADOR ALİ KEMAL AYDIN,
UNDERSECRETARY AT THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING OF THE
EXHIBITION “SAFE HARBOUR TURKEY”
15 June 2015, UNESCO, Paris
Excellency, Director General Irina Bokova,
Excellencies Ambassadors, distinguished diplomats,
Honourable guests,
Let me begin by extending my greetings and regards to all of you. I am very
happy to welcome you today at the opening of Safe Harbour Turkey Exhibition
which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the foundation of UNESCO.
I also want to thank distinguished Director General Madame Bokova, for her
vigorous efforts to broaden the outreach of UNESCO’s soft power in the fields
of education, science and culture. This is actually a strategy in full harmony with
Turkey’s goal of a more peaceful, stable and prosperous world. We welcome
Director General’s efforts to reform and revitalize UNESCO to match the
transforming nature of challenges and today’s needs. We also support her
activism and initiatives to counter rising terror and growing inhuman criminal
violence in countries like Syria and Iraq which are taking their toll also targeting
rich cultural heritage. UNESCO’s advocacy and in preventing the destruction of
human heritage by fundamentalist and violent groups like DAESH significantly
raised awareness and responsiveness in the world. Hopefully effective
coordinated global action will eliminate this vice from our region.
Events of the recent times once again highlighted UNESCO’s relevance and its
ability to reunite nations together around common goals. Regardless of whether
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it is for culture, education, science, information sectors, or gender-related issues,
children and youth, or all of them together, the world needs UNESCO today
more than ever.
On this occasion, I would like to reiterate that, Turkey, whose territories have
been a safe haven to those fleeing from war, conflict, oppression and any kind of
mistreatment, is determined to do whatever it takes for achieving lasting peace,
and living in harmony with all our differences.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In the course of history, peoples in various parts of the world fought each other
in quest for power, for territories, for resources, for wealth or for greed and
hegemony...
Anatolia, as a cradle of civilizations at the crossroads of migrations, also had its
share of human conflict and man-made disasters. Yes, it is true that first ever
written peace treaty in history, Treaty of Kadesh, has been signed between the
Pharaoh of Egypt and Hittite King of Anatolia in 1259 BC. But the same Treaty
is the living evidence that mankind has failed in reconciling its conflicts
peacefully and consequently people suffered all the consequences of war.
Today, stone engraving of Treaty of Kadesh hangs on the wall of UN
Headquarters in New York testifying to modern Turkey’s commitment to
universal peace through Atatürk’s motto “Peace at Home, and Peace in the
world”.
Anatolia has always embraced and upheld peace and civilisation above the
horrors of man-made conflict. It is this quality that has made Anatolia, today’s
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modern Turkey the mother and a safe haven for many civilizations built by
human race with different origins, beliefs, and cultures. Given Anatolia’s
predominant tradition of “respect for the other” and a very strong will to survive
to “live in peace and harmony with the other” Turkish Government thought that
it was high time to prepare a strong and constructive message of shared memory
and common pain to commemorate the centenary of the first world war and
70.th anniversary of UNESCO...
The grand Sufi poet Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, who lived most of his life at the
heart of Anatolia in 13th century, cherished the highest values of the human
spirit in his famous poem saying “Come, come, whoever you are…”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am certain that the members of this distinguished community would know the
safeguard decreed by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror of İstanbul, by which
he guaranteed all the subjects of the land not only their lives, but also their rights
to freely practice their religions transforming the Ottoman Empire into one
realm of ethnic, religious and cultural pluralism. This was the beginning of a
new era free from fear and discrimination.
Soon after the rise of Istanbul, the Ottomans welcomed over one hundred
thousand Jews fleeing inquisitionist persecution, forced conversion and
cleansing.
From 1492 to the present, the Ottoman Empire and more recently the modern
Turkish Republic have been a safe harbour providing shelter and security to
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numerous
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groups who suffered from conflicts, instability and oppression,
including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Yazidis, Assyrians, Chaldeans without
asking whether they are Turks, Afghans, Kurds, Bulgars, Caucasians, Central
Asians, Bosnians, Macedonians, Kosovars, Iraqis and Syrians…
Our forefathers have seen the worst. In the First World War, over 16 million
men, women and children of all ages, races and creed lost their lives and
similarly millions more suffered, lost their homes, property and loved ones.
Regardless of their race, religion, gender and ethnic origins of those who
suffered, both world wars have been a total failure for humanity and
embarrassment for civilisation. The profoundness of the suffering led the
founders of modern Turkey to raise the new generations not with a spirit of
vengeance and hatred, but with hope, tolerance, fair memory and a broad
understanding of collective pain. We believe this is the only way to build a
better world in peace and harmony.
The humanitarian role and responsibilities assumed by Turkey during the crises
in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf War and ensuing tragedies
led us organize the “Safe Harbour Turkey Exhibition”.
Although the emphasis is on Syrian guests, you can also find visual snapshots
from other communities and individuals from different countries, regions, ethnic
backgrounds or convictions who sought shelter in the Ottoman Empire and
modern Turkey.
Some of those people saw Turkey as a temporary shelter and a safe bridge
immediately after surviving the tragedies unfolding in their home-countries,
while others preferred to stay longer and some settled in for the rest of their
lives.
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However, no matter wherever and whenever it occurs, accommodating large
numbers of displaced people is a tremendous economic and social burden.
International community needs to live up to its responsibilities and obligations
in terms of burden sharing, partnership and solidarity in line with international
humanitarian law and established practices.
In the words of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres
“Today, Turkey has become the biggest refugee-hosting country in the world.”
This is due to the “open door policy” we pursue without any discrimination of
religion or ethnic origin, based on the overarching principle of tolerance, a
quality Turkish nation has learned and inherited from its past.
Besides being a safe harbour, Turkey has become a leading provider in the field
of humanitarian and development assistance. Among the OECD countries,
Turkey has recorded the highest official development assistance increase in
2013 and 2014. Turkey was the third largest international humanitarian donor
after the USA and the UK in 2013. Inspired by this development, Turkey will
host the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016.
However, as long as there are inequalities, conflicts and humanitarian crises in
the world, and the lack of hope for a decent future persists and the absence of
tolerance and understanding prevails, there is no need to say that flows of
migration will continue.
There once again comes into play the vitality of realizing the ideals put forward
in UNESCO’s Constitution. Turkey will continue doing its best, “to build peace
in the minds of men and women”, to contribute to the creation of a world
without wars and conflict.
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We have to continue building safe harbours all around the world, through
education, culture, science, mutual understanding and dialogue among
civilizations. We have to do that for avoiding the reoccurrence of man-made
disasters.
We believe and hope that “Safe Harbour Turkey Exhibition” will help us build
fair memories and collectively understand the others’ pain and suffering. We are
proud of whatever we have been able to do to reduce the suffering of those who
have sought shelter in Turkey and to restore their hopes and build better futures.
History is witness to Turkish people’s genuine and generous hospitality.
Thank you.
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