2018 TURKEY POSITION PAPER
A. J. Dimond High School
Lem Wheeles, wheeles_lem@asdk12.org
The Republic of Turkey is pleased to be a part of this conference focusing on the importance of global cooperation under siege. We are familiar with what it means to attempt to deal with issues alone and recognize the importance of working together for the safety of all who make up the United Nations and the world. Through our country’s presence on the United Nation's High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP), and the United Nations Office of CounterTerrorism (UNOCT), we hope to play an important role in both maintaining previous and establishing new comprehensive international strategies that work to solve global issues and preserve the safety and health of all.
Turkey recognizes and values the importance of helping refugees. Turkey serves as a home to 3.776 million refugees and 1.108 million internally displaced persons. Turkey is a world leader in providing asylum and care to refugees, hosting the largest numerical amount of refugees and third largest amount of refugees relative to population. The Evaluation of UNHCR’s Emergency Response to the influx of Syrian Refugees into Turkey recognized the level of access to government services and protection afforded by Turkey to its refugees as ones rarely, if ever, seen in a first asylum country, in addition to recognizing our government’s provision of unprecedented access to government schools to refugees. Turkey intends to use our voice and experience to encourage other countries to follow our lead.
As a part of IAEA, Turkey affirms its commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the implementation of safeguards to prevent nuclear energy from being used by the military, and the promotion of high standards for nuclear safety. In order to meet the increasing demand for electricity and economic development in Turkey, Turkey began its nuclear power program, and in 2023 the first unit of its first nuclear power reactors is scheduled to receive its operational license. Turkey believes that this will be a serious step forward for its people and looks forward to working with the IAEA to ensure that it is taken in the safest, most efficient way possible.
Turkey recognizes the very real threats of illegal drug trafficking and organized crime to the international community. Turkey believes the best way to handle these threats is through a coordinated international response and regional cooperation. Taking a lead on this, Turkey established the Turkish International Academy Against Drugs and Organized Crime in 2000. Since then, thousands of both national and international law enforcement officers have benefitted from the academy which has continued to serve as a base of cooperation against crimes that have become increasingly global. In addition to this, Turkey is a part of bilateral agreements for cooperation against drug trafficking, terrorism and organized crime with over 70 other countries and actively participates regional efforts such as the Stability Pact, the South East European Cooperative Initiative, and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. Turkey is aware of the dangers that all forms of crime present to the international community and is prepared to not only participate in, but lead, cooperative efforts that work to solve these issues.
The Republic of Turkey acknowledges as a notable siege of our time the siege of man himself against the environment. Turkey views sustainable development to be of equal importance as other global issues such as prevention of ongoing war and conflicts and the establishment of peace. To embody this viewpoint, Turkey has realized important policies and implementations to both protect and improve the quality of the environment. Turkey has made notable progress in emission control, use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, effective waste management, and expansion of water and waste water services in addition to extending forests, increasing protected areas, and conserving biological diversity. The Republic of Turkey aims to achieve its full potential in renewable energies and sustainable development and is prepared to do whatever that may take, recognizing that it is only when this full potential is reached that Turkey will also be enabled to maximize their economic and social growth.
Turkey, similarly to many other member states of the United Nations, has experienced firsthand the importance of global cooperation in the face of terrorism. Turkey is willing and able to work with other countries in the war on terror, and has allowed other nations to base within its borders to do so. In recent years, Turkey has launched a largescale campaign of antiterror against the Islamic State and Kurdistan Workers’ Party in addition to increasing its cooperation with other countries who are also fighting foreign and domestic terror. Turkey is an active member of the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL and plays an important role in both the Committee of Experts on Terrorism and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE’s) meetings on the Prevention of Violent Extremism and Radicalization That Lead to Terrorism, both of which serve to show that Turkey is not only able but willing to do what is necessary alongside other nations to combat terror in the most effective way possible.
The Republic of Turkey is no stranger to working alongside other nations in order to solve global issues, even when faced with opposition forces of incredible strength. We hope to use this experience to help guide and encourage other nations, while also seeking guidance and encouragement ourselves, so that we may begin to address real global issues from climate change to terrorism as one unified body.
Works Cited
"IAEA Mission Concludes Site and External Events Design Review in Turkey." IAEA . IAEA, 31 July 2017. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı Birleşmiş Milletler Daimi Temsilciliği . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
"Turkey's Efforts Against The Drug Problem." Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
"Turkey's Efforts In Combating Organized Crime." Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
Undpturkiye. "Turkey's Sustainable Development Report: Claiming the Future 2012." Issuu . N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. "Evaluation of UNHCR's Emergency Response to the Influx of Syrian Refugees into Turkey Full Report." UNHCR. N.p., Mar. 2016. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.
Zeldin, Wendy. "Turkey: Counterterrorism and Justice." Library of Congress . N.p., 01 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Jan. 2018.