ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan argued that permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should be expanded to better reflect the world's geography.
“We need to achieve a United Nations Security Council with participation from seven continents," he said on Thursday, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan was speaking at a forum in Istanbul titled "In Pursuit of Justice in a Fragmented World" that touched on the current structure of the UN's top decision-making body.
"The world is bigger than five," he reiterated.
Since the establishment of the UNSC following the allied victory in World War II, balance has been sought via five countries as permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
"The era of five permanent members [on the UNSC] is over," Erdogan said.
He did not indicate how the Security Council should be changed or dismantled entirely, but Erdogan's sentiment is similar to states which have sought to undermine UN control through nationalism.
"The UN needs serious reform," Erdogan said.
“There are many things that we can contribute to the European Union," Erdogan said.
Turkey now argues that because it has hosted more than 3 million refugees through the ISIS conflict, it should gain EU membership.
"They may have many things to contribute to us but what should be done is, I suppose, to consult with 81 million [people in Turkey] and look at what they will decide," he said.
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) held a constitutional referendum in 2017 and snap elections in June. The country has shifted to a presidential system giving far-reaching powers to the presidency.
“We need to achieve a United Nations Security Council with participation from seven continents," he said on Thursday, according to state-run Anadolu Agency.
Erdogan was speaking at a forum in Istanbul titled "In Pursuit of Justice in a Fragmented World" that touched on the current structure of the UN's top decision-making body.
"The world is bigger than five," he reiterated.
Since the establishment of the UNSC following the allied victory in World War II, balance has been sought via five countries as permanent members: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia and China.
"The era of five permanent members [on the UNSC] is over," Erdogan said.
He did not indicate how the Security Council should be changed or dismantled entirely, but Erdogan's sentiment is similar to states which have sought to undermine UN control through nationalism.
"The UN needs serious reform," Erdogan said.
Turkey has tried to join the 28-member European Union since its establishment in 1993. Its ascension has faced barriers because of its use of capital punishment, history human rights, and lack of press freedoms.
“There are many things that we can contribute to the European Union," Erdogan said.
Turkey now argues that because it has hosted more than 3 million refugees through the ISIS conflict, it should gain EU membership.
"They may have many things to contribute to us but what should be done is, I suppose, to consult with 81 million [people in Turkey] and look at what they will decide," he said.
Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) held a constitutional referendum in 2017 and snap elections in June. The country has shifted to a presidential system giving far-reaching powers to the presidency.
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